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Live at Observatory Santa Ana
April 12th, 2026 Review by Amberlee Meyer
On April 4th, The Observatory in Santa Ana was stacked with punk bands spanning generations. On the bill? LA-based Knuckleheadz, Huntington Beach’s own Guttermouth, and the main event, OC’s punk rock legends Agent Orange.
First up was Whittier’s hardcore street band, Knuckleheadz, a gritty, no-nonsense, chaotic, underground DIY band born out of the fight club movement in 2021. Being “California sober,” they are part of a brotherhood that preached no heavy drugs or hard alcohol, focus on the music, and celebrate major events like parenthood.
This set was just straight-up loud, fast, unapologetic hardcore, and fans loved it! “Fuck McDonald’s” was a big fan favorite! It’s a stick-it-to-the-man, scream-out anthem.
The mohawks and leather jackets were everywhere, the pit was alive and well, and I’m happy to report there were no major injuries!
Other favorites during their set were “Wasted,” “Fighting Solves Everything,” “Punk Rock Warriors,” and “Fuck You I’m Done.”
Guttermouth was pure Guttermouth. Mark Adkins is a great frontman and knows how to have fun while simultaneously ensuring chaos, and this show was no different.
Even with some sound issues, they still shook the roof off the place and the pit was going off!
The OC is unique in that punk rock is woven into its culture, its clothes, and its attitude. Bands have been leaving lasting impressions since the late 70s, including The Adolescents, T.S.O.L., The Vandals, and Social Distortion. They all went on to become prolific and synonymous with the Orange County punk scene.
Agent Orange also hails from Orange County and is widely considered a punk rock legend in these parts. They were solid, tight, and ready to punk rock out the best way they could – a little surfy, a little poppy, a lot of skate punk, and a ton of badassery! The band has been around since the late 1970s, and they are just as good – if not better – live now as they were then.
While there have been lineup changes over the years – standard for such a lengthy career – since 2019, it has been founding member Mike Palm (vocals, guitar), Perry Giordano (bass), and Sandy Hanson (drums).
They opened with the surf-infused instrumental “Pipeline,” and they play well. Giordano has great stage style; he’s super low to the ground and it’s a great visual as he beats out bass riffs.
“Everything Turns Grey” blends punk rock and surf guitar, and fans ate it up! The vocals were fire and Mike Palm is a fantastic frontman.
“Tearing Me Apart” is definitely on the pop side of the early ‘80’s scene, but there is an undercurrent of darkness that OO is famous for. For a three-piece, they can make a lot of noise, and it sounded incredible.
“It’s All a Blur” is in the same vein, with great melodic vocals and just a well-written song. “America” had the pit on fire, with fists and elbows thrown; this is not your Warped Tour pit – it’s a little darker and more violent.
The anthematic “Breakdown” was outstanding! Pure punk with a message against the establishment. The backup vocals are my favorite part of the song! “Say It Isn’t True” is another example of great songwriting, and it comes through full throttle on this song.
“Mr. Moto” was pure surf punk at its best, and fans ate it up. The drums in this song are a standout, making it even more interesting. While there are no lyrics, lyrics are not important when you can play that way!
“I Kill Spies” is just another example of the dark sound that is in every successful Orange County punk band, and they do it so well! Later in the set, we heard “Living in Darkness,” a huge song for them, and they did not disappoint. It reminds me of a song by the band X in the way it’s constructed, and the crowd was so into it!
“Wouldn’t Last a Day” makes me think the band Pennywise is a big fan of Agent Orange: another great song and another super-tight performance.
The biggest cheers of the night came when the band blasted into “Bloodstains.” It’s punk, it’s dark, and it’s a brilliantly written song! The pit was crazy by this point, and the song was a favorite for the audience. Everyone was screaming out the chorus, and the room was full – such a loud, fun experience!
Closing with a Dead Kennedys cover, “Police Truck,” the audience exploded, and the energy was at an all-time high. It was a brilliant choice to close with, making the whole show worth it and this cover alone was fantastic! What a great way to end the night; fans couldn’t have asked for more!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Todd Markel Rock Images
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SID 260413 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
