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Live at House of Blues Anaheim
May 20, 2026 Review by Jimmy Alvarez
Despite its very sleek and corporate-like facade, the House of Blues Anaheim would be transported into a punk-rockers paradise, at least for one night. It was a sold-out house, the line to get in was crazy long, but everyone was in such a good mood to see Pennywise and friends.
Doors were at 6:30, and it was like Warped Tour in the ‘90s. As soon as the crowd was let in, it was a mad dash for a front row position leaning against the barrier. The show would feature Pennywise, the friends I mention were legends in their own right, Circle Jerks, H2O, and DFL.
The crowd filled the venue, it was packed – they were squished in there, like sardines. Before the show started, the crowd was already singing along to the music blaring out the venue PA system.
L.A. – based DFL was the first to take the stage. In true punk rock tradition, the crowd went from calm to insane in 3 seconds. As “Crazy” Tom nestled behind the mic, the mayhem of the night began.
It was an abbreviated set, but they packed a punch. Delivering songs from their catalog, “Thought Control,” “No Exit,” “Paddy Wagon,” “Lost Cause,” “Pizza Man,” and the funniest song, “Fuck It.”
Dead Fucking Last closed out with “Proud to be DFL.” The crowd loved every single moment of their set.
After a very short intermission H2O was on before you knew it. Just like DFL, the crowd went from zero to 100 with their hair on fire in seconds. The punkers from New York called H2O was amped for this one. Toby Morse took no time to get the ball rolling with “Nothing to Prove,” “Everready,” and “Family Tree” to kick off their set.
The band was clearly excited to be sharing the stage that night with legends, you could just tell how excited they were. They killed with their delivery of “1995,” “Spirit of ’84,” and “I Know Why.”
It was about then you started to notice all the crowd surfers being deposited into the photo well. “One Life, One Chance,” “Guilty by Association,” and “5 Yr. Plan” made a very good impression on the capacity crowd.
By now, the crowd had to catch their breath, but they were resilient as Keith Morris and Circle Jerks were up next.
Morris slowly walked out and with that wicked smile he stared at the crowd and launched into the insanity that is Circle Jerks. “Deny Everything,” “Letterbomb,” and “In Your Eyes,” set the mood for their set.
Not shy about wearing his feelings on his sleeve, Morris and company took off, “Back Against the Wall,” “Behind the Door,” “I Just Want Some Skank,” “When Shit Hits the Fan,” and “Under the Gun” made the crowd get insanely wild.
With a wink Morris jumped on “Coup d’état,” “Moral Majority,” and “Live Fast Die Young.” The crowd went absolutely bananas! The hit parade continued, Circle Jerks could have played all night, but everyone knew Pennywise was on deck.
They closed out the set to an appreciative audience with “I, I & I,” “World Up My Ass,” “Wasted,” “Nervous Breakdown,” “Fix Me” and the closer – “Question Authority.”
Again, hats off to the road crew because the intermission was very short, and the Pennywise banner and gear were ready to go in minutes.
Out came guitarist and lead singer Jim Lindberg in his black T and hat, with guitarist Fletcher Dragge behind him also in black and a hat.
Also onstage were bassist, Randy Bradbury and Byron McMackin on the skins. I am always amazed how loud those guys can sound.
Immediately, the crowd was engulfed in punk rock shenanigans from jump street, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “My Own Country,” “Violence Never Ending,” and “Same Old Story,” kicked off the first run of songs. The crowd got even more amped as each song started. By then I started seeing security pull people out of the crowd to get them water because it was so hot in that crowd due to the mosh pit that had formed.
Limberg thanked everyone for coming out and egged them on to get loud, and they did as they launched into more lunacy with “The World,” “Waiting,” “Unknown Road,” and we went into another stratosphere when the chords to “Fuck Authority” were heard over the PA.
As the show went on, a few other musicians that were there that night came on and off the stage to help out to a few tunes, “Perfect People,” “Broken,” “Society,” and “As Long as We Can” kept the crowd in a cartoon crazy mood.
It was the last three songs that blew the roof off the joint, “Alien,” “Stand by Me,” and “Bro Hymn” were a perfect way to close out a perfect night of punk rock music under the stars in Anaheim!
For fans, it was a night filled with epic performances by legends of punk!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Green-Eyed Bonde Photography
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SID 250621 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
