Earlier this month, the world famous KROQ began giving away tickets to see Dirty Heads at FivePoint Amphitheatre in September, with the bonus prize of tickets to their ROQ the Beach with the Dirty Heads.
With the exact time and location of the ROQ the Beach being kept secret until revealed to winners, we can now tell you May 25th, 2023 was that day!
By midday on May 25th, Huntington Beach was set afire with all social media channels abuzz with rumors of a “super-secret, private” KROQ beach show at Sea Salt Beachside Burger.
Growing up and being a Huntington Beach local, I can say there’s never been a shortage of three things here: surfing, skating, and music. With these musical rumors flying, we were pumped! Local dudes; local show! Epic! Plus, for those unable to win tickets, word on the street was out that fans were going to be able to catch the show from across from the venue on the sand, and fans were pumped.
As we got to Bolsa Chica State Beach, it was a breezy and overcast 66 degrees, but the vibes were nothing but summer! As we picked up our credentials, we could hear music being played and saw a large number of fans being congratulated by KROQ staff and handed their wrist bands. After passing through security, the massive stage came into view. This was not going to be a small, misleading acoustic set. This was “ROQ ON THE BEACH!” A super-secret hometown Dirty Heads KROQ show on the beach fits right in! We knew this was going to be amazeballs!
The party got underway with DJ Jeremiah Red, host of KROQ’s Saturday night mix show, ROQ ‘N’ BEATS. Red was spinning some mind-bending jams, and he mixed in just the right amount of new and old. Red was a man on a mission, stealing the hearts of the crowd one mix at a time. Fans danced their hearts out while they ate, drank, and partied. Sponsor Subaru provided mad fun with cornhole, a giant Jenga, and an opportunity to climb inside, explore the interior of, and push the buttons in their newest vehicle.
Beer Mug and Jeremiah Red
Delicious aromas filled the air courtesy of caterers Smoke and Fire Social Eatery. Music fans filled their bellies with some dank BBQ, and then washed it down with a cold island refreshment of Big Wave Liquid Aloha from Kona Brewing. Fans were cheering and cheersing with their Kona Big Wave brews!
We mingled with the crowd and it was completely clear: This is a summer party! From sand to the stage, Sea Salt was buzzing with a hyped up group. We chatted with other Dirty Heads fans, taking friendly bets on what the first song would be and what the setlist might offer.
The clock struck six and the music faded. Our host – KROQ’s Beer Mug – gets on the mic and gives thanks to the venue, the sponsors, and the fans. Then he introduces Dirty Heads and the intro begins…
Right off the bat, coming at the crowd like a bull in a china shop with “Heavy Water.” The crowd went ape shit! Crazy! Going straight into “Medusa,” seducing the crowd as they chant back “Medusa!”
The fun didn’t seem to stop with “Bum Bum” and bringer “Franco Eyed.” With arms raised and the ocean breeze blowing, fans sang each song word for word.
Dirty Heads played a great balance of older hits and new singles, so it was awesome to see what they played next. The crowd loved the set and fans were buying what the Dirty Heads were cookin.’
There was an incredibly positive response when Duddy brought out the acoustic for “Oxygen” and ended with “Island Glow.” Other fan favorites – and favorites of mine – included “That’s All I Need,” “Sloth’s Revenge,” and their newest song, “Rescue Me.” They had the crowd straight-up hypnotized with the new tune.
When the show ended, the crowd cheered for what seemed like 10 minutes; a long round of applause for this sick Dirty Heads show.
As we were leaving, we ran into Beer Mug and asked for his favorite moment from the show. He said, “It’s hard to pinpoint just one, but if I have to choose, it has to be that we got to see the Dirty Heads in their home town of Huntington Beach, on the beach, for the ROQ the Beach secret KROQ show!”
Final thoughts on this show: I thoroughly enjoyed the ambience; loved that it was a hometown Dirty Heads show at the beach. This felt exactly the way a Dirty Heads show should be.
Dirty Heads are touring through the rest of the year, so don’t miss your chance to experience them in person. SoCal fans can see them on September 23rd in Irvine at FivePoint Amphitheatre. If that’s not enough, set your sights on Waikiki Beach, Oahu in October!
