Live Review: Pennywise, The Bronx, Dan Cribb & The Isolated

It is impossible not enjoy the ambitiously harmonious trip down pop-punk memory lane that Dan Cribb & The Isolated take you on during their opening set.

A very decent early crowd watched singer Cribb (editor at The Music) and buddies execute said harmonies seamlessly, as the three-piece became four with the addition of Nathan Cooper from Cribb's old outfit The Decline joining them on guitar. They closed out the '90s-infused, super melodic punk rock set with a much appreciated Millencolin cover and a nice homage to The Simpsons.

The Bronx, quite simply, are the best live punk rock band in the world. It was pretty clear from the get-go that many of the crowd at the Pennywise headlined show were there to see The Bronx — and they got an extreme fist full of riot-inducing hardcore/punk rock for their efforts. Living life on the edge of punk, hardcore and rock'n'roll, singer Matt Caughthran forgoes any foreplay and jumped straight into the crowd, ripping into Sore Throat, the first of many tracks taken from their latest album V. Slaves to the hook, every single word, riff and drum hit that came off the stage was done so with absolute fury and passion, knocking out classic tunes like Heart Attack American and the ear damaging History's Stranglers. If you weren't a Bronx fan before tonight, we're pretty sure you are now.

And then just when you thought it was safe to go back in the pit, up come skate punk legends, Pennywise. Metropolis at absolute capacity is quite a thing. Hot, misty and sweaty, the Hermosa Beach, California kings were finally here the punch out your earholes with their legendary, genre-defining album Full Circle in its entirety, and not a single pair of Vans skate shoes in the room stood still. Quickly answering any 'Have they still got it?' questions, Pennywise ripped through tracks Fight Till You Die, Date With Destiny and Get A Life. Singer Jim Lindberg has a unique ability to push fans to a fever pitch, delivering what everyone knows is coming like it was the first time they had seen or heard it before.

Closing out the Full Circle, having arguably played it faster than the original recording all the way back in 1997, Pennywise were far from done. They slammed into some ageless classics and a handful of covers, with guitarist and founding member Fletcher Dragge giving the adorably tiring, ageing crowd thanks for every drop of sweat and burst earhole suffered over a 20-plus-year career.