A crowd of friendly punks and sartorial time travelers gathered in Oakland for the first day of Mosswood Meltdown on Saturday. Hosted by cult filmmaker and artist John Waters, the two-day celebration of throwback garage rock and punk returned to Mosswood Park as scrappy and perfectly queer-centered as ever.
Highlights from the sun-baked first day included the bouncy garage rock of Morgan and the Organ Donors, who warmed up the smaller amphitheater stage decorated with googly eyes and a gumball machine. The audience twisted and bopped to the 5.6.7.8’s—a Japanese rockabilly band perhaps best known for appearing in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1. Ending a long hiatus, feminist art rock icons Le Tigre closed out the main stage in an electrifying set.
With food from local eateries like Aburaya and Noodle Belly, free bangs trims and electric guitars for sale, the festival has become a July Fourth weekend family reunion of sorts for the Bay Area’s do-it-yourself punk scene.
On Sunday, riot grrrls Bratmobile and punk quintet Mika Miko both reunite after years apart. Oakland’s own electro group Gravy Train!!!!, led by icon Brontez Purnell, bring Mosswood Meltdown to a close.
🗓 July 1-2, 2023
📍Mosswood Park, Oakland
🎟 $99-$169
