Packed shoulder-to-shoulder, the floor at The Underground Charlotte looked exactly how a punk show should, chaotic, loud, and unapologetic, with wild fans and even wilder hair to match. When MxPx hit the stage, the room really came alive.
Back in the late ’70s, Crass declared “punk is dead.” Decades later, bands like The Exploited pushed back just as bluntly. On Saturday night in Charlotte, the fans and the band didn’t give any question as to who got it right – I’ve got to say punk’s NOT dead.
As soon as the band took the stage, it was obvious this wasn’t just another ‘90s band’s attempt to relive the glory days. More than three decades after forming, the band played like it was still 1992 – pushing back against the overproduced sound that dominated mainstream rock. Fans donned denim vests full of Misfits patches and rocked blue liberty spikes in the hair, despite the fact that many of them likely will sport a tie and khakis come Monday morning as they clock into their 9 to 5.
But this wasn’t just a room full of aging punks trying to relive the past. There were younger faces too, some possibly dragged along by their embarrassing parents. Some who are clearly making decisions for themselves. Either way, this was more than a nostalgia tour, it was proof that no matter how much things change, some things stay the same.
That energy carried straight into the opening notes. Kicking things off with “Not Today” and rolling into “Party, My House, Be There,” the band set a pace early. Soon, bodies were surfing over the crowd toward the barricade, with security scrambling to catch them and toss them back into the fray.
Frontman Mike Herrera kept things tight and the band pulled off some impressive moves, including an aerial swap of guitars throwing them across the stage that could have ended with some light head trauma had either musician missed the catch.
The set didn’t feel like a greatest-hits performance, in fact, 30+ years into it the band just put out their 11th studio album Finding a Way Home and have been touring in support of it. All said and done, the band proved they still have what it takes to put on a hell of a show. The fans reminded everyone that there are still plenty of punks left in a society that often feels like a rat race, the very antithesis of what the culture stands for.
Punk music has changed throughout the years, from self-produced ‘noise’ to more polished label-backed hits, but regardless of how much money is put into an album or how often a song is played on the radio, punk is more than a dollar figure, it’s an ethos. An ethos that doesn’t care if you’re an angsty teenager rebelling against the unfair system that is a curfew on a Saturday night, or a 45-year-old banker driving a Suburban loaded with two screaming kids on the way to soccer practice.
I know this isn’t your typical concert review. There’s no rundown of every song or waxing poetic about how the band ‘still has it’ (they do). But in the punk-rock spirit, I think that’s fine.
Going to an MxPx show isn’t about normalcy; it’s about the energy and the chaos. It’s about remembering that no matter what your life looks like in 2026 there’s liberation in rebellion. If you want to experience that, no polished breakdown of a setlist can do it justice – you just have to go see it for yourself. Even if that means a sore back and ringing in your ears come Monday morning.
Seeing the show reminded me of one of my favorite movies: ‘SLC Punk.’
There’s a point where the protagonist has the revelation that his punk lifestyle and teenage rebellion has to end. He accepts that he was bound for college and that he would become just like his father, but that didn’t mean his punk spirit had to die, it would just change.
“I could always be a litigator in New York and piss the s–t out of the judges…We can do a hell of a lot more damage in the system than outside of it.” – SLC Punk.
Seeing fans young and old forgetting about the daily grind for a few hours was more than just another concert, it was a type of catharsis that doesn’t come around every day.
There are still a few stops left on the tour, and I’d guess there will be plenty of shows in the future, so if you’re looking for a good time and a chance to forget about the daily grind go check out a show.
I’m Music Magazine Photographer/Music Journalist Michael Praats
MxPx
