Dubbed ‘Bastards of the Holy Riff,’ because, well, duh, the forthcoming US tour uniting co-headliners The Atomic Bitchwax and Crobot sees its announcement even as the former are just getting underway on their summer run through Europe. The New Jersey-based Bitchwax recently reissued 2011’s The Local Fuzz, while Pennsylvania’s Crobot are touring for their 2024 outing, Obsidian. The two will begin the tour in late-October in Syracuse, make their way through the Upper Midwest and down the Pacific Coast only to circle around with a swing through the Southeast. If you’re gonna do it all in one go — it being the country — this month-long stint is pretty much textbook as to how.

Drummer Bob Pantella — who The Atomic Bitchwax now share with The Obsessed in addition to Monster Magnet — posted the US dates on his socials. I’ve included the remaining Bitchwax Euro dates as well, because if you happen to be in their path, you should know that and realize how fortunate you are.

For perusal:

Coming up in November!!!

@crobotband and @the_atomic_bitchwax

10/24/25 – Syracuse, NY-@thelosthorizonsyracuse
10/25/25 – Toledo, OH – @frankiestoledo
10/26/25 – Columbus, OH – King of Clubs
10/28/25 – Detroit, MI – Small’s @smallsbar
10/30/25 – West Chicago @thewcsocialclub
10/31/25 – Madison, WI-@theannexmadison
11/01/25 – Lincoln, NE – @thebourbontheatre
11/02/25 – Denver, CO – HQ @hqdenver
11/04/25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High n
11/06/25 – Seattle, WA – @elcorazonseattle
11/07/25 – Vancouver, BC – @kingswayclub
11/08/25 – Portland, OR – The Nova
11/09/25 – Eugene, OR – John Henry’s
11/11/25 – San Jose, CA – The Ritz
11/12/25 – Anaheim, CA – The Parish at HOB
11/13/25 – Phoenix, AZ – The Rosetta Room
11/15/25 – TBD
11/16/25 – Dallas, TX – Sundown at Granada
11/18/25 – New Orleans, LA – No Dice
11/19/25 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
11/20/25 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
11/21/25 – Raleigh, NC – The Pour House
11/22/25 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
11/23/25 – Philadelphia, PA – Milkboy

The Atomic Bitchwax – Summer Europe/UK tour dates!!!

29 7 SLO LJUBJANA GALA HALA
30 7 CROATIA ZAGREB VINTAGE CLUB
31 7 AT SALZBURG ROCKHOUSE BAR
1 8 ITL UDINE PIETRA SONICA
2 8 ITL MILAN MAGNOLIA STONE
3 8 CH EMMENBRUCKE CLUB SEDEL
5 8 GER KARLSRUHE ALTE HACKEREI
6 8 GER WEINHEIM CAFE CENTRAL
7 8 GER MAGDEBURG FLOWERPOWER
8 8 GER BERLIN WILD AT HEART
9 8 POR ANCORA SONIC BLAST FESTIVAL
11 8 UK NOTTINCHAM RESCUE ROOMS
12 8 UK GLASGOW CLASSIC GRAND
8 13 UK MANCHESTER GORILLA
14 8 UK BRISTOL THEKLA
15 8 UK LONDON THE GARAGE
16 8 GER PLAIDT PELLENZER OPEN AIR
17 8 GER DUSSELDORF PITCHER
19 8 GER HAMBURG HAFENKLANG
20 8 GER MUNSTER RARE GUITAR
21 8 NL ROTTERDAM ROODKAPJE
22 8 BEL RILLAAR BELGIUM DOWN THE HILL FESTIVAL

The Atomic Bitchwax are:
Chris Kosnik – Bass
Bob Pantella – Drums
Garrett Sweeny – Guitar

http://www.theatomicbitchwax.com/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Atomic-Bitchwax-86002001659/

http://teepeerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/teepeerecords/

The Atomic Bitchwax, Scorpio (2020)

Dayum. SonicBlast Fest came out hard with its first lineup announcement and things have only gotten more heartstirring since then. In a new round of 13 lineup adds, they bring King Woman, Messa, Monolord, King Buffalo, The Atomic Bitchwax, Daily Thompson, Vinnum Sabbathi, Castle Rat, Tō Yō, Witchthroat Serpent and more to the bill, and when you look at the rest of the poster and see Fu Manchu, My Sleeping Karma, Earthless, Slomosa, Gnoma, Daevar, Amenra, Emma Ruth Rundle and so on, yeah, fair to call it compelling, not that “weekend on the beach in Portugal” should be a hard sell on its own either.

And while you’re looking at the poster below, surely you’ll also note the part where it says there’s more to come. I don’t know that that’ll be another full round of 13 bands, but honestly, SonicBlast is always packed, so anything’s possible. I was there in 2023 and it was awesome. Great place, nice people, and I learned how to order espresso in Portuguese, which was a bonus. If you can get there, you should take a look, is all I’m saying. I even left the emojis intact.

The following comes from socials:

13 is the magic number 🔥🔥

We’re so thrilled to confirm 13 new bands for the great reunion of weight and psychedia that will once again – for the 13th time! – take place in August, on the already mythical Duna dos Caldeirões beach ⚡️🔥

King Woman, Monolord, Chalk, Ditz, King Buffalo, Messa, Castle Rat, Dead Ghosts, The Atomic Bitchwax, Witchthroat Serpent, Vinnum Sabbathi, Tō Yō, Daily Thompson will join us at our wild party ⚡️

King Woman
Monolord
Chalk
Ditz
King Buffalo
Messa
Castle Rat
Dead Ghosts
The Atomic Bitchwax
Witchthroat Serpent
Vinnum Sabbathi
Tō Yō
Daily Thompson

Tickets are already available at BOL and Masqueticket (links in bio)

If you’re in Portugal you can also buy your ticket at Fnac, Worten and Ctt stores

Artwork by @branca_studio

https://www.facebook.com/sonicblastmoledo/
https://www.instagram.com/sonicblast_fest
https://sonicblastfestival.com/

Daily Thompson, Chuparosa (2024)

Being at just a couple weeks’ remove from this year’s Planet Desert Rock Weekend, I can tell you outright that the comedown is real. Even putting aside mindboggling performances from the likes of Iota, Luna Sol, Solace, Valley of the Sun and a host of others, the people and place, the vibe and heart of the event, and the sense of curation were excellent. It was a great, great time, and it was accordingly something of a challenge to get back to regular life.

The good news as regards daydreaming is that the first lineup reveals for Planet Desert Rock Weekend VI are happening today. The Atomic Bitchwax and Freedom Hawk top the thus-far bill, with The Heavy Eyes and High Desert Queen also making return appearances and Throttlerod traveling the farthest I’ve seen them go for a show since Small Stone was at SXSW. Also, Montreal’s Mooch, Sweden’s Huanastone, Saturna from Spain and Italian heavy rockers Isaak are slated to appear as imports, all apparently coming to the US for the first time.

Already the specificity of the picks — these aren’t just bands who’ll be on tour for new records stopping through town, I mean — speaks to the depth brought to putting together Planet Desert Rock Weekend by curator John Gist who heads the promotional company Vegas Rock Revolution, and I look forward to learning more about the stories these nights will tell over the better part of the nex year, in addition to hoping I make it back to Vegas next January.

From the PR wire:

This year’s Planet Desert Rock Weekend V was an amazing success as we had outstanding performances from all 20 of the bands who came to play. This included a rare performance from Fireball Ministry at the Ripple Music Showcase along with ripping sets by legacy bands like Unida, Mos Generator and Solace as well as 8 international groups came out that included Sergeant Thunderhoof, JIRM, Sons of Arrakis, Mr. Bison, Samavayo, Fire Down Below, Omega Sun and Green Desert Water. Our turnout was simply a magnificent set of fans who love the heavy underground, enjoy the killer party & music each evening and want to give all the positive energy into the experience. PDRW does not exist without the feedback and love that our fans give.

So PDRW VI has its work cut out as the curation of the event’s bar has been set high. Happy to announce 10 bands to get the lineup rolling. Speaking of legacy bands, we are super excited to have The Atomic Bitchwax coming to Sin City! This New Jersey band has been rocking since 1992 and always delivers a massive energy to their presence. The band features two active members of Monster Magnet.

We return 4 PDRW players that have put on top notch performances and are super cool people. We have Freedom Hawk flying back to Sin City to rock the stage. They performed not only PDRW IV but also the 1st PDRW back in 2018. They are one of the best bands musically in the scene. The Heavy Eyes returns to PDRW after playing the debut of Planet Desert Rock. This Memphis band knows how to get the crowd moving! High Desert Queen who played a high octane set at PDRW III which was our basic reboot of PDRW. Vocalist Ryan Garney is a great friend to Vegas Rock Revolution and of course the man with the plan behind our other favorite fest Ripplefest. High Desert Queen’s 2024 album “Palm Reader” landed #2 for May on the Doom Charts. Spain’s Saturna returns to PDRW after playing at PDRW v2 and we can’t wait to hear some of the tracks of their highly regarded album “The Reset” that was Vegas Rock Revolution’s #4 album of 2023. They create songs so good that if rock radio was an actual thing still they would be on it. Vocalist James Vieco is one of the top singers in the scene.

Three more international bands from three more countries are next as each of the bands will be playing their USA debuts. Italy’s Isaak who is on the well-respected Heavy Psych Sounds label cruises out to pummel concert goers. They have been rocking the European stages since 2011 and are a high energy band sure to get your blood pumping! This will make 3 years in a row of Italian bands following in the footsteps of Black Elephant and Mr. Bison. From Sweden we have one of the best kept secrets in the scene Huanastone. Many in the know are very familiar with them due to their last two releases that includes 2024 release “Son of Juno” that landed #9 on the Doom Charts for June. They have a silky smooth style and sound that will be cool to hear live. From Montreal Canada as we continue the legacy of 3 straight French Canadian bands(Sandveiss+Sons of Arrakis) we have Mooch. Likely the most unknown of this batch of bands but we have had our eye and ears on them since their 2020 releases Hounds which was produced by Brant Bjork. Their style harkens back to some classic rock influences and a dash of Masters of Reality. Mooch is a younger band and all 3 members sing. Their tracks can stick in your ears for days at a time. Their 2024 release Visions landed #14 on the Doom Charts for June.

Lastly we got a righteous legacy band and a newer band. Throttlerod has been pretty dormant for a bit but they will be firing on all cylinders at PDRW VI . They started blazing stages back in 1999. Frontman Matt Whitehead has been busy with another stellar band Shun which is on Small Stone Records. The band’s sound has wide ranging influences sure to keep us on our toes! Oakland’s Phantom Hound rounds out the announcements for this grouping. VRR has been a big champion of them since the beginning and their recent album “From Boomtown to Ghost Town” on Glory or Death Records landed #5 on the Doom Charts. This power trio has lots of bluesy elements and stroytelling in their stuff.

Already in chats with 10 other very good bands and will release the names as we gather commitments. The list of who we are targeting is close to done and now it’s a matter of who gets the spots. We will have a Last Call Show again and will get a ticket link out for that soon! Some of these bands will be playing that night.

Thanks so much to everyone who has been amazing in their support and love for Planet Desert Rock Weekend. We can’t wait to see you again and party! We won’t let you down.

Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/planet-desert-rock-weekend-vi-in-las-vegas-jan-29-31-2026-tickets-1254021715709

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1890287758376482/

https://www.facebook.com/VRRProductions/
https://www.facebook.com/vegasrockrevolution/

Freedom Hawk, Take All You Can (2022)

Throttlerod, Turncoat (2016)

From Germany’s Rock im Wald and Blue Moon Festival through SonicBlast Fest in Portugal and Down the Hill in Belgium, plus a UK stretch where they’ll meet up to support King Buffalo, New Jersey’s favored sons The Atomic Bitchwax are making the most of their upcoming summer European/UK touring stretch. The trio just released a vinyl edition of a new version of 2011’s instrumental piece, The Local Fuzz (review here), with newly-recorded drums from Bob Pantella and an artwork refresh. Honestly, I didn’t even know that was happening. I can’t find it streaming anywhere, but if you can cop one off the merch table, it goes without saying that’s a worthy endeavour.

The Atomic Bitchwax were out Stateside this past Fall with Royal Thunder, and they previously hit Europe pretty hard in 2022-2023 as they set out supporting 2020’s Scorpio (review here), which remains their latest full-length. I’m hardly impartial, but they’re a no-brainer to see live if you can in my mind. By which I mean I shouldn’t need to sell it. They never fail to deliver a scorching groove and they’re fun on stage besides. If that’s not enough, their show posters are Star Trek. To frickin’ wit this Pike-y masterpiece:

The Atomic Bitchwax – Summer Europe/UK tour dates!!!

24 7 GER MICHELAU ROCK IM WALD
25 7 GER COTTBUS BLUE MOON
26 7 AT LINZ KAPU
27 7 GER MUNCHEN BACKSTAGE
29 7 SLO LJUBJANA GALA HALA
30 7 CROATIA ZAGREB VINTAGE CLUB
31 7 AT SALZBURG ROCKHOUSE BAR
1 8 ITL UDINE PIETRA SONICA
2 8 ITL MILAN MAGNOLIA STONE
3 8 CH EMMENBRUCKE CLUB SEDEL
5 8 GER KARLSRUHE ALTE HACKEREI
6 8 GER WEINHEIM CAFE CENTRAL
7 8 GER MAGDEBURG FLOWERPOWER
8 8 GER BERLIN WILD AT HEART
9 8 POR ANCORA SONIC BLAST FESTIVAL
11 8 UK NOTTINCHAM RESCUE ROOMS
12 8 UK GLASGOW CLASSIC GRAND
8 13 UK MANCHESTER GORILLA
14 8 UK BRISTOL THEKLA
15 8 UK LONDON THE GARAGE
16 8 GER PLAIDT PELLENZER OPEN AIR
17 8 GER DUSSELDORF PITCHER
19 8 GER HAMBURG HAFENKLANG
20 8 GER MUNSTER RARE GUITAR
21 8 NL ROTTERDAM ROODKAPJE
22 8 BEL RILLAAR BELGIUM DOWN THE HILL FESTIVAL

The Atomic Bitchwax are:
Chris Kosnik – Bass
Bob Pantella – Drums
Garrett Sweeny – Guitar

http://www.theatomicbitchwax.com/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Atomic-Bitchwax-86002001659/

http://teepeerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/teepeerecords/

The Atomic Bitchwax, Scorpio (2020)

Check out Down the Hill 2025 bringing in a few classic proggers. Gong, Focus? Seven That Spells are playing too. Being no slouches in the heavy prog department themselves, I bet those guys are gonna freak out to see Gong. I get it.

This is the full lineup for Down the Hill this year. The Belgian-based fest did two, and so everybody is included here to best of my knowledge. I don’t know about you, but I look at the poster, who’s gonna be there with bands like Monkey3, Skyjoggers with Sula Bassana sitting in on guitar, Travo, Neptunian Maximalism and The Bevis Frond alongside The Atomic Bitchwax and Pendejo and Godsleep and I think you get an immediate sense of vibe in and out of progressive and psychedelic and driving heavy rock and roll, a bit of sludge snuck in.

I don’t imagine I’ll be there to see it, but it looks good from here. I’ve been in Belgium once, just long enough to transfer trains and screw up ordering coffee. Perhaps redemption someday:

🔥 DOWN THE HILL – FINAL BAND WAVE UNLEASHED! 🔥

You thought it couldn’t get any crazier? You thought the first wave was intense? Buckle up, because we’re about to send seismic shockwaves through the valley!

THE FINAL WAVE OF BANDS IS HERE!

Modder – Crushing sludge that will swallow you whole!
Astodan – Cinematic post-rock to lose yourself in.
Atonia – A musical force defying borders and genres.
Neptunian Maximalism – NNMM – Psychedelic doom-jazz from another dimension.
Pendej0 – Horn-fueled stoner madness straight from the gutter.
The Atomic Bitchwax – New Jersey’s high-octane rock ‘n’ roll power trio!
Tangled Horns – Dirty, dark and dangerously addictive.
RONKER – Belgium’s own speednoise wrecking crew!
Sula Bassana & Skyjoggers – A cosmic trip like no other.
Focus the band – Prog legends bringing timeless rock mastery.
Hedvig Mollestad Trio – A jazz-rock firestorm you can’t escape.
Gong – The psychedelic pioneers return to take you on a cosmic ride!

But wait, let’s not forget the first wave of killer acts that have already been announced!

Apex Ten – Hypnotic, space-infused krautrock madness.
Capitan – Heavy-hitting rock that grabs you by the throat.
Godsleep – Greek stoner grooves set to shake the earth.
Hemelbestormer – Cosmic post-metal that bends time and space.
Motorikofficial – Krautrock propulsion at its finest.
TRAVO – Fuzzed-out psych sounds that hypnotize.
Wheel of Smoke – Riff-driven journeys through sonic dimensions.
Seven That Spells – The masters of high-energy psych explosions.
monkey3 – Swiss instrumental rockers taking you to the stars.
The Bevis Frond – Legendary psych-rock brilliance from the UK.

🔥 DOWN THE HILL 2025 is set to be the most explosive edition yet! 🔥

🎟 Tickets are moving FAST! Don’t miss your chance to witness this lineup LIVE! 🎟

www.downthehill.be/tickets

https://www.facebook.com/DownTheHillFestival/
https://www.instagram.com/downthehillfestival/
http://www.downthehill.be/

Gong, Unending Ascending (2023)

When last we heard from Jersey riff heroes The Atomic Bitchwax, the trio were set to take off in November for a round of touring alongside Supersuckers. Turns out that’s only part of the plan. Three days after that tour plays its last show in Salt Lake City, the Bitchwax will link up with Royal Thunder for a co-headlining jaunt through the Midwest and Southeast, playing nine shows across 10 nights with what I’ve no doubt will be the kind of get-up-there-and-kick-ass energy they’ve brought to just about every show I’ve seen them play. A perennially undervalued outfit, it’s cool to see them partnered with the cred-toting likes of Royal Thunder, who have a different kind of sound than the go-go-go speed rock around which The Atomic Bitchwax base their style, but should make a fitting complement just the same.

I said as much when the last tour (also listed below, because it’s the same month and it didn’t seem unreasonable to put them together) was announced, but The Atomic Bitchwax are at four years’ remove from 2020’s Scorpio (review here). I’ve hot my fingers crossed they’ll record this winter, but I’ve neither seen nor heard anything to back that with. Just a random hope followed by one for a new LP in 2025. Their 1999 self-titled debut (discussed here) also turns 25 this year. They still work a few songs from it into their regular set, but I wouldn’t argue if they did a full-album show somewhere along the line or maybe even got a reissue together, though I think they did one for the 20th in 2019. Quarter-century later, they’re a different band in terms of lineup, but that one’s still a burner. Toss it on the pile of my Bitchwaxy hopes.

In any case, go see The Atomic Bitchwax. Dates from socials:

Fall Co-Headlining Tour with @royalthunder announced! We hope to see you there!

11/14/24 Oklahoma City OK 89th St
11/15/24 Dallas TX Granada Theater
11/16/24 San Antonio TX Paper Tiger
11/17/24 Austin TX Come and Take It Live
11/19/24 Nashville TN The Cobra
11/20/24 Atlanta GA The Earl
11/21/24 Piedmont SC Tribble’s Bar
11/22/24 Chapel Hill NC Local 506
11/23/24 Summerville SC Trolley Pub

Bitchwax & The Supersuckers!
11/05/24 Club Cafe Pittsburgh
11/06/24 Reggies Chicago Chicago
11/07/24 Turf Club St Paul
11/08/24 Cactus Club Milwaukee
11/09/24 Knuckleheads CMO
11/10/24 Saloon HQ Denver
11/11/24 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City

The Atomic Bitchwax are:
Chris Kosnik – Bass
Bob Pantella – Drums
Garrett Sweeny – Guitar

http://www.theatomicbitchwax.com/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Atomic-Bitchwax-86002001659/

http://teepeerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/teepeerecords/

The Atomic Bitchwax, Scorpio (2020)

The moral of the story here is go see The Atomic Bitchwax. I don’t have demographic numbers on how many people in Pittsburgh or Denver or St. Paul read this site, and frankly, I don’t want them. Once you start looking at ratings, you’re playing for ratings, and I’m here for the music. So in that spirit, whether you’re in Chicago — hi, Slevin! — or Basel, Switzerland, when you get the chance to catch The Atomic Bitchwax, I urge you to do it. Whenever, wherever.

Last I saw the Neptunian trio was in June (review here) as they shared a two-band bill with Virginia’s Freedom Hawk in a town called Clifton about 25 minutes from my house. They played a brewery and there were seats outside. It felt like a luxury experience because it was. Your situation might be different, but the Bitchwax will still rip, and you would benefit by being there. I’ll bet they’ll do “Coming in Hot.” Think of going as looking out for number one. Pure self-interest on your own part. Indulge, as the chocolate ads say.

They’ll be out with The Supersuckers, which is a fun pairing, and as much as I’m ready for a follow-up to 2020’s Scorpio (review here), it’s just reassuring to know the Bitchwax are getting out here and there to do a week of dates in places maybe they have or haven’t been in a while, I don’t know. Worry about the rest later. For now, here are those dates from social media. Really.

Also: KHAAAAN!

Really!
November 2024
Bitchwax & The Supersuckers!

11/05/24 Club Cafe Pittsburgh
11/06/24 Reggies Chicago Chicago
11/07/24 Turf Club St Paul
11/08/24 Cactus Club Milwaukee
11/09/24 Knuckleheads CMO
11/10/24 Saloon HQ Denver
11/11/24 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City

The Atomic Bitchwax are:
Chris Kosnik – Bass
Bob Pantella – Drums
Garrett Sweeny – Guitar

http://www.theatomicbitchwax.com/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Atomic-Bitchwax-86002001659/

http://teepeerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/teepeerecords/

The Atomic Bitchwax, Scorpio (2020)

Life, man. This was my first night back in Jersey after being away for I think what ended up being nine days. Yesterday was a flight from Vegas to Providence via Baltimore, after driving from the Grand Canyon to Vegas the day before, from Mesa Verde to Grand Canyon the day before, Moab to Mesa Verde, Arches, etc., Zion to Moab and Vegas to Zion way back like a million years and a week and a half ago. The short version of the story is I was fucking exhausted. But, Freedom Hawk and The Bitchwax. In Clifton. At a brewery. It’s not like it was literally happening in my back yard, but it was as close to it as I could reasonably ask.

First heavy show at Ghost Hawk Brewing, and sold out to boot, so there’s a chance of it not being the last. Mellow vibe, dudes getting casually lager-drunk; I’ll call it relatable on demographic terms and stroke my graying beard. Food truck right there with the empanadas. I wasn’t in the door before I saw familiar faces. I’m pro-heavy rock in my beloved Garden State across a wide variety of situations, but if the Powers That Book wanted to make Ghost Hawk a stop on the circuit for bands coming through on tour now or ever, I’d call myself lucky. I neither drink alcohol nor eat cubanos at this point in my life, but the spot is pretty rad. Two bands, 7:30 start, a DJ playing cool whathaveyou in one of those turntable setups that are performative but kinda neat just the same. A fellow could get used to these things.

Freedom Hawk went on and were a couple songs in before the fuse or whatever it might’ve been blew — that whole ‘first heavy show here’ thing coming into play; bound to happen — but were back into it soon enough as the members of The Atomic Bitchwax and about 120 others looked on, surrounded by big-vat brewing machines and kegs with Ghost Hawk stickers on them, a tent outside with hightop tables and the smell of Jersey weed in the parking lot; a lovely evening on all accounts. And though they had that unexpected break, it’s not like Freedom Hawk were going to have trouble picking it up after the power came on. Too much groove to lose it so easily. And they’re all smiles on stage, having a good time, maybe a few drinks as well, and there’s no pretense and nobody’s arguing about absolutely nothing and the music started and I got a loud and clear reminder that that’s when things start to make sense. Well, loud and fuzzy anyhow.

By 10 after eight, the crowd was singing along with the riff to “Inside Out,” and that felt about right. “Indian Summer” followed, which is a signature piece for Freedom Hawk at this point, with a tense NWOBHM chug in its verse en route to an open hook that a fair but not at all exclusive swath of their work since has boasted and expanded on — the kind of tune a band writes and learns from, as they did. Catchy. Crazy catchy. Threatens metal but is a rocker all the way, representative of Freedom Hawk more broadly. And no bullshit. That was the theme for the night. Sans. Bull. Shit. It would take more time or energy than I have to convey how much I needed that. That might just be what ultimately got me to Clifton.

The semi-slowdown of “Stand Back” — I’d been listening to Brant Bjork in the car; decent fit — and “Land of the Lost” rounded out the set that had started raging with “Executioner” and “Under a Blood Red Sky.” The Bitchwax, meanwhile, kicked off with “Frankenstein” and “Hope You Die,” as they will, and went into “45” and “So Come On” directly thereafter, so yes, rock and roll was had. New or old, fast or not-quite-as-fast, The Atomic Bitchwax are a reason unto themselves why New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the union. Founding bassist/vocalist Chris Kosnik asked the crowd how many people had heard of the band; honestly I think most had. Then he said 2024 is their 30th year as a band and they tore into “Birth to the Earth.” Hell yes. What a way to announce yourself. Hi we’ve been here for three decades pardon us while we melt your face. Could only be an improvement, dudes. By all means.

Recent favorites like “Ninja” and “Coming in Hot,” “War Claw,” and so on found the apparently-been-at-it-for-30-years-almost-time-for-reissues-I-guess trio very much in their element as regards speed, and the fun they seemed to have bashing away at high velocity and volume was duly infectious as the songs came and went. Many fuck yeahs were had, from all sides. Kosnik on mic: “This one’s for all the girls…” followed by counting. “1.. 2… 6… If we get up to 10, that’s the most we’ve ever had!” Almost made it. Time for “Kiss the Sun,” the Core cover that might as well be an original by now. Let up on the throttle a bit so Garrett Sweeney’s shred feels all the more soulful, Kosnik and drummer Bob Pantella lockstep in holding the riff for the turn back to the verse and chorus, then on to the heavy boogie finish. Not unexpected, but definitely welcome.

I honestly don’t have it in me to check the balance of new vs. old in the set, let alone lay out the parameters of what counts as what, but it felt right on with where they were at last time I saw them, and “Ninja,” “Live a Little” and “Force Field” felt ace in setting up “Shitkicker” (plus a little more “Frankenstein” to cap) closing out. No bridges. No tunnels. No bullshit anywhere to be found. An evening of rare luxuries.

Back on Rt. 3 headed west to go home, I came upon the offramp for Nutley, and as I do nearly every time I pass by that exit on that road, I thought of my friend Gina Brooks, who lived in that area and is buried at a cemetery a bit down the way. She was someone deeply passionate about music, and supportive and kind to me when she really had no particular reason to be. A friend I’ve missed for over a decade now, and a chance to remember that I appreciated. She would have loved this show. I saw fireworks through the trees after I got on Rt. 80 a short time later. It was a good night.

Thanks for reading. More pics after the jump.

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