Cover photo by Alden Bonecutter
Los Angeles County made punk history on June 8th with the inauguration of No Values Fest, a 40-year celebration of punk music that welcomed fans of all ages. The festival reunited iconic bands like the original Misfits, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, and The Adicts, bringing in more than 40,000 attendees, an indecent amount of traffic, and—although we spent more time in our car than at the festival—what I would call a nostalgic success.
Located on the fairgrounds of the Fairplex in Pomona—known for the LA County Fair, its live entertainment, and hot weather—our day at No Values Fest didn’t start until 5:00 pm, with the last set at 8:45 pm. Although our time was short, I can confirm that the festival lived up to everyone’s expectations. As someone who is more of a rock than a punk fan, my main motivation was to see Sublime, now fronted by lead singer Bradley Nowell’s son. Accompanied by my concert companion Dylan, who discovered the festival initially, I left Pomona with new fan favorites and a newfound appreciation for punk.
My preconceptions of the genre were pretty stereotypical, consisting of mohawks, mosh pits, and loud screaming. Although I saw some attendees rocking all-black outfits and blue hairstyles, it was enlightening to see the evolution of the music and its meaning to each person. The crowd was extremely diverse, from two-year-olds in “rock on” shirts to 60-year-old Misfits die-hards. Although it was easy to spot people just looking for trouble, everyone was generally respectful, and given the large attendance, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not as intense as I anticipated.
The festival was spread wide enough to fit four stages, a bleacher set, over 50 food and drink vendors, an inside club, and an additional building sectioned off just for VIP. In typical punk rock fashion, there was a giant “Vans Off The Wall” skate ramp, a “fun zone” sign for smoking, and drinks thrown in every direction. The variety of food and drinks was also extremely impressive, from vegan options to the best chicken shawarma bowl I’ve ever eaten.
The media lounge was an additional perk to the festival that ended up being our saving grace. Housed in an abandoned theater, it offered a calm oasis to escape from the heat, enjoy our food, and, if we were lucky, meet some of the artists performing. On that note, here are our top sets from No Values Fest 2024!
The Garden by Isabella Appell
As one of the most anticipated bands at the festival, The Garden was our first stop and left a lasting impression. Though we only caught the tail end of their set, their music remained a core experience of our day.
Just from hearing a few of their songs, I learned that The Garden is the epitome of punk rock. Experimenting with all types of styles from electric music to classic punk, the band’s amalgamation of sounds shouldn’t make sense together, however, it always did. With headliners like Sublime and the original Misfits scheduled for later, everyone in attendance seemed genuinely excited to be there for The Garden. To my surprise, the atmosphere remained calm and respectful, even during sporadic bouts of crowdsurfing—a refreshing sight before diving into the more intense pits.
Their performance wouldn’t be complete without Wyatt Shears’s iconic yellow and red electric guitar, a towering joker on stilts, and occasional mic stand theatrics. Though our time with them was brief, The Garden’s set was the perfect festival kickoff, leaving us with a sense of curiosity for the following acts and a feeling of contentment toward the type of people we would soon meet.
Sublime by Isabella Appell
Having grown up listening to Sublime in the car with my dad, their music feels like a portal to another world for me. Consequently, when I saw their name on the No Values lineup, it sparked a deep sense of nostalgia and connection, a sentiment evidently shared by many.
Following the passing of lead singer Bradley Nowell, his son, James Nowell, has filled in his father’s shoes, preserving the band’s legacy over 24 years later. Incorporating young Nowell was a brilliant move, injecting youthful energy into their already-iconic music. The crowd at the festival was a testament to this success, packed shoulder to shoulder with not an open spot on the grounds, overflowing into walkways and nearby stages. Despite the challenge of visibility, Nowell projected his voice exceptionally well, and the cameraman expertly spotlighted each band member on the big screen.
Sublime’s sound, although evolved over the years, remains true to its origins in surf rock. Nowell’s voice echoed his dad’s gravelly tone, carrying the energy of someone who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day, yet retains the energy of a 20-year-old man. With chest tattoos on full display, fluffy hair, and a relaxed smile, Nowell embodied the joy of doing what he loves. Though I wished we could have experienced the set closer to the stage, Sublime has proven that even after 40 years, their legacy remains timeless.
Joyce Manor by Dylan Simmons
Despite big names Sublime and Bad Religion performing concurrently, Joyce Manor evidently didn’t struggle to attract a devoted crowd of their own. Joyce Manor, hailing from the greater Los Angeles area, was one of the smaller acts of the day, but their stage presence and already-iconic discography will surely earn them headlining spots soon. (Revisiting their Spotify profile while writing, I found that they’ve already gained almost 100,000 more monthly listeners since their appearance at No Values.) Their music features quintessential elements of indie rock and pop punk, culminating in a discography that is universally enjoyable, yet refreshingly unique.
Joyce Manor led us through a varied setlist featuring their top hits and decade-old tracks alike, which the audience enjoyed indiscriminately. When they abruptly transitioned into their biggest song, “Constant Headache,” the crowd truly sprang to life with excitement. Suddenly, nearly everyone was screaming every lyric, jumping along and hoisting up crowdsurfers. This energy seamlessly carried over into the next, equally iconic track, “Catalina Fight Song.”
Since most of their songs hardly surpass the two-minute mark, the band ended up concluding their setlist with ten minutes to spare. Rather than ditching us early, they started taking fan suggestions, and I marveled at their ability to perform each impromptu song flawlessly. These spontaneous interactions reaffirmed to me the devotion of their fanbase (who could immediately name and request the band’s most underground tracks) and the care reciprocated by the band that inevitably attracts their dedicated audience in the first place.
Turnstile by Dylan Simmons
Turnstile easily delivered our favorite performance of the day, bringing their much-needed energy to a massive crowd eager to mosh. The hardcore punk band was the youngest of the biggest names on No Values’s roster, featured on the setlist next to punk legends Iggy Pop and Bad Religion, and gracing the same stage as Sublime. Still, punk fanatics young and old were enthusiastically engaged in their performance.
The crowd was feeding off of Turnstile’s energy as much as the band was feeding off theirs. Turnstile’s hardcore, fast-paced tracks necessitated their high-energy performance, and as a member of the audience, it was impossible not to start headbanging. As an extensive crew of camera operators filmed the crowd, I watched on the screens bordering Turnstile’s stage as old guys moshed, teenage girls belted out the lyrics, and little kids grinned while flipping off the camera. I bore witness to not only the hypnotizing stage presence of the band, but to the community, diversity, and timeless appeal of punk music.
Turnstile interspersed their relentlessly upbeat tracks with slower instrumentals, either as transitions between songs or as entire tracks in their own right. This artistically curated setlist allowed the band to catch their breath and reset for the next high-energy track, while the crowd was given a moment to mindfully exist in the music. In a setting surrounded by fellow music lovers dancing and singing beside you, festivals provide an almost spiritual connection to music. Artists like Turnstile that pay close attention to every element of their performance elevate this immersive experience, which left me feeling exhausted, but on top of the world.
After a long, hot afternoon of singing and dancing, Isabella and I bid farewell to the Fairplex and embarked on a 20-minute walk back to her car. As the sun set over the parking lot and my dopamine high persisted, I began reflecting on the exciting day we just had together. I got to see some of my favorite artists, and I discovered new additions to the playlists I keep on repeat. I felt an overwhelming gratitude for the music, the community surrounding it, and my unique role in the LA music scene. Such a prevalent community exists among music lovers, but particularly in the punk subculture, which readily embraces anyone who wants to dip their toes into moshing, political activism, mohawks, or more hardcore sounds.
Check out the rest of No Values’s roster below!
