The Last Gang vs The Drowns, with special guests Suburban Resistance & The Minges – The Usual Place, DTLV

August 23, 2024 – With the weather seeming to cool off here in the Las Vegas valley we saw a big crowd of punk rockers roll out to The Usual Place on Friday night for The Last Gang and The Drowns, with special guests right here from Las Vegas, The Minges & Suburban Resistance. I enjoy shows on Friday nights, maybe it’s some kind of call back to my youth, but there’s always some added excitement that I feel on Fridays specifically.

The punk scene here reminds me a lot of the hardcore scene – I would consider these two scenes as siblings, as the elements draw from each other. These fans like to come out and really support the bills being put on. Which is something right off the bat that I don’t want to go unnoticed. The venue was pretty full early on and stayed full through the four band bill, which is not always something that I see when going to shows, so it’s something I appreciate. 

Suburban Resistance

Up first was Suburban Resistance. I’ve followed these guys on their socials for a bit now, and I’ve regularly seen their name on bills through the years, but admittedly didn’t know much about them. They put on a high energy set, with quirky jokes in between songs. It was a great way to get this whole show started. I definitely appreciate their hard rock influence within their sound. As someone who generally refers themself as a metalhead, I feel like these guys have a vibe that just about any rock music fan in general could get into and vibe to. While this was my first time seeing these guys, I certainly hope it’s not the last!

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The Minges

It’s hard for me to not be biased when it comes to The Minges. They’re my friends and I’ve taken various promotional content for them since their inception. This was the second time I’d been able to see them live, though they’ve been grinding hard and playing shows all over Vegas the last year. I will say since that first show of theirs, which was Mariah Baldwin’s “Desert Honey Punk” series of the Desert Honey Pot showcases, there has been obvious growth and comfort that can be seen on stage with these four. Jessica seems to be settling into her place as a frontwoman very well, while Stephy (bass) Eric (drums) and Joe (guitar) all vibe together harmoniously. The Minges have made a tradition of ending their sets with a photo of them with the crowd behind them, flipping off the camera. This is one of those things that makes them so fun, in my eyes. Lets just call it, “Making Punk Fun Again!”

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The Drowns

Up next were The Drowns from Seattle, WA. By this time, the floor in the venue was packed pretty tight. So much so that I had decided to just wander around with my 70-200 and shoot photos through the crowd. (I don’t ever mind this, by the way. It’s an interesting perspective to give.) Fans at the front of the stage could be seen yelling along to all the songs, and the energy was riding high. I couldn’t tell you much about this band other than I really enjoyed their energy, and how well they all complimented each other on stage. The singer closed out the set by saying they are anti racist, anti fascist, and they vote that way. The crowd roared in approval, I clapped along with a smile on my face in agreement.

Setlist: 

1. Black Lung
2. Wolves on the Throne
3. Ketamine & Cola
4. She’s the Knife
5. Cue the Violins
6. Live Like Yer Dyin
7. Wheels
8. Blacked Out
9. Just The Way She Goes
10. Hold Fast
11. Demons
12. Battery Street
13. Them Rats

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The Last Gang

Our final performance for the night was The Last Gang. Coming in HOT from Los Angeles, California, this band really knows how to keep the energy high and the vibes on the up and up. Yet another band with incredible chemistry on stage, and the fans headbanging and singing along are proof of that. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a band jump around the way they did, and I’m not complaining.

I was fortunate enough to see them a couple years back on the main stage at Punk Rock Bowling, but with only three songs and then having to run around to the next stage, I didn’t quite get to enjoy them like I was able to this time. The Usual Place is a smaller, intimate venue, so being able to see a band like this, on a stage like this, it’s quite special. The Last Gang closed out their set by bringing out the vocalist for The Drowns to sing along, which was a real treat for those of us in the crowd. The energy was so high, and happy faces could be seen all around!

Though this band was formed around 2010, they really began to find their place with an official breakout in 2017/2018. Reading that bit of information was surprising to me, since they are so enjoyable to watch perform. 

Hopefully we see more great things come from The Last Gang in the future, and I really would love to see them perform again at Punk Rock Bowling, maybe a club show spot? Or anywhere on those bills really. This band is way fun and worth coming out for!

If you’re a fan of Bad Cop, Bad Cop or The Venomous Pinks, The Last Gang will find a happy home within your music collection!

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My closing notes this time are relatively simple, as there aren’t many. Other than the smoke that was sometimes difficult to shoot through, this was a punk show for the books. And though I don’t really consider myself a diehard punk rock fan, I will always enjoy the vibes and energy that I feel every time I do get to see a punk show.

Until next time…

Photos by Courtney Ware for ZrockR Magazine 2024 – All Rights Reserved.