Punk Rock Bowling with Teenage Bottlerocket: ZRockR Talks to Miguel

How can anyone NOT like Teenage Bottlerocket? I mean, seriously. They are one of the most fun bands, and they’re from Wyoming! No one lives there! So, to get a kickass punk band from there? SOLD. I first caught the band literally the day after I got married at the Dive Bar here in Vegas and was completely blown away. The last time I caught them was at Backstage Bar & Billiards last year with Authority Zero and locals Mercy Music (super cool to see people I went to high school with doing the damn thing). We got to talk to bassist Miguel Chen about their upcoming club show and all the PRB madness.

ZR: Welcome back to PRB and to Vegas! What are you most looking forward to this year?

Miguel: Thank you! VERY stoked to be back. I’m looking forward to finally playing one of the pool parties this year, it’s gonna be a good time!

ZR: We’ve caught you quite a few times when you’ve been in town; what has been your favorite Vegas memory and your most WTF moment here in Sin City?

Miguel: I mean, isn’t that part of the whole “What happens in Vegas…” thing? Definitely love playing Vegas though!

ZR: What is it about PRB that keeps you guys coming back? Like, what is it that makes this fest so special to you as a band?

Miguel: We’ve played festivals all over the world, and PRB has struck a special balance in that it equally gives a shit about both the bands and the audience. Lots of festivals inadvertently lean one way or the other, where either the bands are taken care of, but the crowd gets kind of screwed, or vice versa. PRB is really balanced in that way, and we love playing it.

ZR: What would be your dream PRB lineup?

Miguel: PRB has a way of bringing bands back from the dead. If they could somehow get Rudimentary Peni to play, I’d be SO stoked.

ZR: Are there any bands on this year’s PRB lineup you are looking most forward to that you have not seen yet?

Miguel: It’s so awesome seeing Power Trip is back out doing shows. I was living in Dallas when Riley passed away, and it was a fucking tragedy. So stoked to see them back at it. I would love to catch them with their new singer.
 

I will definitely second that on Power Trip! Looking super forward to seeing them. If you have not seen Teenage Bottlerocket before, I highly suggest you catch their pool show prior to the start of the fest! Their club show with Broadway Calls, MakeWar, Public Serpents, and Dyland Disaster & the Revelry at The Usual Place is SOLD OUT, but you can start your PRB off right Saturday at the Citrus Pool Deck at the Downtown Grand with Teenage Bottlerocket, Beton Arme, and Hot Patooties at 10:30 am! Plus, it’s FREE! If I am not too hungover Saturday morning from Friday night kick off shenanigans, I may wander my ass down myself!

PHOTO CREDIT: All Live Photos of Teenage Bottlerocket by Stephy Muzio (Hayward) for ZRockR Magazine 2024 – All Rights Reserved