A Punk Rock Teenage Dream at Mohawk

When I heard that one of the top bands I listened to while navigating my rebellious teenager phase in high school (Destroy Boys) would be performing at my favorite Austin music venue (Mohawk), I knew I had to be there. I think a bit of my highschool self healed seeing the young alternative teens show up and show out with their DIY patches and clothes. In the absolute best way possible, this show gave me hope for the future of alternative youth. I want to thank Destroy Boys for encouraging it.

Despite the rain at this outdoor show, the venue was nearly fully packed by the time the first set started. The first opening band, Deux Visages, had the whole crowd dancing with their energetic set. I couldn’t help but notice the passion the band had for their music; it didn’t take much listening for me to add a few of their songs to my playlists.

After an amazing start to the night, local Austin-based band Farmer’s Wife kept the energy high with a dramatic entrance that incited cheer from the crowd. Farmer’s Wife is beloved here in Austin, with many people in the crowd singing the familiar tunes and dancing along. When the band announced their hit song, “Greg Abbott’s Maxi Pad,” the crowd almost couldn’t contain itself.

At this point of the show, many people were soaking wet from the rain, but they were too excited for Destroy Boys to care. The crowd got bigger, more people inching closer to the stage to view the headliner. Destroy Boys had nearly everyone in the crowd singing along (including me, of course) and the crowd became more energetic throughout the show, to the point where multiple crowd members began crowd surfing. This sense of community strengthened through the moshing and headbanging of the thrilled concert goers, especially when the band announced before a song that “this is for all my freaks out there,” bringing out one of the loudest cheers of the night.