Los Angeles ska-punk band The Interrupters opened up Saturday’s Merriweather Post Pavilion date, stop number 14 of a 29 date summer package tour which includes co-headliners 311 and Dirty Heads, as well as two more opening acts, Bikini Trill and Dreamers.

The Interrupters took the stage while a portion of “Ghost Town” by the legendary UK ska band, The Specials, played in the background serving as an intro. The LA band wasted no time, blazing right through “A Friend Like Me” from their 2014 self-titled debut record, then quickly followed that up with their 2016 song “By My Side” from their sophomore record Say It Out Loud.

Following the breakneck performance of the first two songs, singer Aimee Allen told the crowd that the next song “is a protest song, but also a unity song” and reminded the crowd that “there’s no room for racism, sexism or bigotry of any kind”, a much needed sentiment in these dark political days. They then launched into ‘Take Back The Power’, an overtly political and snarling call-to-arms, which challenges, “Are you a leader, or will you follow? Are you a fighter, or will you cower?” before throwing down the gauntlet to the crowd “It’s our time, to take back the power!”

They continued with a semi-political trend with “Title Holder” from their 2018 Hellcat Records release, Fight The Good Fight, which Allen said “is a fight song, but not a fight song, like fighting each other”, it’s a song about fighting and overcoming challenges such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The general admission pit turned into a full-on dance craze and sing-a-long during ‘She Got Arrested’, which Allen introduced by announcing simply “This song is about a girl”. Throughout the entire show, Allen floated between the stage and the crowd which helped raise the energy level. They began their song, “Easy On You” by interspersing slices of The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” and Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Going to Take It” before counting off “One, Two, Three, Four!” At which point multiple beach balls flew high into the air, perfectly timed with the music.

The show ended on a high note with explosive performances of “Gave You Everything” and single “She’s Kerosene”, which has received considerable airplay on DC 101, both songs from 2018’s Fight The Good Fight.

All photos copyright and courtesy of Shantel Mitchell Breen.