Images: The Last Gang, Rayner, Intoxicated Rejects, Wolfhounds October 5, 2018 at the Beauty Bar

In the realm of punk rock alone, Friday was a stacked night for shows in Vegas. Just within a few feet of each other, you had skatepunk stalwarts Ten Foot Pool at Evel Pie and recent Fat Wreck signees The Last Gang at Beauty Bar.

I ended up at Beauty, just in time to catch first opener Wolfhounds. The band is fronted by Mike Janoff of Guilty By Association. But while the vocals had that same, shouty H2O-style delivery, the shredding lead guitar reminded me more of another 90s punk band – Strung Out.

Michael Christopher, frontman for the night’s second band Intoxicated Rejects, played his set just a few hours shy of getting into a car accident. If he was hurt he didn’t show it, as he started his band’s set with a raise of the alcohol glass (hey, I guess they really were intoxicated). The band played some pretty straightforward punk rock and also gave out a number of free t-shirts between songs.

Rayner took the stage sans regular drummer Dave Bartlett, who is currently on tour with Drake (people will think this is a joke but he really is on tour with the Canadian rap star). In his brightly colored shoes was Matt Nakagawa, who has previously drummed for Alex and His Meal Ticket (among others). Frontman Dany Panda descended the tall Beauty Bar stage for set ender “Blurred Limes,” joining the people in the audience singing along.

Closing out the night was The Last Gang. They’ve been on tour… basically since the last time they played Vegas earlier this year. Though the band hails from Southern California, frontwoman Brenna Red said that seeing the lights of Vegas while driving in made her realize this place is a second home to them. The band blasted through a set that included “Karla” and an excellent cover of Nirvana’s “Breed.”

-Emily Matview

Photos by Aaron Mattern | https://www.flickr.com/photos/akmofoto/