The Barbarians of California • Armed for Apocalypse • Squint
Tue 09/15/26
6:30PM
All Ages
music
$25 ADV // $30 DOS
Presented by Riot Fest
Show Lineup
The Barbarians of California
(LA)
Genre: Noise Rock, Punk
The West Coast’s contribution to hardcore punk is undeniable. That tradition of aggression, passion, and scrappy melodicism continues with The Barbarians Of California, an engaging new manifestation of iconoclastic spirit and true bombast. Born from the shared passion of Aaron Bruno and Eric Stenman, the spirit of the underground and the personal catharsis delivered through metallic hardcore never left either of them. So, when Aaron learned that Eric crafted a batch of throwback bangers combining impassioned angst with modern sensibilities, he wanted in immediately. The Barbarians was born.
Squint
(St Louis)
Squint doesn’t slow down. Just a year after their LP “Big Hand”, the post-hardcore band returns with ‘Drag’—a six-track EP packed with grit and riffs. Recorded with punk/hardcore producer Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording (Weekend Nachos, Harm’s Way, and more), the EP captures some of the band’s most straightforward yet dynamic work to date.
The record opens with “Squintro Pt. 2,” a 40-second callback to their debut EP “Feel It”, before flowing seamlessly into “Green Grass,” where a driving post-hardcore track evolves into a rhythmic, alt-rock-inspired anthem. This balance defines “Drag”: fast, urgent songwriting layered with dynamics that leave space for pauses, claps, and sing-alongs.
On “Drag”, Squint sound confident and sharp, moving effortlessly across moods and styles while always sounding like Squint.