Mark Stern, drummer of the veteran LA hardcore band Youth Brigade and co-founder of the annual punk festival Punk Rock Bowling, has made us a list of his top 10 bands of 2024, along with a playlist (embedded below) featuring one song/video by each band that he chose. The list includes Fontaines D.C., Lambrini Girls, Spiritual Cramp, Viagra Boys, Civic, and more, and you can read on to see what Mark had to say about each one.
Punk Rock Bowling takes place Memorial Day Weekend in Las Vegas with Peter Hook & The Light (playing the best of Joy Division), Social Distortion, Cock Sparrer, FLAG, Power Trip, and more. Full lineup and more info here.
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Top 10 Bands of 2024, by Mark Stern
Bad Nerves
I had these guys on regular rotation on my playlist all year, and then I saw they were finally coming back to the States. I jumped at the chance to go see them, and they absolutely blew me away. Their influences are all over the place, from The Strokes to the Briefs. One of the most talented bands I’ve heard in a long time and one of my favorites.
Civic
I was surfing in Sumatra this year and shredded my leg on the reef, which put me out of commission for the last five days of the trip. Luckily, a bunch of pro surfers from Australia were staying at our hotel, so I would drink with them at the bar till the wee hours, and we would play each other bands on YouTube. They got me going down a rabbit hole of Aussie bands, and Civic kept coming up—they just stuck. Think early ’80s S. Cal punk meets The Saints. Great guitar riffs!
Viagra Boys
Love this band! They have the most original sound and don’t give a shit about what anybody thinks about them.
Lambrini Girls
Great band with a great message! They just toured the States with Amyl and The Sniffers this year and crushed it.
Fontaines D.C.
Grammy-nominated and just one of the most talented bands out there right now. I love their old stuff, their new stuff, and everything they haven’t even written yet. Just the best.
Kid Kapichi
Great band out of the UK who have been blowing up at all the UK fests the past few years. They’ve been coming over to the States, and a lot of people are finally realizing what a powerhouse they are.
Spiritual Cramp
Love this band from San Francisco. If you like Iggy Pop, The Hives, and ’77 punk rock, then check these guys out.
Soft Play
I went to Riot Fest in Chicago in 2018 specifically to see these guys (who were called SLAVES at the time). They were playing at noon the next day, which didn’t sound appealing. I was hanging out with the Buzzcocks, and they wanted me to go out with them after the show and party, but I told them I came to see Slaves and had to get up really early. They told me, “No problem, mate, they’re playing an after-party with us later that night.” Problem solved. Two-piece band from the UK—the drummer plays standing up on two drums and a cymbal and sings lead, and the guitar sounds like three guitars. Huge sound from two guys. They disappeared for a few years and came back as Soft Play with this song “Punk’s Dead.” It features people leaving messages on their answering machine telling them they were “snowflakes” for changing their name!
Baboon Show
Swedish rock ‘n’ roll! They have been taking Europe by storm and will be performing for the first time in the U.S. at Punk Rock Bowling in Vegas.
Drunk Mums
Creed McTaggert turned me onto these guys in Sumatra. Trashy rock ‘n’ roll from Australia at its finest! Undertones meets Johnny Thunders.
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