While folks ostensibly attend Oakland’s Burger Boogaloo for the music (relive the magic of Day 2 here), a big part of the fun is running into old friends and making new ones, as well as simply watching the diverse parade of colorful, sometimes zany festival-goers. Here are some of the friendly faces we encountered when we weren’t running between the Butt City stage and the Gone Shrimpin’ amphitheater.
Now a summertime staple for many aficionados of trashy punk and rock’n’roll, Oakland’s two-day Burger Boogaloo music festival celebrated its fifth incarnation by bringing the Godfather of Punk Iggy Pop; punk legends the Buzzcocks, X, and Redd Kross; and leather-clad jet rockers Guitar Wolf to humble Mosswood Park. Rulebreaker, filmmaker, and wordsmith John Waters returned to deliver his now-highly anticipated band introductions, as did co-emcee Chuck Ribak and his arsenal of charming dad jokes (he is, after all, the father of Boogaloo mastermind Marc Ribak). (To witness the evolution of this Total Trash Productions and Burger Records love child, or simply relive the magic, visit our posts from 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016).
The first day saw Iggy, Guitar Wolf, Redd Kross, the Losin’ Streaks, and Wounded Lion annihilate the Butt City stage, while acts like Nobunny, Bloodshot Bill, Baby Shakes, and Personal and the Pizzas packed the toe-lovin’ Gone Shrimpin’ amphitheater. Unfortunately for us, our cameras were needed elsewhere that epic day but Aaron Rubin’s photos are incredible (check them out here).
Luckily, we were available to capture the filth and frivolity of Day 2, including performances by the Buzzcocks, X, Shannon & the Clams, and La Luz. Here are some of our favorite moments. (See the many faces of the Boogaloo here.)
These local lads channeled early Sabbath and Stonehenge for their hairflinger of a set. (The Otter Pop aftermath was a welcome surprise.)
Flamin’ Groovies co-founder and his crew cranked out both FG and Phantom Movers classics like “Teenage Head” and “Don’t Believe Those Lies.”
Fuzzed-out toe-tappers by this Miami trio
Recently relocated to Los Angeles, former Seattleites La Luz dazzled with their shimmery surf tracks.
Keyboardist Terry Adams and co. satisfied old and new fans alike with originals and covers.
A cute puppet show kicked off this New Orleans duo’s fun-filled performance, which included an explosion of colorful balloons.
Veteran Sacramento/Bay Area punks were as snotty as ever.
The Oakland darlings and Boogaloo veterans’ sparkling set was punctuated by stagedivers and crowdsurfers galore, including Pookie of the Poodles.
Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom, and DJ Bonebrake tore up Butt City with hits such as “We’re Desperate,” “Los Angeles,” and “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene.”
The crowd went wild for “Orgasm Addict,” “Noise Annoys,” “Boredom,” and other gems by this influential band. One lucky couple somehow managed to climb above the chaos!
Roman musicians Giuda, Plutonium Baby, and Marco Sannino & Valentina Pedone (of Radiation Records, TJ & the Lipstix, Anti You, the Intellectuals, and more) take you on a colorful rocknroll tour of the Eternal City, sharing their favorite sights, restaurants, bars, record stores, clubs, and more. Map should appear at the end of the page but can also be accessed here.
Giuda at Thee Parkside, San Francisco
Giuda at Orion Club (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Plutonium Baby at Hellnation Records
Plutonium Baby at Traffic (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Anti You at Fanfulla (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
TJ & the Lipstix at Human Audio, Stockholm (courtesy of Wellington Calasans)
TJ & the Lipstix at Fanfulla (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Bloody Riot at Forte Prenestino (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Partime Lovers at 30 Formiche
Human Race at Monk (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Plutonium Baby at 30 Formiche (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Gioventù Bruciata at Forte Prenestino (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Mark Di Giuseppe/Trashman Blues at Porta Portese Flea Market
AT FANFULLA
Faz Waltz
The Intellectuals (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Diplomatics (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Antares (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Giuda (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
AT 30 FORMICHE
Wide Hips (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Tigers in Furs (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Idol Lips (courtesy of Marco Marcxramone Colasanti)
Brooklyn musicians Daddy Long Legs, Baby Shakes, the Mystery Lights, and Andy Shernoff of the legendary Dictators take you on a colorful rocknroll tour of the most densely populated borough of New York City, sharing their favorite sights, restaurants, bars, record stores, clubs, and more. Map should appear at the end of the page but can also be accessed here.
Mystery Lights at Our Wicked Lady
Baby Shakes at White Trash Fast Food, Berlin, Germany (filmed by anonymous)
Mystery Lights at Baby’s All Right
Daddy Long Legs at Brooklyn Bazaar (courtesy of Tommy Rockstar)
Baby Shakes at Union Pool (courtesy of Matt Clarke)
Baby Shakes at Grand Victory (courtesy of Pedro Acosta Perez)
Roya at Union Pool
Musk at Union Pool
Mark Sultan at Union Pool
AT JALOPY THEATRE
Elizabeth Devlin (courtesy of Erica Van Rabenswaay)
Leland Sundries
AT BABY’S ALL RIGHT
AT UNION POOL
Woman
AT SHEA STADIUM
Omni
Suburban Living
Mystery Lights (courtesy of David Jensen)
Revel in the sights and sounds of Osaka, Japan, with Kenji Kodama (of longtime Osaka record label Time Bomb Records) and the King Brothers, rock’n’roll madmen from neighboring Nishinomiya who’ve been banned from Osaka nightclubs on more than one occasion. Map should appear at the end of the page but can also be accessed here.
King Brothers at Earthdom, Tokyo
The Gypsies in Osaka
Don Matsuo at Hard Rain, Osaka
White Mystery at Hard Rain, Osaka
Momo & Jeho at Corner Stone Bar, Osaka
Juggling Dub’s at Namba Mele, Osaka (courtesy of Ben Knights)
Foodie at Namba Bears, Osaka (courtesy of Itaru Shiozaki)
The Wimpy’s at Namba Bears, Osaka (courtesy of Beccee Takeuchi)
Chicago musicians Jered Gummere (the Ponys, Bare Mutants), Alex White (White Mystery), Nobunny, and Chris DeArcangelis (Mama) take you on a rocknroll tour through the Windy City, sharing their favorite sights, restaurants, bars, record stores, clubs, and more. Respectively, they’ve lived in Chicago since 1996, 1985, undisclosed, and 1984.
Nobunny at SF Eagle, San Francisco
The Ponys at Empty Bottle, Chicago
White Mystery at Do312’s Rock ‘N Roll Market, Chicago
White Mystery at Hard Rain, Osaka, Japan
Mama at Empty Bottle, Chicago
The Rubs at Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
Wreckless Eric at The Owl, Chicago
Shannon & the Clams at Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
Bolzen Beer Band at The Radler, Chicago
Nones at Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles, Chicago
AT EMPTY BOTTLE
Platinum Boys
Football
White Mystery
Redd Kross
Davila 666
Cozy
Roky Erickson
Real Kids
AT THE HIDEOUT
Yonatan Gat
Cochino y Los Pistoleros
Lady Parts with Kelly Hogan and Nora O’Connor
Coyote Riot
AT COLE’S
Perhaps best known as the site of the first use of the atomic bomb during the final stage of World War II, Hiroshima is roughly 4 hours from Tokyo and 1.5 hours from Osaka via bullet train (shinkansen) and a worthwhile one- or two-day stop. The must-visit Peace Memorial Museum provides a sobering, detailed look at the devastation, while the surrounding park is dotted with monuments, memorials, and ruins. Hiroshima Castle, originally built in the 1590s but destroyed during the atomic blast, was rebuilt in 1958 and is now a museum dedicated to Hiroshima’s pre-WWII history. It’s lit up beautifully at night.
Although okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake prepared with various ingredients, is available throughout Japan, Hiroshima has its own style—layered rather than mixed, and with noodles and considerably more cabbage than the traditional Osaka offering. You can try multiple kinds at Okonomimura, which boasts 25 okonomiyaki specialists spanning three floors.
When you’re in Hiroshima, consider an easy day trip to the island of Miyajima/Itsukushima, which requires a train ride to Miyajimaguchi and then a ferry ride. One of the first things you notice during the ride toward the island is the gigantic vermilion torii (traditional Shinto gate) rising out of the water. The first thing you’ll probably notice after getting off the ferry is all the tame deer wandering around. Watch out, though—they’ll eat just about anything you have! Paper is a particular treat for them and we watched one daring deer pluck a paper pass right out of someone’s back pocket and consume it within seconds. Any unattended bags will definitely be rummaged through.
As for feeding yourself, there are quite a few options. The most popular is oysters, which are cooked up many ways. Steamed buns filled with pork, eel, and other savory goodies are hard to resist, as are sweet maple leaf–shaped cakes (momiji manju) stuffed with red bean, chocolate, custard, cheese, chestnut, and even ice cream. If you’re looking for a customized rice paddle with your face on it, this is the place to get it.
The hiking on the island is likely amazing but we took the Miyajima Ropeway up to Mt. Misen for panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea to make sure that we didn’t miss the sun set behind the famous torii. The bright warm hue of the torii against the dusky early-evening sky is really something to behold. When the torii’s uplights switch on, its glow against the dark backdrop is simply magical and apparently the “boundary between the spirit and the human world.” Nature lovers might want to consider coming back an extra day to really explore its beauty.
FOOD NOTE: If you’re traveling to Hiroshima from Tokyo, save your appetite for the fancy food court at Shinagawa Station. We had some of the best sushi ever from a takeout onigiri (rice balls) stand there that also sold boxed sushi. After watching several chefs in the back furiously but meticulously slicing the fish and constructing the pieces, we grabbed two “deluxe bowls” as they were brought out and couldn’t believe how good they were. Next time we’re in Tokyo, we might make a special trip there just to chow down!
Legendary Tokyo rockers Seiji (Guitar Wolf), the 5.6.7.8’s, and Fifi (Teengenerate, Firestarter, the Tweezers) take you on a tour of their sprawling hometown, stepping off the beaten path to share their favorite restaurants, bars, record stores, clubs, and more. Map should appear at the end of the page but can also be accessed here.
Guitar Wolf at Earthdom
Fifi & Boogie Hiroshi at Poor Cow
Fifi with The Fadeaways at UFO Club (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)
The 5.6.7.8’s at Shelter
Electric Eel Shock at Earthdom
Melt Banana at Shimokitazawa Basement Bar (courtesy of Pete Slovenly)
Cracks at Earthdom
Peter Pan Speedrock at Earthdom
The Fadeaways with Seiji Guitar Wolf at UFO Club (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)
Tina Lucchesi with Fink & The Thunderroads at Shelter
The Thunderroads at Shelter
At UFO Club
Toyozo of The Fadeaways with The Mellvins (courtesy of Atushi of Gorilla*/Pop’n’Roll Records)
Guitar Wolf (courtesy of Ameku)
The Fadeaways (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)
The Mellvins (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)
At Heavy Sick
Supersnazz
Eddie Legend A Go-Go
The Titans
At Poor Cow
Runaway Boys
The Sex
The fourth edition of the Burger Boogaloo at Oakland’s Mosswood Park once again brought together a motley crew of music-loving folks. When we weren’t capturing the action at the Dirty Mouth amphitheater and the Tassel Castle stage (relive the magic of Day 1 here and Day 2 here), we snapped some shots of the people who performed, worked, and attended. Check out the hot dog costumes, dirt-smeared faces, portapotty kisses, and other summertime fun our cameras caught.
The Burger Boogaloo‘s second day of summertime fun at Oakland’s Mosswood Park continued with musicians like Seth Bogart, Shannon and the Clams, and the Dwarves exploring the Dirty Mouth amphitheater and King Khan and the Shrines and the Flamin’ Groovies ruling the Tassel Castle. Legendary filmmaker John Waters offered priceless band commentary and said the sweetest things about Shannon of the Clams, while off-color comic Tony Clifton received mixed reactions for his schtick. (For a recap of Day 1, head here. Check out the many faces of Burger Boogaloo here!)
Here are some of our favorite still and animated moments from the action-packed day, including the Fadeaways’ backflip off their drum set!
We missed their red flannel pajamas in the Dirty Mouth but caught them performing an impromptu downhome set with their washboards and other humble instruments.
Lo-fi punk disasters from New Orleans.
This LA quartet pounced on the Tassel Castle with their Sharpie tattoos and self-described “doom boogie.”
These St. Louis punks fired up the Dirty Mouth with sparklers, Roman candles, and catchy lo-fi punk.
This Tokyo trio delivered a dynamic, partially airborne garage-punk set punctuated by high jumps, amp diving, and a backflip off their drum set.
Absurdist synth punk from New Orleans featuring members of Buck Biloxi and Static Static.
The Shake Some Action team of Cyril Jordan, Chris Wilson, and George Alexander were joined by Roy Loney for a hit-laden set that spanned the band’s storied career.
The crowd went wild for punk classics such as “Drug Store,” “Fuck ’em All,” and “You Gotta Burn,” and one guy even broke his leg in the pit. It was oddly heartwarming to see several people immediately form a protective circle around him, scoop him up, and carry him out to safety.
Former members of the Exploding Hearts, Terry and Louie cranked out their power-pop gems as well as Exploding Hearts delights such as “Modern Kicks.”
John Waters’ touching introduction about these Oakland sweethearts kicked off their shimmery set.
These multi-instrumental maniacs threw an unhinged dance party complete with provocative costumes and a collective kneeling moanfest.
Seth Bogart set aside alter ego Hunx for this steamy, one-man electro show set against a backdrop of fun, specially made videos and male and female go-go dancers.
