Six years in, Oakland’s two-day Burger Boogaloo music festival at Mosswood Park still continued to excite, surprise, and shock with its lineup of 22 punk trailblazers, trashy rock’n’rollers, and weirdo whathaveyous. Sultan of sleaze John Waters (noted filmmaker, rebel rouser, and wordsmith) and Chuck Ribak (father of Boogaloo organizer Marcos Ribak) returned as hosts, supplying laughs and groans in between sets by Boogaloo veterans such as the Mummies, Quintron & Ms. Pussycat, and the Spits, and new Boogalooers such as the Damned, Giuda, Firestarter, and the Rip Offs. (If you missed the magic of previous years, visit our posts from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.)
This year, we managed to capture all of the bands at the Toxic Paradise amphitheater and Pleasure Pier stage except for the Francis Lau Experience, who performed the very first slot of the festival. We regret missing this talented boy with a keyboard, who was no doubt the perfect start for Devo day. Devo-tees were out in full force, rocking trademark red energy domes as well as homemade outfits. Here are some highlights from the first day (head here for our day 2 recap and here for the neat neat neat faces of the Boogaloo)!
NOTS
This Memphis quartet filled the Toxic Paradise amphitheater with glorious, synth-laden noise.
POOKIE & THE POODLEZ
This Oakland trio dished up sassy lo-fi bubbleyum.
THE OKMONIKS
Pleasure Pier patrons were treated to Okmonik-vision glasses and garage-pop goodies by this local four-piece.
THE FLYTRAPS
These L.A. rockers shredded Toxic Paradise.
HUNX & HIS PUNX
Seth Bogart and his fabulous team served up fresh and fruity summertime surprises.
THE SPITS
John Waters introduced these pyromaniacal punks, whose firecrackers and incendiary set ignited the crowd.
MUDHONEY
The Seattle grungemasters cranked out earsplitting staples such as “Suck You Dry” and “Touch Me I’m Sick,” and even a cover of the Angry Samoans’ “You Stupid Asshole.”
TRADITIONAL FOOLS
Ty Segall has come a long way from playing house parties and basement shows, but he and Fools Dave and Drew easily picked up their surfy garage jams like it was yesterday.
THE MUMMIES
These bandaged budget rockers are mavens of making an entrance. At past Boogaloos, they peddled in on tricycles and paraded in atop their mummie-mobile. This year, they were escorted on stage by prominent primate Dr. Zaius and his furry cohorts. Of course, their classic “(You Must Fight to Live) on the Planet of the Apes” kicked off their delightfully shambolic set. By the end, smoke from fires in a nearby county colored the sky.
DEVO
Devo needs no introduction, but it was a hoot hearing John Waters wax nostalgic about this seminal band, exclaiming that they’re a “Burger Boogaloo wet dream!” With actor/comedien Fred Armisen on drums, they crushed hit after singalong hit. Booji Boy made a special appearance during the encore for “Beautiful World” and “The Girl Can’t Help It.”
