Punk Rock Forever: 8 Highlights of SURF CITY BLITZ 2018 [w/ Photos]

What exactly is Surf City Blitz? Well, simply put, it was a freaking killer weekend featuring two full days of racing, custom bikes, art, drag racing, a dirt track in the sand, booze, Gringo Bandito hot sauce, food, games, and killer music featuring the likes of The Offspring, Pennywise, Suicidal Tendencies, Social Distortion, Rancid, and Bad Religion, among many others.

The Huntington State Beach-based event was such a smashing hit that not only will it be back in 2019, but so will we. And, with that being said, here’s a list of our TOP 8 highlights, not to mention killer galleries, of each day’s sights and sounds. Get stoked for next year….

01. The Insane Lineup
– The Offspring, Social Distortion, Pennywise, Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Bad Religion, Fear, TSOL, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Interrupters, and the Voodoo Glow Skulls were just some of the names on the bill for Surf City Blitz. Thousands of people gathered around from all over the country (even further for that matter) for one thing; the love of Punk Rock!

This is André Labrune’s full gallery of bands and fans on Day 1.

02. The Festival was on a Beach
– Being on sand is a unique feeling while at a music festival. If you get too tired, whip out the beach towel or beach chair and recharge your body. The venue was at Huntington State Beach in Southern California. This beautiful location, paired with one of the best Punk Rock lineups that the Orange County region has ever seen, was definitely a special recipe for a one-of-a-kind musical experience. Not too far from Los Angeles or San Diego, this beach was a thoughtful choice to consider for fans traveling from either city or anywhere in between.

03. The Moto Beach Classic
– The Moto Beach Classic, only one-year-old, was invited to join Surf City Blitz and for the first time ever, bring The Indian Motorcycle’s Super Hooligan Championship racing onto a dirt flat track built on sand. A large sand stadium was built around the course for plenty of viewing. Competitors of all ages took to the track in different age classes to compete for chances of various prizes. Motorcycle races combined with punk was quite the dynamic for this event.

04. Family-Friendly Festival
– The crowd was made of people of all ages. Parents were accompanying their little ones showing them what they most likely grew up listening to. Most of the kids there were rocking mohawks and keeping the vibe positive.

Check out a video of Social Distortion’s entire set on Day 2.

05. Die-Hard Fans and Sing-a-Longs
– You know those moments at concerts where it seriously feels like everyone in the crowd knows all of the lyrics to every song? This was one of those festivals. Uniting moments are what help festivals create that essence of magic, which in turn lead people to come back the following year. Suicidal Tendencies flipped up hat brims, Social Distortion and Offspring shirts, Pennywise calf tattoos were just some of the ways fans were paying respect to their favorite bands.

06. Suicidal Tendencies Had the Energy
– Lead singer, Mike Muir, kept running back and forth on stage like a mad man dancing like he wasn’t standing in front of thousands of people. The crossover thrash band from Venice, CA had the highest energy all weekend, yelling continuously at the crowd, throwing up “T’s”, and making circle pit motions with their hands during the whole set.

Et voila, Labrune’s Day 2 gallery of the fantastic festivities.

07. Pennywise Surprised Everyone with a Special Guest
– Everyone was anxiously waiting around for the Hermosa Beach locals and band of 30 years, Pennywise to begin. With no hesitation, they ran on stage and opened with “Fight Till You Die” immediately sending the crowd into a screaming frenzy. Multiple pits were firing off during their entire time on stage. They covered two absolutely legendary songs; “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King and “Fight For Your Right” by The Beastie Boys. If these weren’t enough of a surprise already, they invited the Vandals on stage to play their song “Urban Struggle”.

08. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Created a Different Deel
– With slow reverberated vocals, slide use on the guitar, and harmonica, this band brought a unique feel in comparison with a majority of the other bands that played the weekend. They had a psychedelic going for them. It was a nice change of pace before Bad Religion took the stage.