DISARRAY

Punk fans filled the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles on October 9 and 10, 2026, for Fight to Unite, presented by Punk Rock Bowling. With stages spread across three floors, the weekend brought together local bands, and punk legends.

There were a handful of bands we checked out for the first time as we made our way between the main stage, upstairs, and downstairs to catch as many sets as possible.

If you missed out, don’t worry. We were there and documented both nights. Keep reading to catch up on what you missed and check out our day 1 recap video below:

Day 1: Familiar Faces and New Favorites

We caught Mermaid Island, a band we’ve previously seen at Bar Sinister in Hollywood, and Corbin Bowl in Tarzana, CA. Seeing them again, this time on the Belasco’s main stage, they killed it and set the tone for the night.

Downstairs, we checked out The Chapel for the first time. Dressed in suits with slicked-back hair, they brought a 1950s look and catchy music that immediately got our attention.

Upstairs, Hyper Minds played our favorites, including “Sink or Swim” and “Nail Biter.” The East Los Angeles band recently signed with DC-Jam Records, distributed by Virgin Music Group. They also released a new album so check it out.

We also caught XCOMM downstairs, and they killed it. It was our first time seeing them and this band was so active, jumping while playing, hopping on amps, and just getting crazy on stage. Their pit was wild, too.

Back on the main stage, we watched Spiritual Cramp for the third time. They always bring the energy, catchy tunes, and this set proved that they’ve evolved and command the stage. Hearing “Talkin’ on the Internet” and “You’ve Got My Number” were major highlights since those songs have been on repeat on our playlist.

Their setlist also included “Better Off This Way,” “Dog in a Cage,” “I Hate the Way I Look,” “Slick Rick,” “Go Back Home,” “City on Fire,” “Herbert’s on Holiday,” “You’ve Got My Number,” “Earth to Mike,” and “Blowback.”

Spunk kept things moving downstairs with an energetic performance and badass stage presence. They were another reminder of why it was worth scrambling to all three floors.

We finished the night on the main stage with Lambrini Girls. The all-female band delivered fast-paced songs that closed out our Friday coverage.

Day 1 set times:

Day 2: Punk Favorites Across Three Floors

Saturday brought another packed schedule, with punk favorites performing throughout the Belasco.

We caught:

• Ukulele Hiro
• Se Vende
• Darius Koski
• Cobra Skulls
• Codefendants
• Get Dead
• Teenage Bottlerocket
• Swingin’ Utters
• Dillinger Four

Ukulele Hiro and Darius Koski performed downstairs, where Get Dead also took the stage later in the evening. Cobra Skulls played upstairs, while Codefendants performed on the main stage. Unfortunately, we missed Western Addiction since they were on at the same time as Codefendants but we’ve seen Western Addiction at the Fillmore in San Francisco and they always put on a great performance, even performing in the pit while Banana Jay circled lol.

We filmed Codefendants from the balcony at the side of the stage, giving our footage a different perspective on the performance.

With overlapping sets across three stages, choosing where to be was part of the challenge.

Here’s our Day 2 recap featuring Ukulele Hiro, Darius Koski, Cobra Skulls, Codefendants, Get Dead, Swingin’ Utters, and Dillinger Four, to name a few:

Three Floors of Live Music

One of our favorite things about the weekend was the stage setup. The main stage, upstairs stage, and downstairs stage gave each floor its own reason to visit.

We liked being able to move between rooms and catch different bands throughout the night. The overlapping schedule meant making a few choices, but it also meant there was always another performance to check out.

The Belasco also had two smoking patios where attendees could step outside and mingle. We spotted members of some of our favorite bands enjoying other bands’ sets, which made the weekend feel especially connected to the scene.

Those moments between performances were part of what made the experience memorable.

If you missed Swingin’ Utters, here’s footage courtesy of Ayden Noland:

Here’s awesome footage of Codefenants courtesy of Missy Pearlman:

Food & Drinks

Let’s talk about an unexpected highlight: bottomless popcorn from the upstairs bar.

Between sets and trips up and down the stairs, having popcorn to snack on was awesome and reminded me of the Regent Theater, which is also in downtown L.A.. We also took advantage of the unlimited refills available when purchasing a Belasco tumbler.

Live music, popcorn, and refills? We were into it. More venues should do this.

Know Before You Go

If you’re planning to attend a future event with a similar setup at the Belasco, here are a few tips:

• Arrive early. Some of our favorite discoveries happened before the later sets.
• Save screenshots of the schedule. With three stages and overlapping performances, it helps to have set times ready.
• Plan your must-see bands. Give yourself time to move between floors.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be standing and taking stairs throughout the night.
• Bring earplugs. Two nights of live music is a lot for your ears. “If it’s too loud, you’re too old.” Guess which classic movie that quote is from?
• Check the upstairs bar. Ask whether the popcorn and tumbler refill offers are available for your event.
• Check current bag and camera policies before heading out.
• Leave time to hit up the outdoor patios. Some of the best moments happen between sets and on day 1, there was merch out there.

Punk Rock Bowling’s Fight to Unite brought two nights of live music to the Belasco, with a lineup that gave us familiar favorites and bands we were glad to discover.

Friday’s highlights included seeing Mermaid Island again, catching The Chapel for the first time, hearing our favorite Hyper Minds songs, and watching Spiritual Cramp deliver another energetic set. Saturday gave us more footage to share from Ukulele Hiro, Darius Koski, Cobra Skulls, Swingin’ Utters, Codefendants, and Get Dead.

The three-floor setup, patio conversations, and musicians supporting each other’s performances made the weekend feel like a community. The bottomless popcorn didn’t hurt either.

If you missed the shows, check out our recap reels and judge the performances for yourself.

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About C² (Christy + Chris)

Concert lovers turned creators. Highlighting creators, bands, stories, sounds, and places you need to know.

Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting rap, R&B, punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.

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