Growing up in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, the heyday of MTV and the TRL generation. Some of the music that caught my eye were pop punk bands like Blink 182 and Green Day. These bands were my introduction to the world of pop punk music. No matter where my music adventure has taken me, falling back into the world of pop punk always feels like coming home. In the early 2010’s the world went through a musical renaissance, and we had a new generational explosion of pop punk bands. One of these bands that has found its way across my headphones from time to time is Neck Deep. I actually got to see them open for Blink 182 in 2019 before I truly knew who they were. Ever since that show I knew I had to give them a proper listen, and see them on a headlining tour to truly experience what they have to bring. It finally happened this year when Neck Deep announced their Live in America 2024 Tour with Drain, Bearings, and Higher Power. They came to the Fox Theater in Pomona, and this show sold out so quickly they had to announce a second show. I was fortunate to be there for the first show, and all the hell this tour was about to bestow upon the venue.

Opening the tour this night was Higher Power, a hardcore punk band from Leeds, England. Kicking into their first song “Rewire (101)” guitarist Max Harper whipped up a frenzy of an opening riff that rang out over the speakers, while drummer Alex Wizard built a crescendo-ing flurry of snare blasts to hype the crowd up. As vocalist Jimmy Wizard came in, he blends whiny emo singing along with harsh screams. The two styles combined both allow the crowd to feel the heartful emotion in the more melodic parts, and then immediately want to tear apart the pit when the screams come in. Fellow guitarist Louis Hardy traded off lead lines with Harper, while bassist Ethan Wilkinson could be seen two stepping through his bass line. Higher Power played a set consisting of songs like “Shedding Skin,” “Low Season,” “Fall From Grace,” “Absolute Bloom,” “Can’t Relate,” and ending with “Seamless.” Higher Power proved to be the best opening band for this show as they left the crowd wanting to unleash more energy, and we still had three more bands to go.

Up next was a band known as Bearings. I wasn’t familiar with these guys, but this show sold me on them completely. When I think of more new age pop punk, Bearings is the sound I hear in my head. Lead singer Dougie Cousins sings with an uplifting sound to his voice that reminds me of Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan. Guitarist Ryan Culligan crafts melody and grooves with his instrument, while bassist Collin Hanes playing is pushed right to the forefront of the mix to let you feel the low end of their sound. Drummer Mike McKerracher knows how to push the beat when the time comes but holds the pocket like any master musician. Culligan and Hanes also lend their talents to backing vocals that heighten the call and response aspect of some of their songs, helping the audience pick up the lyrics and start singing with the band by the second chorus. Bearings played a solid set of music including “Shaking Your Mind,” “Where You Are,” “Gone So Gone,” “Live Forever Never Die,” “Eyes Closed,” “Human,” “Scenery,” and ending with “Sway.” One of my favorite things is experiencing a new band, and just being drawn into their sound and performance so much I become an instant fan. Bearings converted more than just me this night, and I can’t wait to see where they go from here.

Hitting the stage next, and literally trying to destroy the place, was some hardcore punkers from Santa Cruz, CA known as Drain. Before the music could even start, lead singer Sammy Ciaramitaro called out for the venue to turn on all the house lights, followed by telling every fan in the crowd that he wants nonstop crowd surfers and stage divers if you can get on stage. I feel it was this moment the Fox Theater realized they didn’t truly understand the band they booked. Within the opening moments of the first song “Feel the Pressure” bodies were already coming over the barricade. Ciaramitaro promptly jumped on the barricade to sing right in the faces of the screaming fans. Guitarist Cody Chavez looks like a beach bum but can be found ripping away on his axe. Bassist AJ Hoenings and drummer Tim Flegal are in sync creating the perfect beat to send the crowd into a circle pit frenzy. I am used to seeing a wall of death where the crowd is split into two sides, and they charge at each other. Instead, at a Drain show Ciaramitaro called for the entire crowd to run at the wall and push through the doors to the backstage area so he could greet every single person. Security was able to hold off the crowd who shortly diverted back to creating crashing waves of moshers, while surfers rode high over the crowd. Drain only played a 30 minute set, but the fans made that time count during songs like “Watch You Burn,” “FTS (KYS),” “Evil Finds Light,” “Good Good Things,” “Army of One,” “Sick One,” “Intermission,” “Living Proof,” and ending with “California Cursed.” During the final song Ciaramitaro tossed the mic to a fan to finish singing, while he stage dived and crowd surfed himself. I actually had the pleasure to experience five minutes of the end of Drain’s set two years ago when I stumbled upon them at Psycho Las Vegas. I was informed that I missed the best band of the entire event and they’ve been on my radar ever since. I am now happy to say I’ve experienced a full Drain set, and I need more!

As the fans recouped from the experience of Drain and eagerly awaited our headliner, a giant inflatable Neck Deep sign was lowered across the stage. Opening their set with “Dumbstruck Dumbf**k” Neck Deep reignited a second wind into everyone in the crowd. The band didn’t even need to call for it, as more bodies started and continued to hurl themselves over the barricade crowd surfing for the entire set. Oh, to be young again! Lead singer Ben Barlow was there to make a statement. Wearing a shirt with a hand designed “No War” logo, and even performing while holding a Palestinian flag for parts of the set. It’s always a great sight to see punk bands truly bringing back what it means to be punk. Lead guitarist Sam Bowden and rhythm guitarist Matt West craft driving guitar lines that rile up the crowd and gets them pumped with energy. While bassist Seb Barlow and drummer Matt Powles drive the low end creating the rhythm that gets people’s feet moving. Though Neck Deep is a pop punk band who advertise themselves as “Generic Pop Punk,” their music really transcends multiple genres of pop punk, thrash, hardcore, and a bit of metal. Because of all these genre’s crashing into each other, it is a beautiful site to behold to look at the mosh pit. You have fans two stepping, you have fans crowd killing, you have fan circle pitting, and it’s almost as if they’re taking turns as the mosh pit continued to rotate through every song like “Sort Yourself Out,” “Kali Ma,” “Motion Sickness,” “Lowlife,” “Lime St.” “Losing Teeth,” “We Need More Bricks,” “Sick Joke,” “She’s a God,” “Heartbreak of the Century,” “It Won’t Be Like This Forever,” “December (Again),” and ending with “In Bloom.” Sadly, it seems Neck Deep was recovering from illness, and a lot of the band members were still “rough around the edges” according to Barlow. Powlesy even needed a moment to run off stage and hurl. None the less, Neck Deep are professionals who understand how important their music is to the people that showed up and made sure to give us their all. To me, if Barlow never said anything, I don’t think the majority of the crowd would have even known.

This show filled my pop punk heart with so much joy. I fall into the habit of listening to my favorite early 90s/mid 2000s pop punk bands a lot. But this show helped to remind me that the new generation of pop punk is releasing bangers that should be held to the same level of Blink & Green Day. Higher Power set a strong tone for the night. Bearings converted me to a full time fan. While Drain tested the resolve of the Fox Theatres security and their ability to handle a show like this. Drain won. But it was Neck Deep that cemented the night with a set that should not be missed. This tour still has plenty of stops left, and I recommend anyone who needs a massive energy release to get themselves to one of these shows.