A Sunday night show can be a hard sell when fans have to debate the fatigue for work in the morning, but on this Sunday night, the 27 Club will be hosting a triple bill of pop punk bands that make it a no-brainer to make it out.
Kicking things off is London’s Full Throttle. The trio’s live sets always embody the essence of their energy drink namesake, and are tailor-made to open up a bill like this. A fun blend of irreverence and well-constructed anthemic pop-punk hooks, the influence of early blink-182 is evident on songs like “Best of Times.” But there are also more indie punk elements mixed throughout that harken back to California skate punk. “Caffeine Hangover” feels like it should be on a Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack somewhere. Their latest single, this summer’s “Third First Date,” shows off even more polished production, without sacrificing any of the punk underpinnings, including the twist ending to the lyrics.
We Were Sharks at Bluesfest 2025. Photo by Landon Entwistle.
Next is Ottawa’s very own We Were Sharks. As we’ve covered over the summer, their much-anticipated reunion for Bluesfest (and exceptional warm-up show at The Dominion) brought the pop punk band out of retirement, and given how well they performed on the main stage, additional dates seemed inevitable. Signed on for this tour, fans better not miss this rare opportunity to hear their bangers, including “Bridge Burner” and “Hotel Beds” for this final show, since there’s no word yet on any future dates. That said, there’s still hope that the guys might debut a new song or two, marking a more permanent reunion. When we last spoke with them, they did hint that something was in the works, so fingers crossed it will be dropping shortly!
Headlining the punk bill is Wyoming’s Teenage Bottlerocket. Adjusting the mix away from pop and more old school punk, their set is going to be exactly what anyone would expect from these staples of the scene: loud, fast, and fun—as any good punk show should be. After a quarter century, you might think the veterans have mellowed with age. However, their latest album, Ready To Roll, released this month, proves their songwriting has continued to evolve without losing any of the intensity. The results, as heard on the title track and High-Speed Yoga, are pure punk songs that stay true to the genre while feeling fresh. With songs like “True To You,” they show they’re willing to step out of the strict punk genre and delve into catchier pop song choruses. The band has a wide array to choose from for their set with their tenth studio album, but they rarely pass up a chance to throw in a few covers as a nod to their influences, which include The Ramones and even Rush. Clearly, they know how to pander to Canadian audiences (especially with a Canadian manning the drums).
Teenage Bottlerocket headlines a punk triple bill with locals We Were Sharks and London’s Full Throttle at The 27 Club Sunday, Sept 28. Tickets ($25 +fees) available here.
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