(by Brian Bloss)
40,000 people recently came together for the sold out debut of Surf City Blitz at Huntington State Beach to enjoy one of the greatest punk rock lineups in the history of Southern California along with Roland Sands Presents The Moto Beach Classic‘s world-class motorcycle racing.
This brand new all ages event was held Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28 at Huntington State Beach as part of the SeaLegs Live Event Series, and featured an all-star lineup of punk rock legends and breaking talent including The Offspring, Social Distortion, Pennywise, Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Bad Religion, FEAR, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, T.S.O.L., Mad Caddies, The Interrupters, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and more performing on the shore of the Pacific Ocean in picturesque Orange County, California.
Check out video highlights from the festival here:
https://www.facebook.com/surfcityblitz/videos/308960819703805/
As Kelli Skye Fadroski of the Orange County Register explained, “As much as Surf City Blitz was a fun punk rock show for the fans, it was also a place where all of these bands’ members — who have been friends and played together for decades — could gather and catch up with one another. Even local bands that weren’t on the bill showed up to hang out backstage including members of Avenged Sevenfold, Ignite and The Vandals. That casual, fun, hometown vibe definitely carried over into the live performances (October 29, 2018).”
This sense of community was illustrated when Dave Quackenbush and Warren Fitzgerald from The Vandals and Brooks Wackerman (Avenged Sevenfold, ex-Bad Religion andSuicidal Tendencies) joined Pennywise on stage Saturday night for The Vandals’ classic “Urban Struggle.
The second annual Moto Beach Classic combined Super Hooligan street bike flat track racing, drag and mini bike racing, art, and custom motorcycles. The event featured a dirt track on the sand for the first time ever, and two days of Super Hooligan flat track racing.
As the sun set, the Super Hooligan National Championship by Indian Motorcycles finale began. Returning champion Andy DiBrino cleaned up with the Dunlop Dash 4 Cash and kept his #1 Super Hooligan National Championship plate, earning $2,500 from Bell Helmets and a RSD custom designed Indian FTR 1200 motorcycle.
The WCBR Hurley Surf and Turf competition combined surfing and motorcycle racing, with Justin Mulford winning both of the motorcycle races and leading the Huntington Beach team to overall victory. BMW hosted the Salty Sprint races, giving racers a chance to hop on some BMW R Nine-Ts and wait for the rag to hit the ground before ripping down the 400 foot line to the checkered flag. Local Kevin Duke took the Bell #1 Helmet as a prize for being the fastest. Del Amo Motorsports hosted the Kawasaki Z125 Gymkhana race where Nicky Rymer took the trophy. Bell Helmets hosted the stunt show where big bikes got their front wheel at 12 o’clock and shredded endless tires in a plume of smoke while spectators shouted for more.
In addition to fantastic music sets and thrilling motorcycle events, Surf City Blitz offered beach games and activities, photo opps, great food (with vegan options), craft beer and cocktails, and more.
Lisa Johnson’s Goldmine Garage featured a photo exhibition with a collection of images from the vaults of SoCal music photographers Lisa Johnson, John Gilhooley, Rob Wallace, Madison Stern, Jason Cardwell and KRK Dominguez, plus featured art on display from Rancid‘s Tim Armstrong. Signings included Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg (signing copies of his book Punk Rock Dad), author and T.S.O.L. frontman Jack Grisham (signing his books), Voodoo Glow Skulls, and Sharp Shock, while DJ Shiragirl spun the ultimate Surf City Blitz Mixtape, OC street photographer James Bennett took roaming portraits, and Rock & Sock offered vintage vinyl and more. Visitors to the Goldmine Garage included Noodles fromThe Offspring and Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal, as well as members of Rancid, The Vandals, The Interrupters, and The Aquabats.
Here’s a sample of what the media had to say about Surf City Blitz:
“It’s not every day you get to go to the beach with thousands of your closest friends and see potentially the greatest punk lineup ever assembled…like Christmas in October.”
–Jimmy Alvarez, OC Weekly, October 23, 2018
“For those that are quick to quip that punk rock is dead, the inaugural Surf City Blitz just gave them a big ‘ol finger as 40,000 fans showed to take in sets by The Offspring, Pennywise, Bad Religion, Rancid, Social Distortion and more at Huntington State Beach over the weekend. The sold-out festival attracted fans of all-ages, who partied hard during day one where The Offspring topped the line-up and many returned for more on Sunday with Social Distortion leading the charge…From the moshing to the racing, the event served as a massive punk rock family reunion with bands on the bill that are proudly celebrating two, three or in some cases, four decades of making loud and unruly music in the great state of California.”
–Kelli Skye Fadroski, Orange County Register, October 29, 2018
“The soundtrack of Southern California’s beach culture immediately evokes the harmonies and surfing odes of the Beach Boys and the screaming surf guitar of Dick Dale, but punk rock is just as important to the region’s musical fabric. Surf City Blitz tapped into that connection at Huntington State Beach on Saturday, Oct. 27, with a lineup of bands that shaped the sound of Southern California punk over the last 40 years.”
–Vanessa Franko, Orange County Register / Press Enterprise, October 28, 2018
Surf City Blitz is produced by Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc. (SGE).
Surf City Blitz partners include: 95.5 KLOS FM, Rockstar Energy Drink, Yachak, Cupcake Vineyards, Sailor Jerry, Deep Eddy Vodka, Don Julio, Golden Road Brewing, Stella Artois, Corona, Black Feather Whisky, Health-Ade, Cosmic Fog, Layrite, Dixxon Flannel Co., SPY, Body Glove, Wienerschnitzel, Screaming Images, Musician’s Institute, Gringo Bandito, BMW Motorcycles, Indian Motorcycles, Hurley, Dunlop, Ducati, Motul, Husqvarna, Law Tigers, Kawasaki, West Coast Board Riders, Yamaha, Geico Motorcycle, Super Hooligan, Bell, Motul, K&N, SOKFY, Cycle Zombie and Fast Surfboards.
A portion of Surf City Blitz proceeds will be donated to the Junior Lifeguard Program and the Living the Dream Foundation. LTD Foundation bridges together the music industry with fans who are fighting terminal illnesses by giving them All Access VIP experiences backstage with their favorite bands and artists. For more information, visit: www.ltdfoundation.org.
For more information on Surf City Blitz, visit:
Website: www.SurfCityBlitz.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SurfCityBlitz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/SurfCityBlitz
Hashtag: #SurfCityBlitz and #MotoCityBlitz
ASHTON-MAGNUSON MEDIA