Moshing with the Bands

Local Latino punk bands show it is so much more than a bunch of angry vocals.

story and photography by Marina Bravo

The loud distorted strums of an electric guitar, accompanied with vocals loud enough to earn a noise complaint, rips at you, both emotionally and in a soul-searching way. Angry vocals, chant a defying protest against “The Man.” Leather jackets, ripped clothing, long hair—sometimes even spiked—support the “nonconformist” image. Small rickety venues, sometimes grandparents’ backyards, become a forum for people of all ages and anyone willing to listen. Here, crowds full of people headbang and mosh—an aggressive dance that partners with the loud and cathartic sound of music blaring from the speakers. Punk and hardcore shows are a place of expression. This music is an expression, a political statement and a social gathering of solidarity. This is a safe space where people can release the frustrations inside them.

Perhaps the motto here is, “The way they walk is just the way they walk, and the way they talk is just the way they talk.” Punk rock is louder than ever in so many ways and is found close. It is living in La Verne’s backyard: Pomona. Punk rock and hardcore have always partnered a deep-rooted tie to not fitting in with the norm. Politics play a huge part in what punk is. The belief of being anti-authoritarian and having a strong stance for social justice is strong. This is where people are rooting and fighting for the “little guys” instead of the rich and privileged.

Punk musical expression goes against the grain and is a whistleblower for truth. Its modern expression dates from the mid-1970s to both underground New York City and London when bands like The Ramones and Sex Pistols emerged. Today, more than ever, so labeled post-punk bands in Southern California communities have focused less on the genre of the music but more on the culture and individuality. It is more about what it means to truly be punk rock while still being a beacon for demanding change and equality. New musical faces in this scene constantly appear and share their narrative. In the 2020s, Latinos have been the faces of punk, expressing themselves through this culture and finding community.

While punk has always had a white presenting face, it has also been home to people of color. The music serves as an outlet where they can express their beliefs and emotions toward society at large. The ideology of creating community from those who do not fit in joins people together. Now more than ever before, punk is present in many Hispanic communities. It serves as an outlet for them to exist and to be their authentic selves despite the United States political climate.

During the 1960s, Mexican Americans or “Chicanos” struggled to fit in within their own communities. The United States condemned them for speaking Spanish, but so too did their own communities in Mexico reject them because they were not “Mexican enough.” They were caught between fitting into the United States but also trying to stay connected to their Hispanic culture. In response, they created their own communities where they were welcomed and were able to express themselves. They connected, despite the systemic stereotypes and boundaries of trying to fit in. In the 1980s, Los Angeles became a haven for the birth of Chicano punk. It was a way for them to express their own anger and celebrate their identity. “Los Illegales,” an American Chicano punk band from Los Angeles co-founded a nightclub in East Los Angeles called The Vex, which was a club that was prominent in the Chicano punk rock scene in its day.

Hardcore and punk’s political drive and identity remain relevant. What nurtures this is the experience of being a person of color and the vulnerability that comes with that distinction. The rising giants of the punk scene diversify the entire movement. Latinos have combined their experiences and cultural identity and have taken the scene to another level. It is noticeable that Latinos and Chicanos have dominated the scenes with large bands including Desmadre, Barrio Slam, Provoke and Manos de Fierro. These bands have become the faces of the scene and have brought together communities. They inspire others to use their voice and go against the grain.

Nov. 9, 2025, the Pomona Fox Theater hosted an immigrant benefit concert to raise funds for the families affected by the ICE raids. The venue full of people expressed themselves and stood in solidarity. “Latinos, Chicanos, you and I both know that this country wouldn’t be shit without any of us,” Chicano hardcore band A Red Sun frontman, Julian “Jules” Licona says. It was a roaring statement that bounced off the Fox walls. A loud, angry and powerful strum of guitar followed. In a later conversation with the band, they explained that Hispanics make up the majority of labor workers in the United States. “It goes back to the workforce in the United States,” Licona says. “Hispanics are a huge chunk of our labor force. It goes to show how important immigrants are to this country regardless of what anyone says.”

A Red Sun is an East Los Angeles based band that was formed in 2019. The band consists of frontman, Julian “Jules” Licona, guitarist Jason Valencia, drummer Jacob Cuevas, guitar player Nick Garcia and bass player Frank Balocca. They write and create music that is inspired by the political climate. They take their inspiration from the experiences of Hispanics and Chicanos in this country. They offer the listener an opportunity to reflect on the world around them and to challenge it. “Hardcore has that quality where the aggressiveness brings out the topic,” Valencia says. “In a way, you’re yelling at people and letting them, ‘Know it’s time to listen.’ You let them know you have a message for them to scream with you.”

They expressed the importance of using their platform to amplify experiences beyond their own. The A Red Sun musicians are not afraid to talk about the hardships many people face in their lives, to be a voice and a part of the discussion through song. “I always knew I wanted to play music,” Licona says. “In 2022, I saw Zulu, and that is when I knew that I needed to play music. I wanted to play music that stands for something bigger than myself. I wanted to be a part of something larger than myself.” Their songs tell stories. “Counterintuitive,” tells a story about a young mother who went crazy after she tragically lost her son to a senseless shooting. “No Lives Matter” came from seeing the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and seeing the pain. “I think it is important that we use our platform even if we aren’t that big,” Licona says. “It should forever be known that we will always use our platforms, and that we will speak up.” “Counterintuitive,” came from a true story that Cuevas’ mom told him that impacted him. “We’ve always lived in East Los Angeles; this story happened to a girl she knew, and she was a mother who had lost her son to a senseless shooting,” Cuevas says. “Her son was survived by his mother and sister, which led the mom to just lose her mind from the grief. The mother stopped eating, and the daughter had no one there for her. I remembered my mom telling me this story, and I just knew so many people affected by similar situations and upon speaking with Jason and Jules, I didn’t want the story to go unnoticed.”

Punk is a lifestyle. To be punk, musicians must be their authentic self. Punk musicians must own the term and make their own version. Anyone can say how to truly be punk or how to abide by its rules, but punk has no rules. It comes down to what punk means to you. Bronca, a hardcore band from Coachella Valley, was formed by Leopoldo Juan Treviño. Josaphat Sical is the band’s frontman, and both Sical and Treviño spoke about what being punk means to them, and how that influences their craft. “Being punk rock is standing against the normalcy of society,” Sical says. “For me, being punk rock means standing up against things that aren’t right; making it a point to state that I am not a pawn to be manipulated. I will question things when needed. I will speak up to authority.” Treviño referenced one of the first lyrics he wrote for the band, “If you have a thought, live and breathe it.” He adds, “It’s broad/vague but ultimately that’s what I believe it means to be hardcore/punk. It’s not meant to be just ‘rock’ music or some lame shit for you to get clout and be famous; it’s an avenue to be able to do something that matters to you and to connect to people outside of your neighborhood who mirror that sentiment.”

Friends forever: Take the oath

Camaraderie  is deeply rooted within the culture. While the anthems of hardcore and punk sing about present issues and experiences, they also capture friendship. People who come to these shows invariably either find a friend or leave with one. Connection with bandmates is also very present. Young people and adults attend these shows because punk goes beyond the culture. Yes, they come to perhaps inadvertently gain a ringing tinnitus buzz from being in the small venue with overpowered speakers, but they have traded that pain for climbing to a higher level: enormous cultural acceptance. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the people that we surround ourselves with,” Licona says. “So much of the culture is deeply rooted in the friendship; we even sing about it. So many bands like us don’t see our followers as lesser than us; we are just the same, and we’re coming together to make music and create community. Punk and hardcore open the doors to meet your favorite bands and meet your heroes. You can’t get that anywhere else.”

Pomona native Oscar Chilapa, bassist for the alternative band Paleshifter, says his love for punk music comes from his uncle, who, when young, frequented the Latino punk scene. There, he found a love for not only the music but the culture itself. This became a cultural foundation for the family and influenced Chilapa’s love for the music. “When I was growing up, my uncle listened to a bunch of bands like Dead Kennedys and the Misfits as well. That helped expand my musical journey, and I began listening to a variety of genres going forward. And it even led to me going to an art school, a middle school called the School of Arts and Enterprise,” he says. Paleshifter is an Upland based alternative band that was formed by Justin Cardoze. The band is made up of Cardoze on guitar and vocals, Chilapa on bass and Joshua Tirtasamudra on drums. Each member has his own experiences and influences with being a part of the alternative music scene. They came together and influenced each other. “Growing up musically with songs from my dad, it kind of fostered my music influence with everything that I consume and create,” Cardoze says. With these influences from family members, camaraderie became a prominent element to strengthening each other’s musical influences.

Punk bands are also formed through camaraderie and groups of friends who share the same passion for the music and culture. Bronca’s Treviño shared that in college he was in various bands throughout his college career. “From 2004 and on, I had been in several different bands of various styles of hardcore, but probably my favorite style of hardcore was more of a youth crew and d-beat punk style of hardcore,” Treviño says. He shared that he always enjoyed the high intensity of the music and the feeling of the smaller shows from high school and college. Treviño says that he was writing music on the side, and once he showed it to one of his closest friends, Jairo Bravo, Bronca started to form. From there, other friends and colleagues began to join Bronca to become what it is now. “It’s Jairo Bravo, now on bass, Eric Freeman on drums, Sical on vocals, and myself on guitar and backing vocals,” Treviño says. “We’re all Latinos, aside from Eric who is an honorary Latino because he’s down for the cause and is also a person of color. Bronca is a band that focuses on playing fast music and having lyrics that mean something to anyone struggling with their cultural identity in the United States, dealing with being treated as second class citizens and/or just anyone who is not OK with the current state-of-affairs in the U.S. overall,” he says.

Aside from the rebellious nature of punk and hardcore, brotherhood and community are really what it is all about. This theme is something that gets lost in the face of punk, which is a screaming expression of frustration. For there to be a space where people are allowed to express their anger, sorrows and worries, there must be a community that wants to listen. Alessandro Morosin, assistant professor of sociology and criminology, says that punk is very aggressive, but it can also be very inclusive, and it should be a place without judgment. Morosin recalls when he himself was in high school and college and was actively a part of the punk scene. “Sometimes people would always get hurt at shows, but it was actually about stopping the fights,” Morosin says. “It was about stopping division and creating a space and an identity where people could come and just be themselves and live their lives.”

Finding Punk Music

It is a lot closer than you think.

Hardcore and punk are close. It is as close as the cracks between the cement and alleyways in nearby communities. All one really needs to look out for is patched up attire, a unique hairstyle and an interesting look. Then follow the sound of cathartic vocals, sneering guitars and the crash of a drum set. Downtown Pomona is a hotspot for any kind of punk and hardcore show, with venues like The Haven, housing all kinds of smaller acts, and the Fox Theater being home to larger ones. Punk does not need a designated home; it can happen anytime and anywhere. All it really needs is someone with a story or a message to tell and a community that is willing to listen.

The first stop to find a show is at The Haven in Pomona. This stuffy venue with antiqued fan cooling and a generally rundown look fronts a bright, raging punk and hardcore show on Thursday nights going into the weekend. Equipment and instruments are displayed on their walls. The bathrooms are graffitied but very clean. This is a venue that houses many of these emerging alternative artists who come to share their message for those who heed the call.

Back in the ‘90s, The Haven was a café owned by college student Edward Tessier. It had many transformations until it was re-opened and rebranded to The Haven in 2021. Tessier’s son, Victor, a student at UC Berkeley, now manages the venue from his dorm as his father once did and opens it up for all kinds of musical expression—not just punk or hardcore. The Haven is truly the embodiment of the punk, “Do It Yourself,” or DIY lifestyle. The goal of many of these bands is not to make the best top selling record; instead, they are completely moved by the passion and the belief in what they are creating. DIY is like a religion. The culture abides by where those in the know find something that is unique and authentic. It is without a doubt that The Haven is no stranger to musical expression and is not afraid of Punk Rock.

The Alley in Pomona—a literal alley behind the Pomona Art Gallery opens its doors every second Saturday of the month to bands and acts. Found in a dark alley next to Memorial Park, this is a place where everyone can come together and enjoy all kinds of music, even punk. Old Christmas lights and a light post are the only light sources for the bands to come do what they know best—rock their hearts out. Old picnic tables next to the stage (for audience members who want to deal with tinnitus for the next few days) support those enjoying a delicious “antojito” or the comforting taste of the tacos from the taco man.

If rickety venues with thousands of stories to tell or dark ominous alleys are not convincing, the dba256 bar and gallery is the next stop, on the corner of West Third and South Main Street. It is a bar that features all kinds of music events to get the weekend started. The dark bar, decorated with colorful abstract art hung on its brick walls, welcomes musical talent of all kinds. Amongst the many noises of small talk, the projector screen showing a back-to-back movie marathon or the crackle of the ice inside the bartenders’ mixer, the music is what rings throughout the town.

The Pomona Fox Theater is the largest venue in Downtown Pomona. It is the biggest one of all the venues. It holds about 2,000 people and hosts many large and popular musical acts. However, that does not mean punk cannot find its way to bigger spaces. The venue inside has about 1,700 balcony seats with an old-time interior. With the lights out, the walls echo, which is a punk rocker’s dream. Bands and musical acts fill up the venue and make it their own. Their raging vocals and instruments can cause a quake on the whole block.

You may have heard some of these bands without even realizing it. More mainstream punk bands tend to be in bigger music events and festivals. The Fairplex in Pomona hosted the first ever No Values festival on June 8, 2024. It featured big time household punk and alternative names. The Original Misfits, Social Distortion, The Addicts, Black Flag and Bad Religion to name a few. This festival sold out within minutes. This genre does not always live in the dark corners of society; it is just where it is born. The older generation is what made punk what it is today. It was their ideologies and influences that trademarked the aesthetics and the culture. Another festival that featured a punk band was at Coachella in 2025. The Original Misfits performed on Saturday, the second day of the Coachella weekend. Punk truly fits in anywhere. If there is a space for it, punk will find its people. Punk might even find you.

Social media has become a huge influence on the punk scene. Aside from being able to promote music, the scene has branched out and arguably created its own culture and community online. Morosin explains how one needed to attend in person. Now, you experience it through the Gen Z lens of social media. TikTok has created a strong ongoing debate between the new Gen Z punk rockers on what is considered punk and not “punk enough.”

“Before social media, to consider yourself a member of a specific scene, you had to go in person,” Morosin says. “Nowadays a person can join many different scenes just by owning the term on Instagram, which has its good and bad sides.” Instagram has become the new word of mouth.

Music culture is changing rapidly with the way music is being created, promoted and how people consume it. However, as long as there is a message to spread, punk will be the messenger. Punk will always be a war cry. Punk is for everyone, so the next time you find yourself passing by a unique group of individuals with a wild hairstyle, patched up clothes or just an interesting vibe, follow the music. You might find that empty spot in the mosh pit of a punk show has been yours all along.