Photos and Review by Jolene Rheault
Opening the night, New Jersey’s own Crazy and the Brains brought an unfiltered burst of raw, anti-establishment punk energy to the stage. Led by the wild, magnetic charisma of frontman Christopher Urban, the band tore through a ferocious set backed by Ernest Young’s razor-sharp guitar, Rob Mellinger’s heavy basslines, and Zac Pless’s relentless drumming. What truly sets them apart, however, is the brilliant addition of Anya Combs on saxophone, whose fiery brass riffs added a unique, danceable edge to their punk-rock punch. Loud, energetic, and completely unapologetic, Crazy and the Brains left the floor buzzing and set a high bar right from the start.
Next up, sullvn took the stage to keep the momentum going before the main event. Fronted by Robert “Sully” Sullivan alongside a heavy-hitting supporting band featuring James East, Brian “Nucci” Cantrell, Mark Hattersley, Brian Jordan, and Stephen Bradley, the group delivered a steady, professional set of groove-oriented tunes. Their performance offered a smooth palette cleanser for the Charlotte crowd, bridging the gap between raw punk energy and the theatrical spectacle to follow.
Then came the moment everyone at The Underground had been waiting for: the reigning superheroes of punk rock, The Aquabats!, stormed the stage to launch their Gigantish Tour 2026. Donning their iconic black eye masks, rash guards, and “anti-negativity” helmets, Christian Jacobs (The MC Bat Commander), Chad Larson (Crash McLarson), Ian Fowles (Eaglebones Falconhawk), Richard Falomir (Ricky Fitness), and James Briggs (Jimmy the Robot) transformed the venue into a live-action comic book.
Right out of the gate, fans were treated to fan favorites “Pool Party!,” “Martian Girl!,” and “Cat with 2 Heads!,” instantly inciting massive sing-alongs, flying inflatable pool toys, and joyous crowd-surfing.
The energy never dipped for a second as the band effortlessly balanced classic tracks with their signature theatrical humor. From the massive nostalgia of the “Super Show Theme Song!” and “Pizza Day!” to the hyper-kinetic bounce of “Fashion Zombies!” and “Dr. Space Mummy!,” the room felt less like a traditional gig and more like a collective celebration of pure joy.
A standout highlight arrived when drummer Ricky Fitness stepped up to deliver a hilarious, crowd-pleasing lead vocal performance on a cover of The Outfield’s “Your Love,” closely followed by the chaotic fan-favorite “Burger Rain!,” which cheekily featured a snippet of U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name.”
After a sweat-soaked main set, the superhero crew returned for a legendary three-song encore. Starting with the heartwarming “Hello, Good Night!,” they quickly segued into “The Shark Fighter!,” slipping in a clever tease of The Four Seasons’ “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!)” during band introductions.
To close out the evening in true collaborative fashion, the band brought out Anya Combs from Crazy and the Brains on saxophone for an explosive, roof-raising rendition of “Super Rad!.” Over thirty years into their career, The Aquabats! proved once again that their brand of vibrant, optimistic ska-punk remains as vital, fun, and heroically timeless as ever.
fuelthescene.com 