NOFX in Montreal | Hidden Beats

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NOFX in Montreal: A farewell to punk rock legends

After 40 years of defining Punk Rock, NOFX has decided to call it quits, bringing their final tour to Montreal this weekend. The event featured a lineup of Punk Rock legends and local talent that made for an unforgettable day.

Speed Massacre

Quebec’s own Speed Massacre kicked off the day, setting the tone with their unique style as the crowd began to fill the venue. The guitarist embodied the essence of a rockstar, while the vocalist’s look recalled the iconic cover art of The Descendents’ albums. Their energy-packed set was a perfect way to start the day.

Béton Armé

Wow—Béton Armé delivered a high-impact hardcore punk set that left a lasting impression. Hailing from Montréal, Quebec, this “Oi!” Punk band demonstrated why they’re one to watch. Vocalist Danick Joseph-Dicaire was a force on stage, engaging the audience with his wild antics and expressive facial expressions. From mimicking a bow and arrow with the microphone to dancing around the stage, he kept the crowd enthralled from start to finish. This was one of my favorite sets of the day, and I’ll definitely be checking out more of their local shows to witness the madness again.

Scream

Formed in Washington, DC, in the 1980s, Scream is a classic hardcore punk band that delivered a fantastic performance. Vocalist Peter Stahl took the energy to another level by jumping off the stage and joining the crowd. Unable to climb back up, he ended up performing most of the set right in the photo pit, which was a hilarious twist to their original plan. Scream brought back memories of the 1980s and ’90s punk scene, reminding everyone why they’re still so influential. A fun fact: Scream once featured Nirvana’s drummer, Dave Grohl, who credits Peter Stahl as the inspiration for Foo Fighters’ hit song “My Hero.”

Codefendant's

Codefendants, another highlight of the day, is a punk rock/hip-hop project started by NOFX’s Fat Mike. Their set was a mix of rapping, screams, and straight-up punk rock, and they announced that this was the largest crowd they’d ever played for. Backed by fellow punk rockers Get Dead, they kept the energy high. While Fat Mike doesn’t perform live with the band, he was present stage-side throughout the set, showing his support.

The Real Mckenzie's

Vancouver’s Celtic punk band, The Real McKenzies, formed in 1992 and widely credited with starting the Celtic punk movement, took the stage next. Their Scottish kilts immediately caught my eye, and as someone who grew up on East Coast music, I thoroughly enjoyed their blend of classic Celtic sounds with punk rock chords. Their set even sparked the day’s first mosh pit. Vocalist Paul McKenzie, the only original member, led the band through a performance that reminded me of The Dropkick Murphys—a comparison I greatly appreciated.

Circle Jerks

Circle Jerks were incredible. As I watched from the photo pit, vocalist Keith Morris joked about being the senior citizens of the lineup and gave the crowd a brief history lesson on punk rock. The band, featuring Greg Hetson, formerly of Bad Religion, and bassist Zander Schloss, known for his role in the 1984 film “Repo Man,” performed with the energy of musicians half their age. They played “Wild in The Streets,” the title track of their 1982 album, which was a definite highlight. These musicians are punk rock veterans, with members having been part of legendary bands like Black Flag and Queens of the Stone Age.

The Interrupters

This was my first time truly experiencing The Interrupters, and it was incredible. The crowd was electric, with people crowd-surfing and singing along to every word. From my spot side stage, I saw at least 30 people being lifted from the crowd after crowd-surfing, only to jump right back in while still chanting the lyrics. Even Fat Mike joined the photo pit with a bottle of vodka to show his appreciation for the band. The Interrupters played a set full of hits, including “Raised by Wolves” and their famous closing track, “She’s Kerosene.” After their performance, the entire band came out to the pit to meet fans and take pictures, demonstrating their deep love for their audience. It was also refreshing to see a female vocalist in a punk band, a genre that has been male-dominated for so long.

NOFX

Before NOFX even started playing, the crowd was already in a frenzy, with people crowd-surfing—including a man in a wheelchair. The 40-year-old band knows how to win over a crowd, with a set that included covers of favorites like Rancid and their own song “Bob,” which had the audience singing along to every word. Fat Mike took a moment to poke fun at the beautiful yet underused Olympic Stadium. The band mentioned that this was the largest headlining show they’ve ever played, with an astonishing 20,000 people in attendance for their second-to-last performance. Between songs, they chatted with the crowd, saying they were too old to play more than one song in a row, making the night even more memorable. NOFX’s love for Montreal was evident, and the feeling was mutual. They even performed a rendition of their song “Amoeba,” changing the lyrics to honor Montreal. The night ended with a nine-song encore, giving the crowd one last dose of punk rock from these legends.

Conclusion

What a day of punk rock! The entire lineup kept the crowd engaged for the full nine hours of music. I had the time of my life and wish the best to NOFX in their future endeavors.

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