In quick succession, Scowl took to the stage, slowly strumming and dialing their amps, as a tidal wave of bodies inched forward. This was the moment; the final event that each and every punk pilgrim yearns for. A precise concoction of sweat, sticky floors and little room to breathe. This is where Scowl is carving out their future.
Scowl, a punk rock band from Santa Cruz, has been carefully sculpting out a cult following of die hard punk fanatics since 2019, with the release of their self titled EP. Revitalizing and revisioning the genre, Scowl sucker punches your heartbeat into furious motion.
Singer Kat Moss leads the band in times of melodic beauty and thumping aggression. While guitarists Malachi Greene and Mikey Bifolco, Bifolco joining in 2023, viciously duel their instruments masterfully. Bassist Bailey Lupo and drummer Cole Gilbert provide a gripping beat that unwillingly gets the blood pumping.
On a near-constant tour, the band has garnished 364,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with songs reaching into the millions of streams. Beginning with self-released EP’s, Scowl soon came onto Flatspot Records radar and began cashing in. Bringing the band’s first album, “How Flowers Grow,” into their discography late 2021.
Flatspot Records also released a plethora of music videos for the band that have gained hundreds of thousands of views and rising. One of which being a collaboration video with Santa Cruz hardcore band Drain titled “Bloodhound.”
Scowl has been to the Coachella valley in 2023, played at Welcome to Rockville in 2024 and has shared stages with some of the biggest names; Limp Bizket and the Circle Jerks being some of the most notable.
![](https://fscollegian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Scowl-2-594x600.jpg)
I was able to attend Scowl’s show in December at Strummers Bar and Grill in Fresno, where a packed house eagerly awaited the group’s arrival. Crowd surfers, mosh pits and stage divers stole the spotlight in the trance-like state that dictated their every move.
Band members dodging passing divers, all while staying in rhythm is a type of chaotic beauty that only smaller venues can deliver. Being stuck against the front barrier, after a stage diver bowling pinned multiple fans down, offered an intimate experience with the band’s sound. I was using the amps as a shield, fighting people off my back that wanted to take my place as the band tore into violent songs like Wired.
The comradery between artist and fan is something Scowl admires deeply. In one instance, bassist Bailey Lupo gave his guitar to a fan in the front row, allowing her to play a few chords. Shortly after, they shared a moment in which Lupo gave her a pick, all while other members were ferociously continuing the song.
![](https://fscollegian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Scowl-3-450x600.jpg)
Scowl is still chugging along with multiple shows slotted for 2025 and a brand new album set to release April 4, 2025 titled “Are We All Angles.” Branching out to another record label Dead Oceans, this will be the band’s first album release with the label. You can find Scowl’s music on all streaming platforms, and tickets to their upcoming shows on their website.