I did not imagine that I would be deeply reflecting upon feminism, punk, and motherhood in a pizza parlor music venue in Bridgeport, Connecticut but that’s exactly what I found myself doing on 28 August during Riot Grrrl’s Not Dead Fest presented by bubbleteagrunge. As I watched my shy ten-year-old warm up to her first live show with seven amazing bands and Oliver Theplace as an emcee, I found myself incredibly grateful for a space that was welcoming, inclusive, and bubbling over with joy as resistance. As a mom, my daughter is at an age where fitting in feels vital, where their sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression is often questioned by adults, where body image and self-esteem can become so intertwined that many kids her age feel burdened by thoughts of what they look like, if they will be accepted, if it is safe to be who they are, and if they have a place in the world. This is heightened when one is a part of one or multiple marginalized communities. To see my own child slowly come to the realization that in this place, she could let go of that burden and just be? That’s priceless.
As a woman in my 40’s, I have been going to shows since I was fifteen and I have known all sorts of spaces and communities in various music scenes. Typically, my reviews are about the sound of a band, the technical terms, the deeper meaning of lyrics (have no fear, that’s coming), but this particular festival was the first one that I had brought my child along, and it hit me a bit differently. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge what a unique experience it was for me as someone who lived through the 90s and whose first loves were Bratmobile and Bikini Kill when I was my daughter’s age to then see my own child experiencing this and seeing the evolution of a movement from the 90s to today. Saturday night’s festival was the best kind of space, and it made the music lover, teen riot grrrl, and the mother in me deeply proud to be present and to be ushering in a new generation in my own child.
In addition to the amazing vibes and music, this festival was a benefit show raising money for Trans Lifeline. Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that provides vital resources such as emotional and financial support to trans folks in crisis. The event raised $1,000 for Trans Lifeline which relies heavily on individual donations. What an incredible way to support the community in a time when resources are often being taken away from communities that desperately need them.
So let’s get into a bit about the event and the incredible bands who wanted to support this cause…
Commit to the Bit
The evening began with Fagawam, MA locals, Commit to the Bit. The emerging band, self-described as “goofball hardcore” was chock full of energy and certainly fit the bill of late 90’s/early 2000’s vibes. While I sensed some Nirvana influences, there was also heavier tendencies that had my metalhead heart aflutter. Lead singer, Kassie Sagan, may appear tiny, but those vocals are anything but. The band balances dynamic, high-energy aggression with some melodic hooks that are definitely rooted in the DIY scene. Their last song, ‘Interlude (OPEN YOUR EYES)’ did just that when I heard the clean, ringing guitar lines before it began shifting tempo into that overdriven texture that leans so heavily into the late 90’s alt rock mood building sound. Meeting Sagan after their set was an absolute joy. She even encouraged my daughter to get in the Under 21 pit at the show which is something she had been itching to do but was a bit nervous about. Big kudos to those in that pit for showing a baby punk rock girl how it’s done!
T@b Grrrl
While not the first time I’ve seen T@b Grrrl live, it was the first time I got to chat with vocalist, Gigi Barwald and what a delight it was! We talked feminist and riot grrrl literature, second, third, and fourth wave feminism, the riot grrrl movement happening in New York City right now, and the cool clothes her mom just sent her because of course we did. Bardwell’s confidence, energy, and general badassery transcends the stage. My daughter has a few new music heroes after Saturday and Bardwell is certainly one of them. The level of kindness and accessibility to artists is one of my favorite things about the DIY scene and it was no exception at Riot Grrrl’s Not Dead Fest. Part of that may be the intimate venue, The Artisan Stack which, by the way is a cool space and it doesn’t hurt that the aroma of garlic, tomato, and melty cheese permeates the place.
If you’re into 90s riot grrrl and garage punk, you’re going to love t@b Grrrl. Fast, biting vocals with equally fast, overdriven guitar riffs and an instrumental setup that leans into the dirty and distorted, this band is highly reminiscent of Bratmobile, Bikini Kill, and The Donnas. They opened with Grrrltopia, a song Barwald wrote in the bathroom during a Pathetica show full of garage punk riffs, snotty, call and response vocal delivery, and the band’s trademark high-octane energy. One of my favorite songs t@b Grrrl performs live is ‘Chungus’ and our ears were blessed with Barwald’s piercing scream in the first moments of ‘Chungus.’ I am itching to hear more from this band because it’s such a nostalgic feeling for me seeing them live. It’s like going back in time and yet, somehow still modern and relevant.
Lollirot
New York City’s Lollirot was a band I was really looking forward to seeing. The homage to Jack Off Jill and the word on the street had me so ready for their melodic to raspy vocals and dark, sludge-tinged feminist punk. There were a few songs where the lead singer, Nae‘s voice, reminded me so much of someone and I could not pinpoint it.
Opening their set with ‘Dear Diary,’ a track you can find on streaming platforms, Lollirot showcased their ability to take an intimate, innocent concept of a secret diary entry and tear it open with raw, distorted noise. Following that up with ‘Delicate’ showcased Nae’s ability to shift from, dare I say, delicate tones to fully, unhinged, throat shredding screams. The softer passages seem intentionally fragile which makes the sudden drops into heavy rasp feel twice as jarring and I love it. Overall, Lollirot delivered a dynamic set that expertly pivots from eerie, sing-song fragility to grunge punk rage where every whisper and scream hits like a direct hit to the chest.
Arms Like Roses
The fourth band shifted gears just a smidge as Arms Like Roses has a distinct, emo/alt/post hardcore sound, think melodic meets Circa Survive. Every song the band played had me going a little wild in my seat at the back where I had hunkered down to take notes for parts of the show. Their final song, ‘Portrait of a Family’ was certainly a standout though; six minutes of emotional and sonic slow burn that builds into an explosion of distorted guitars, driving drums, and cathartic vocal strain that contrasts the quiet and melancholic start.
The band released a video for ‘Portrait’ that has a retro, home video kind of feel almost which matches the nostalgic, family dynamic theme of the song. ‘Portrait’ focuses on themes of dysfunction, generational trauma, and pressures to look picture perfect as a family. It’s a hauntingly patient epic emo song that has me thinking about it days later, if I am honest.
Rat Sauce
Rat Sauce, a New Jersey DIY punk band fits naturally alongside the lineup at Riot Grrrl’s Not Dead Fest. They opened with ‘Survival of Greed,’ a fast, aggressive track that takes aim at corporate exploitation, wealth hoarding, and systemic inequality. It immediately caught my attention with its fast, driving punk tempo, heavy guitar riffs, and punchy, urgent vocal delivery from vocalist, Mia Coppola.
Another favorite came towards the end of their set, with a song called ‘My AI.’ This takes a jab at modern reliance on technology and artificial intelligence. The vocal delivery on this was spot on, moving between deadpan, almost robotic to a loud, shout-along hook in the chorus. It was definitely a crowd pleaser, poking fun at the absurdity of replacing human connection with AI companions and automated algorithms.
Bad Static
This was the second time I’ve seen Bad Static live, the first being at LOUD WOMEN Fest NYC 2026 and it did not disappoint. Opening with ‘Hear Me Calling,’ their 2021 single was a great intro for the crowd into all things Bad Static. The band has a raw, storytelling style evidenced clearly in ‘Hear Me Calling,’ with themes of longing and yearning. It has sharp, guitar riffs, steady mid-tempo punk percussion, and gritty lead vocals with expressive shouting.’
Another stand out from Bad Static is ‘Final Grrrl,’ a sharp, horror obsessed riot grrrl thrasher. The “final girl” archetype of lone survivor outlasting a nightmare was translated brilliantly into an aggressive feminist metaphor for this song with the narrator as the one seizing the knife and taking control rather than being the helpless victim. Vocalist, Nicol Maciejiewska‘s delivery is gritty and venomous, shifting between tense, taunting spoken-word verses and her trademark explosive, throaty chorus. Truly, it captures what Bad Static does so well, turning something like B movie horror and violence into a cathartic, head banging, live show staple.
In addition to their killer set, a certain ten-year-old is still in awe that she was given the setlist from Amy Harris and may or may not be talking about framing it!
Cat Crash
Founded by vocalist, Cecil Yang, Cat Crash puts queer, trans, and AAPI perspectives at the center of their songwriting. For this set, briar from briar patch filled in on drums and performed vocals with Yang. Yang is also the founder of bubbleteagrunge, a collaborative initiative within the regional underground music scene that is responsible for Riot Grrrls’s Not Dead Fest. They book, promote, and organize multi-band show lineups, bringing together like-minded acts across the area. Yang is one busy individual but that didn’t stop them from bringing incredible energy to the stage Saturday.
One of my favorite things about Cat Crash songs is that while some themes can be heavy, the songs remain upbeat and catchy. Fans singing along to ‘Aphrodite Has a Plan’ which focuses on the messy reality of modern queer longing and interpersonal dynamics is standard Cat Crash. They can pivot from snarky scene critiques to sincere, hooky, and intensely relatable storytelling. And if you don’t get that “Ba, ba, da, ba, ba, ba da” stuck in your head, I will be shocked.
Another relatable song, ‘I Need To Radically Change My Life in the Next 24 Hours Or I’m Ending It All’ takes the hyper-dramatic, catastrophizing thoughts of mental burnout and translates them into an anthem. The title uses the classic mid 2000s emo-style naming conventions and really captured a feeling many can relate to. Vocally, Yang hits a peak level of urgency that shifts between breathless and monologue verse delivery with strained, explosive choruses. The instrumental arrangements hinge on frantic, driving drum patterns and heavily overdriven guitar riffs that match the almost claustrophobic nature of the title. Watching my daughter shout the lyrics at maximum volume was…eye opening for me. The vulnerability of the lyrics and the feeling of an overwhelming need for a reset translated even to my fifth grader, what a statement that is about the world today and about Yang’s songwriting ability to transcend all sorts of backgrounds and age ranges.
The night ended with all of the bands on stage covering Bikini Kill’s ‘Rebel Girl.’ Yang had a megaphone and went through the crowd as fans shouted along to an anthem we all know and love. While I’ve been to quite a few riot grrrl shows over the years, this was one of only a handful in the last 5 years and it made me remember why I identify so much with the music. This was a space where ten year olds and 40+ year olds could be there for the same things: community, acceptance, a balance of whimsy and rage, the love of music that speaks to our identities and both individual and shared experiences. Riot Grrrl’s Not Dead Fest is a reminder that riot grrrl isn’t dead for a simple reason: as long as the world keeps trying to silence marginalized voices, this movement will always respond with a wall of amplifiers, raw community, and a refusal to back down.