RampArt 08/07/2026
The vibe at RampArt on August 7 was impeccable. So friendly, so celebratory, so communal. Two of Arcata’s beloved punk bands, Hotel Riot and Pest, played their last show before heading off to college. It was beautiful seeing so much love and support in the room, with friends, family, and fans packed in to RampArt to give Hotel Riot and Pest the send off they deserve. There was a lot of love for touring band Hell Bound Pound and headliners Something Wicked, as well.
This was my first and unluckily my last time seeing Hotel Riot, and regrettably I missed most of their set. Straightforward energetic punk delivered with style. A silver lining of Hotel Riot’s dissolution is that they delivered their debut album just in time for their departing show. You can listen and purchase and see just what you missed out on here.
Tonight was Pest’s farewell performance as well. I appreciate the value of secondary education, but at what cultural cost? I hope the folks in Pest and Hotel Riot continue making music in the future. They packed a whole lot of talent and personality into those two bands. Pest also released their first album in time for their final show, 1,000 Years of Pest, streamable on most major platforms. Pest’s particular strain of punk defies easy categorization – at times poppy, at times puerile, but just when you think you’ve pinned them down they bust out of the pigeonhole by showing off their musical prowess or unapologetically baring their teeth.
Hell Bound Pound came up from Richmond and you can clearly hear the storied tradition of east bay punk rock in their music. They offer a modern take on classic skate punk, complete with shouted verses, melodic choruses, and ample elongated “whoas”. It felt very fitting that they performed from a skate ramp turned makeshift stage.
I’d argue that Something Wicked is the best punk band in Humboldt County. Some might consider “polished” a pejorative in punk rock but Something Wicked’s raucous stage presence and the rabid response of the crowd is a testament to their talent. They ended their set with my favorite of their songs, “Bloody Sunset”, an infectious summons to drag billionaires into the streets and give them the ol’ 1789 shave and a hair cut.
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