Friday night at The Fillmore Silver Spring packed a heavy-hitting punk rock punch as icons Pennywise took the stage. Joined by fellow punk rockers H2O, DFL, and The Dopamines as they wind down their 2026 North American tour, the night delivered a generous dose of new faces and nostalgia.
First up on the fight card was Dead Fucking Last (DFL), and they brought immediate energy to the night. What really hit home while taking in the room was watching a crew of kids start off an early pit. Seeing younger generations carrying the torch gives this reviewer a settling sense of comfort for the future of the scene!
Ohio natives The Dopamines took the stage next. While The Fillmore can hold up to 2,000 of your closest friends, all four bands on the bill somehow conjured the nostalgic feel of those early local shows in the ‘90s. Having formed much later in 2006, The Dopamines leaned right into that same spirit with their upbeat high-energy sound. Band members laughed off loose song endings, proving perfection is never really the point when punk is genuine.
Main support H2O elevated the idea of community and family even higher. While the band is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, they seemed truly grateful to still be connecting with new fans in 2026. In a touchingly authentic moment, they brought out their NY crew member, Joe, presenting him with a birthday cake while the entire venue joined in to sing. H2O really treats their crew like family and the audience like an extension of the stage.
By the time Pennywise stepped up and started the set with Peaceful Day, the energy in Silver Spring was infectious. Beyond the riffs and highly recognizable songs like Same Old Story and Fuck Authority, what made their set standout was how much time they spent bantering directly with the fans. A particularly fun highlight of the set featured the band ripping through short cover riffs based on the crowd’s band t-shirts on the spot.
The night ended with an explosive rendition of punk rock sing-along, "Bro Hymn", a testament to the deep roots of brotherhood in Punk Rock. The finale sparked pile-ons at the mic and a surprise guest performance by a young kid absolutely shredding on guitar. There was a surge into the pit as fans realized this was their last chance of the night to have at it. And the final mark of a great show? The 10-year-old girl exiting, yelling, "This was the best show EVER!" She proudly showed me the collection of setlists she gathered from each band that night as I packed up my gear to head home. "I hope I see you at the next cool show too!" I told her… and I think I will.
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