LOS ANGELES, CA- Since forming in Los Angeles in 2018, The Linda Lindas didn’t even wait to hit the ground before they started running. When they released their first EP in 2020, Bela Salazar (guitar, vocals), Eloise Wong (bass, vocals), Lucia (guitar, vocals), and Mila de la Garza (drums, vocals) already had more experience under their belts than some bands have after multiple album cycles. They had opened for Bikini Kill at one of their Hollywood Palladium reunion shows in 2019, which led to them being featured on the soundtrack for, and performing in, the movie *Moxie*. Their self-titled EP was released in December of 2020, and their performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy” went viral in the spring of 2021. Since then, they’ve been setting the scene on fire with no signs of stopping. They’ve been part of ushering in a new generation of rock bands, all while navigating becoming teens and young adults themselves.
That very theme drives their new sophomore album, *No Obligations*. The record is a joyful and biting exploration of growing into yourself and finding your voice. It’s the sonic representation of acknowledging that while the world around us may be a scary place, you can still find joy and use it as fuel for resistance. It has the distinct brightness, groove, cut, and grit that has been the cornerstone of the LA punk scene where they’ve drawn influence since the beginning. This record—and the band itself—has managed to synthesize unabashed fun, and it’s no wonder why they’ve become so beloved. That energy and love effortlessly transferred to their *No Obligation Tour* homecoming show at The Novo.
The Tulips started the show off with a set of bubbly and precious dream pop numbers that had the entire crowd enchanted with their dreamy musical aesthetic.
The Tulips are a Latina/Filipina indie dream pop duo from Los Angeles, formed in the fall of 2023 by best friends Jewlz and Andrea. Their music blends ethereal melodies with dreamy organ textures, creating a sound reminiscent of 1960s psychedelia infused with modern sensibilities. They describe their style as “psych-folk rock,” characterized by hypnotic harmonies and swirling, reverberated guitars and their debut album, Message for the Living, was released on February 18, 2025. The album showcases their signature sound and includes tracks like “Enough About Me” and “Mr. No One.”
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Then Nashville’s Be Your Own Pet flawlessly set the stage for what was to come with their signature snarl and drive. Midway through their set, The Linda Lindas even joined them on stage for a raucous performance of “Hand Grenade,” blending their youthful energy with BYOP’s seasoned punk fury and they closed their set with a blistering cover of The Damned’s punk classic, “Neat Neat Neat.”
Be Your Own Pet (BYOP) is a punk/garage rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, originally formed in 2003. The band consists of lead vocalist Jemina Pearl, guitarist Jonas Stein, bassist Nathan Vasquez, and drummer John Eatherly. They gained prominence in the mid-2000s with their energetic performances and raw sound, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2006 and Get Awkward in 2008. After disbanding in 2008, BYOP reunited in 2021, spurred by an invitation from Jack White to open for his tour.
This reunion led to the release of their third studio album, Mommy, on August 25, 2023, under Third Man Records. The album has been praised for blending the band’s original frenetic energy with a matured perspective. The Guardian described it as “inventive and itchy with anger,” highlighting tracks like “Rubberist” and “Pleasure Seeker” and Under the Radar noted that Mommy “expertly splits the difference between the teen snottiness and insane energy of their 2000s output and a more mature musical and lyrical outlook”.
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When The Linda Lindas took the stage, the energy in the room surged—everyone was clearly ready to have the time of their lives. And the band absolutely delivered. They kicked things off with the titular track from their new album and tour, wasting no time before twirling, jumping, and sprinting across the stage with the kind of unfiltered joy that’s become their signature. Huge smiles rarely left their faces as they tore through the set, while bright, technicolor lighting and stunning animated visuals pulsed behind them, turning The Novo into a kinetic kaleidoscope of sound and color. It was the perfect atmosphere to let these new songs shine.
Their setlist was a high-octane blend of fresh material, beloved staples, and choice covers like “Found a Job” by The Talking Heads—featured on the Stop Making Sense anniversary tribute album—and Green Day’s “When I Come Around,” a nod to the tour they had just wrapped with the iconic band. That sense of connection extended beyond the music.
A mutual understanding was formed between the band and the crowd: we were all here to have fun and look out for each other. That intention was clear when they stopped mid-song during “Oh!” to check on a fan in distress, then seamlessly reignited the room’s energy. Eloise later made an impassioned call to protect immigrants and trans youth—words met with roars of support—before launching into their breakout anthem “Racist, Sexist Boy.”
Time and again, The Linda Lindas prove that they’re not just riding a wave—they’re shaping it. Watching kids in the crowd, some barely old enough to hold a guitar, watch them with wide-eyed wonder was all the assurance I needed that the future of guitar-driven rock is not only safe—it’s electric.
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VIDEO
The Linda Lindas Electrify The Novo with Punk Power, Heartfelt Activism, and Youthful Joy on ‘No Obligations’ Tour
