On Sunday July 13, 2025 I left Napa, California to head into San Francisco, California to go to the Kilowatt Bar. The 2nd show of the night was Fast Friends, Build A Rocket, Frankie and the Studs and Bad Cop Bad Cop and this show was on fire (not literally). I arrived a little late so I missed the first band but the rest of the show was awesome.
When Build A Rocket took the stage, the venue was already packed. I squeezed my way to the front for an incredible show. From the very first song, the energy was electric. The band powered through their six-song set with the enthusiasm of youth on fire. As they played, the crowd surged behind us, pushing into the front, but that didn’t bother us at all. Fortunately, there were several people helping to keep the crowd at bay, which was no easy task. Just as they were about to start their seventh song, the bar called it a night and shut them down. It was disappointing because they were really rocking, but time is time.
Follow Build A Rocket band members on social media
Jen Carlson – guitar, vocals
Jason Taylor – guitar
Johnny Kirk – bass, vocals
Russ Jenkins – drums
Frankie and the Studs were up next, and they delivered an electrifying set. They kicked things off with “Can’t Stand You”, which instantly energized the crowd. Their second song, “Hole in My Head”, is several years old but still a worthwhile listen. It was even better live, showcasing the band’s talent that night.
Next came “Bimini”, which the band played with great intensity, prompting wild cheers from the audience when it concluded. They followed that with “Flash”, an older song they had performed with the Longshot at the Rickshaw Stop. The lively performance had the crowd up in arms, truly a beast of a song!
Then, they transitioned into “Headrush”, which they seamlessly morphed into the next track, a knockout number that they played exceptionally well. Following that was “Drain Me”, and they absolutely nailed it. Then came “Monster”, a formidable track that they executed with determination and skill.
After “Monster”, they played “She’s Insane”, arguably their finest song. As they eased into it, they introduced the band, and when the song took off, the crowd joined in, creating a charged atmosphere—the pit intensified as everyone became fully immersed in the performance.
They then introduced “Venus”, a cover of the classic by Shocking Blue, which is significant because Billie Joe Armstrong contributed vocals to it on their album *Life’s A Glitch*. Even without Billie, they delivered a fantastic rendition of the song.
For the finale, they performed an audience participation song titled “Fuck This Shit”. The band had the crowd in the palm of their hands as they chanted along. With that, they wrapped up their set, thanking Bad Cop Bad Cop for inviting them to perform.
Follow Frankie and the Studs band members on social media
Frankie Clark – guitars, vocals
Frank Salazar – guitars
Lizi Gionangeli – bass
Jona Bowen Smith – drums
Setlist
1). Can’t Stand You
2). Hole In My Head
3). Bimini
4). Flash
5). Headrush
6). Drain Me
7). Monster (w/ extended outro)
8). She’s Insane
9). Venus (Shocking Blue cover)
10). Fuck This Shit
When Bad Cop Bad Cop hit the stage, they started with a raffle for a free tank top, which set an exciting tone for the night. They kicked off their set with “All Together Now”, establishing a powerful and energetic atmosphere. Next, they performed “Done”, a song focused on protecting trans kids, which was a standout track that energized the audience, making the floor rumble with enthusiastic dancing.
As the set progressed, the lead singer expressed her joy at seeing friends and former bandmates, proudly noting her status as a fourth-generation San Franciscan. Following “Done”, they delivered a strong rendition of “Broken”, showcasing the impressive talent of women rocking out on stage.
The energy continued with “Pursuit of Liberty”, a song that invited audience participation. The crowd joined in, singing *whoa o o, whoa o o* right on cue. Then came “Straight Outta Detox”, a new song from their upcoming album, set to release in September, and it was incredible.
“Warriors” followed, dedicated to all women experiencing menopause, and it was genuinely outstanding. Then they played “Originators”, a song filled with empowering messages about following your dreams. This was followed by “Safe & Legal” and “Breastless”, which told a poignant story about the lead singer’s experience with cancer over six and a half years ago. The performance was deeply moving.
Next up was “I4NI”, another new song that hinted at the album’s potential greatness. After that, they slowed things down with “Simple Girl”, a mellower track with a good message about simplicity. They continued with “Monsters” and “Womanarchist”, which concluded with the bass player impressively performing the splits at the last note.
Although that was intended to be their final song, the crowd chanted for one more, and they obliged with “Ventanas”. This song started off mellow but quickly elevated into a rocking anthem, and the band seemed to be having a fantastic time. Between songs, they even sang a snippet of “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men, which elicited cheers from the audience.
The evening wrapped up with a powerful cover of “Nightmare” by Avenged Sevenfold, which they performed flawlessly. The show concluded with a group photo, marking the end of a fantastic evening filled with great music and good times.
Follow Bad Cop Bad Cop band members on social media
Stacey Dee – guitar, vocals
Alexandra Windsor – guitar, vocals
Lihn Le – bass, background vocals, occasional lead vocals
Myra Gallarza – drums, backing vocals
Setlist
1). All Together Now
2). Done
3). Broken
4). Pursuit of Liberty
5). Straight Outta Detox
6). Warriors
7). Originators
8). Safe & Legal
9). Breastless
10). I4NI
11). Simple Girl
12). Monsters
13). Womanarchist
Encore
14). Ventanas
15). Nightmare (Avenged Sevenfold cover)
Follow Build A Rocket on social media
Follow Frankie and the Studs on social media
Follow Bad Cop Bad Cop on social media