I captured this shot of Keith “Monkey” Warren, the legendary frontman of The Adicts, during their unforgettable set at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas on May 29, 2017. If you have ever seen them live, you know Monkey is the ultimate showman. He stepped out under the desert sun in his signature bowler hat, classic joker makeup, and a wild, sparkling mirrored suit, completely commanding the festival crowd from the second he grabbed the microphone. When I was editing this print, I chose to introduce that bold, bright orange background block to perfectly match his electrifying, theatrical, and beautifully chaotic stage presence.

That particular afternoon at Punk Rock Bowling felt like a massive celebration of everything I love about street punk. The Adicts have been bringing their unique style and catchy anthems from Ipswich, England, since 1975, and they tore through the Downtown Events Center with more energy than bands half their age. From the moment they opened with “Let’s Go” to the massive, beer-soaked crowd sing-along during their closer, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the vibe was entirely infectious. Monkey’s playful, unpredictable energy makes him a photographer’s dream, and this shot catches that exact split-second where punk rock meets pure performance art.

Setlist from May 29, 2017, at Downtown Events Center, Las Vegas, NV:

Let’s Go, Joker in the Pack, Horrorshow, My Baby Got Run Over by a Steamroller, Tango, I Am Yours, Easy Way Out, Numbers, Shit Song, Fuck It Up, Chinese Takeaway, Bad Boy, Viva la Revolution, You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers and Hammerstein cover).

Other Artists at Punk Rock Bowling 2017 (Monday, May 29):

Cock Sparrer, Pennywise, Discharge, Booze & Glory, Lions Law, Wolfpack, Roadside Bombs, The Quitters.