In 1997, Lagwagon was one of the first punk bands to feature on the GMM bill; we welcomed them back 25 years later and now they’re back for round three. Lagwagon formed back in 1988 near Santa Barbara, California and their melodic punk rock is often compared to the likes of NOFX and No Use for a Name. They were the very first band to be signed by Fat Wreck Chords, the label founded by NOFX punk icon Fat Mike. When punk hit the mainstream in the nineties, Lagwagon refused to sign with a major label. As a result, their commercial success has been nowhere near that of The Offspring and Green Day, in spite of the undeniable quality of their music. ‘Double Plaidinum’ was their new album when they first played GMM; their second appearance, in support of their last album to date, ‘Railer’, fell through when the festival was cancelled due to COVID. It’s hard to believe more than two decades separate those albums because ‘Railer’ shares that timeless quality that is so typical of good skate punk albums. #GMM25
