The Punk Rock Picnic was held in Irvine, Calif. on April 9 with Fifty-three bands, seven stages and a family friendly environment bringing together people of all kinds and their love for punk music.

This was the fourth year of the Punk Rock Picnic with proceeds of ticket sales going to autism awareness.

This year’s lineup was amazing with bands such as The Dwarves, TSOL and The Detours headlining the show.

When there are few days in So Cal where we experience rain, this day was supposed to have rain.

Many prayed the night before for clear skies, and all got their wish. It was perfect weather, for a perfect event.

Walking into the picnic, you could understand that security meant business by searching every car that went through the parking lot and confiscating all the beer that they could find.

A lot of people were upset, but with some of the problems that the picnic experienced last year and all the families and children that attended the event, this was a great idea.

The bands began to play at 11 a.m and continued until 10 p.m.

What more can you ask for? It was the Disneyland for punk rockers!

Walking in and seeing the two main stages, one would know that the day was going to be great.

So many bands came and played, including The Yeastie Boys, Bonecrusher, The Cro-Mags , The Mental Defects, Barb Wire Dolls, TSOL, Youth Gone Mad and so many more.

People that wanted to see most of the bands on this day had to strategically plan it out, and get ready for a lot of walking.

Mike Kennel of Bonecrusher said, “I love playing this event. It’s for a great cause. I just want to go out and rock!”

And rock they did.

Each and every band played amazing sets; the energy was intense and amazing.

But when punk rock legends TSOL stepped to the stage, the event erupted in chaos.

Fans piled and pushed their way to the front, trying to get as close as they could to the madness. Pits erupted, and the crowd roared as TSOL blazed through their legendary song “Code Blue.”

A band that most didn’t know going into the picnic would have to be the Barb Wire Dolls.

Not necessarily getting the stage they deserved, Queen Isis and crew shredded the stage in honor of the “Street Generation.”

With tunes like “California” and “Punk the Pussies,” the crowd cheered and pitted.

Their motto “rip, riot it up,” held strong.

The booths were filled with merchandise, the skateboard ramps were out, mostly with kids, and in the middle of all the stages was a rink filled with the OC Roller Girls strutting their skills.

Also ensuing in all the madness was a punk rock girl dodge ball game. Not many could have braved some of the beasts that entered this competition.

Even the manliest of men would have run before they challenged some of these women and their dodge balls.

With all that was going on during the day at the 4th Annual Punk Rock Picnic, the highlight of the day and the most intense portion had to be when TSOL stepped to the stage.

If there weren’t a person who was at the picnic in the vicinity of the stage TSOL performed on, it would have been surprising.

The fans were demolishing the barrier and security was fighting to hold it up. It was a constant struggle, to hold it up!

But after “Code Blue” ended, Jack Grisham, lead vocalist for TSOL, was nailed in the face with a churro. Punk rock was shown at its finest.

Grisham said, “I love it here. The fans, the band and what this event does for the autism foundation, it is absolutely amazing!”