Mischief and rowdiness ignited the night in Gardner, where 95 Bulls unleashed their fever-dream Iowa debut.
On Friday, Sept. 27, Grinnell Concerts hosted their second concert of the year, New York punk band 95 Bulls. Under the soft glow of red lights, Gardner Lounge came alive with over 100 students dancing and headbanging, all eager to unwind and revel in the moment.
Formed in the heart of Brooklyn during the summer of 2020, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, 95 Bulls emerged as a dynamic force in the music scene. Their discography, characterized by a punk spirit and raw energy, took a darker and more intimate turn with the release of their latest single, “Shady,” on May 17. With a growing audience of over 1000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Grinnell marks their third stop on an ambitious Midwest tour.
With a full set and an encore, 95 Bulls delivered an electrifying performance featuring two guitarists, a drummer, a pianist and lead singer Emily Ashenden. They kicked off the night with “Loud Mouth,” a standout track from their 2022 album “Go Home.” The song burst forth with driving instrumentals and a frenetic pace, capturing the band’s punk roots while embodying a spirit of rebellion and defiance.
As they played a selection of unreleased songs, the band hinted at an upcoming record set to drop in the spring. Enthusiastic about the audience’s energy, Ashenden exclaimed, “Grinnell, dude, I want a shirt from this place. This place rips.”
Wrapping up the night, Ashenden expressed gratitude to the crowd, saying, “Thank you for having us, and a special shout-out to Liv [Grinnell Concerts Coordinator Liv Larsen `26] for finding us — we appreciate you.”
95 Bulls rocked the house, reminding everyone that Grinnell Concerts is back with a punk edge.
