Destroy Boys in Arizona (And Why Punk Is Going Right)
Since moving from California to Arizona in the middle of a pandemic, I’ve only recently started digging into the AZ concert scene. I grew up in the punk and emo world back in SoCal — Riverside shows, OC shows, and every pocket had its own vibe. So naturally, I wondered: what does Arizona have to offer?
Spoiler: it’s been a damn good time.
The Nile Theater in Mesa has this set of stairs that take you underground into exactly the kind of sweaty basement that emotionally prepares you for a punk show — and I mean that in the best possible way. It felt familiar in a nostalgic, “I’ve been here before even though I haven’t” kind of way. That alone set the tone for the night.
The Umbrellas — Dreamy, Vinyl-Worthy Sad Kid Rock
The first band up was The Umbrellas — and they brought this new-wave, 70s-inspired, soft-edged sad kid rock straight from San Francisco. The kind of sound you want to buy on vinyl, take home, and play while you lie on the floor staring at the ceiling. It was the perfect warm-up, and yes, their gear was pretty enough to nerd out over.
Jigsaw Youth — Heavy, Loud, Queer, Joyful
Next was Jigsaw Youth, and when I tell you that I love hearing women and nonbinary people tearing into screaming vocals? I mean it. If you’re looking for heavy music without the male-dominated energy, this is your band.
They performed with so much joy that you could feel it in the room. No ego. No attitude. Just heavy music, pink fluffy sandals, and making sure the crowd stayed hydrated. All heart. No filler.
Destroy Boys — Punk With Purpose
Then came the headliner: Destroy Boys, and oh my god. They opened by highlighting a local mutual aid group — for us in Arizona, it was NourishPHX, which supports queer and trans people with access to quality food.
That moment reminded me of what punk actually is at its core:
unity, accountability, and taking care of each other.
And look — I know I was older than most people in that room (and probably older than the band). But there was something beautiful about seeing that core value being spoken about openly, intentionally, and passionately. Not as a throwaway line — but throughout the entire show.
The Show Itself
The music? Incredible.
The energy? Through the roof.
The crowd? Safe, fun, chaotic in the best way, and constantly looking out for each other.
Destroy Boys watched the crowd the entire time — stopping the show if someone looked like they needed help, making sure people picked up dropped phones and keychains, telling everyone to step back when needed. It was community, not chaos.
But the moment that gutted me — in the good, soul-punched way — was when singer Alexia said:
“Let’s start a pit of queer, nonbinary, and trans people.”
This younger generation of punk fans gets something I didn’t:
• safe spaces
• community care
• accountability
• queer visibility
• actual support
• bands who center the marginalized
Destroy Boys are out there actively shaping the kind of punk scene I always wished existed — loud about LGBTQ+ safety, loud about shutting down creeps, loud about mutual aid, loud about protecting each other.
And I’m so ridiculously happy that this new generation gets to grow up with that.
It’s safe to say I walked out of The Nile Theater that night with a brand-new favorite band.
