The Engine Rooms was packed on Sunday, August 10th, as punk rockers young and old came out to see one of the most energetic and enthusiastic bands in the scene. But before the party officially kicked off, I sat down with lead singer of Zebrahead, Ali Tabatabaee for a quick chat about music, touring, and more which you can check out below.
Opening Act: The Bottom Line
Getting the night started were The Bottom Line, an infectiously catchy pop-punk band that would fit perfectly on any early-2000s line-up. Tracks like Bored and Reason brought a nostalgic yet fresh sound that had every millennial in the room moving their feet. Their crowd work was top-notch keeping everyone head bobbing, jumping, dancing, and of course, MOSHING!
They were the perfect warm-up for Zebrahead, and if you haven’t heard them before, their most recent album Life Lately (released in March) is a great place to start. It’s a record that feels like reliving the glory days of 90s–2000s pop punk, and if you ever see them playing nearby, grab a ticket — you won’t regret it.
Headliner: Zebrahead
Moving onto our headlining act is the one and only Zebrahead! a band who, for 29 years, have hooked fans with their unique mix of anthemic punk rock choruses, hip-hop-infused verses, and face-melting metal-inspired riffs. One of Zebrahead’s biggest strengths is how they make their shows feel less like concerts and more like parties with your best mates.
Even before stepping on stage, their humour shone through as they made their entrance to America, Fuck Yeah! from Team America: World Police, which the crowd sang at full volume. They then launched into ‘The Perfect Crime’, instantly sending the room into chaos jumping, dancing and screaming along to every word, after which, Ali had the entire crowd crouch down before leaping to the sky as they broke into ‘We’re Not Alright’, and the energy didn’t dip once from that moment on
Their set was a perfect blend of old favourites and fresh material with classics from the Kerrang! Heyday with songs like ‘Hell Yeah’ and ‘Postcards From Hell’ that made long time fans cheer in giddy excitement, alongside newer tracks like ‘No Tomorrow’ and ‘Sink Like a Stone’ that although keep the bands signature show, also shows their evolution as a band as they go from strength to strength as songwriters. Both Ali Tabatabaee and guitarist/vocalist Adrian Estrella showed masterful crowd work, the kind that only comes from years of relentless touring and a genuine passion for their craft.
While it’s tempting to name a favourite moment of the night, there were too many to choose from. But Highlights included Ali encouraging a non-stop flow of crowd surfers over the barrier for an entire song, a chaotic cover of the Beastie Boys’ Fight For Your Right that had everyone shouting along, and someone in a zebra costume crowd-surfing in a tiny inflatable boat until gravity claimed him and he tumbled into the pit.
As the night drew to a close, Ali jumped into the centre of the crowd, demanding the fastest circle pit he’d ever seen going around before launching into ‘Anthem’. It was the perfect send-off, leaving fans sweaty, smiling, and exhausted in the best way possible.
Zebrahead don’t just put on a gig, they create an experience. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, someone who hasn’t listened to them since your teenage years, or a newcomer who just loves punk rock energy, you owe it to yourself to catch them live. They’ll keep your legs moving, your heart racing, and give you memories that will last much longer than the hangover you’ll have in the morning.
We caught up with Zebrahead’s lead vocalist Ali Tabatabaee before the show on Sunday at Engine Rooms, Southampton.
