Beverly Crusher, Cosmic Kitten, and Killbuzz Shake Add-a-Ball
There is something magical about a punk show in a small room, the kind of space where the floor shakes, the amps crackle, and the crowd becomes part of the performance. Add-a-Ball in Fremont has always been one of those places, and on Saturday it hosted a lineup that captured everything that makes this scene feel alive. Beverly Crusher, Cosmic Kitten, and Killbuzz filled the upstairs of the arcade with a night of sweat, noise, and pure community energy.
Killbuzz opened the night and immediately set the tone. The lead singer walked out wearing a Stetson Heat Seeker wife beater, a nod to another local band, paired with kneepads and black under eyes like a football player ready to sweat. She jumped into the crowd a couple of times, feeding off the room and giving it right back. I can see what the fuss is all about around this up-and-coming local band. They were amazing. Their set was tight and fearless; the kind of performance that makes you want to follow them wherever they go next. If you missed them with this one, they are playing this Sunday with Monsterwatch and The Grizzled Mighty at the Clock-out Lounge. Do not miss it.
After a quick changeover it was time for Cosmic Kitten. We fell in love with them at Freakout Festival last November and had been keeping track of them ever since, hoping for a quick return. The wait was over. They were back in Seattle again, touring extensively this summer. The band had a new bassist tonight, adding a fresh dynamic to the trio. Drummer Daniel Morales took off his shirt toward the end of the set and handled most of the talking between songs, while lead singer Michelle Rose, with her bright red hair, flipped it around wildly as she moved between playing guitar and letting it hang at her side. Their sound was sharp and melodic, full of emotional grit and bright edges. This is a band you need to experience live and bask in their light.
After two openers who delivered headliner level energy, it was finally time for Beverly Crusher. The Seattle three piece of Max Stiles, Sam Stiles, and Nick Fischer took the stage ready to go. The lead singer wore a blue outfit paired with Pokemon socks and Vans, a perfect fit for the playful chaos of the night. Their drummer played like his life depended on it, his glasses flying off between songs as he powered through each track. It was great to watch each of them in their zone, locked in and feeding off the crowd.
A standout moment came during “Give Me the Power,” when the band led a call and receive that had the entire room shouting back at them. It was one of those small venue moments where everyone feels connected, loud, sweaty, and fully present. Beverly Crusher closed the night with the confidence of a band who knows exactly who they are and exactly what their city needs from them.
The punk scene in Seattle is well alive tonight with some help from California. Between Killbuzz’s explosive opener, Cosmic Kitten’s magnetic return, and Beverly Crusher’s triumphant home turf finish, Add-a-Ball felt like the beating heart of a scene that refuses to slow down.
