Let’s be honest up front, if you weren’t born between 1990 and 2000 you can probably turn around right here. Every generation or decade of children has their own special style of music that no one outside of that generation really gets. Those of us born in the ‘90s, but who came into personhood during the 2000s worshipped at the temple of Vans Warped Tour. And during the 2000s nothing was more popular than pop-punk tinged metalcore, and no band exemplifies that more than I Set My Friends On Fire.

I Set My Friends On Fire or ISMFOF as most fans tend to refer to them, is a ratty outfit who isn’t afraid to spit in your face and have fun with it. Their entire genre is exemplified by a devil may care attitude and a juvenile sense of humor. It largely shot off of ‘90s pop punk and ‘90s nu-metal, seemingly as a reaction to the more coy pop punk of the 2000s. But out of all the immature bands, ISMFOF might have been the most immature, with the notable exception of Brokencyde, but even they don’t have a “Works With Smosh” category on their Wikipedia page.

Most people would probably agree that ISMFOF isn’t a particularly artful band, none of their albums are particularly beloved by critics, but they were never meant to get it. ISMFOF has never made an album for anyone but themselves and their fans, and whether or not you get it really isn’t their problem

If you go to this show, you’re not going to witness the evolution of rock and roll, or to see music that is pushing the boundaries of what can be done with instruments. What you’re doing is going to have a kickass time with a bunch of punks who never grew up. Maybe they’ll drag you down with them, that’s what you want after all.

Location: 1720 DTLA

Address: 1720 E 16th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Tickets available from $13

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat