Live Review: Bikini Kill at The Wiltern

“Because I believe with my wholeheartmindbody that girls constitute a revolutionary soul force that can, and will change the world for real.” 

An excerpt from Riot Grrrl Manifesto, written by Kathleen Hanna in 1991

The 90s might have been one of the greatest decades for alternative punk rock fans. Of course, with acclaimed bands such as Nirvana, Green Day, and Blink-182 inspiring the world with the continued 70s/80s spirit of punk rock music. But especially, it is also because Bikini Kill delivered their distinctive, assertive, yet confident voice to that generation of music fans while declaring their wholeheartmindbody anti-establishment and feminist message to the world.

As one of the pioneering bands who collectively started Riot Grrrl (an early 90s underground feminist punk rock movement that challenged patriarchal society), Bikini Kill was formed in 1990 by the inventive and ingenious frontperson Kathleen Hanna. Despite disbanding in 1997 due to extreme media scrutiny and emotional burnout, Bikini Kill reunited in the late 2010s to continue their band’s influential legacy to American audiences and beyond. Such was the case with their stop at Los Angeles, with their vitalizing performance at The Wiltern on September 9th, 2026.   

With most of the original band members reuniting for their 2026 North American tour (including Kathleen Hanna, Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, as well as touring guitarist Sara Landeau), Bikini Kill’s performance at The Wiltern was a revolutionary sensation – perhaps, a reaffirmation for fans who were influenced and empowered through feminist punk rock music. 

Before Bikini Kill took the stage, another chapter of feminist punk history received a bittersweet celebration. As their opening act, Alice Bag, one of the key frontiers in the feminist punk rock scene in the 70s, delivered a nostalgic yet electrifying punk history for the fans. With riveting and distorted tracks playing in the background by her wonderful band (or known as The Bags), Alice yet again astonished the audience with her electrifyingly energetic vocals.   

Also, Alice’s special collaboration performance with Allison Wolfe (lead singer of Bratmobile, also one of the pioneering bands that collectively started the Riot Grrrl movement) was truly a monumental moment for feminist punk rock fans at The Wiltern. Towards the end of her set, Alice Bag also made a bittersweet announcement, saying that this stop at Los Angeles with Bikini Kill will be her last show before retirement. Alice mainly reasoned it with her age, as she said she is soon to turn 68-years-old. But in spite of that, Alice Bag and her band delivered a fierce set that celebrated her decades-long influence on feminist punk rock music. 

Then came Bikini Kill, where Kathleen Hanna commandingly entered the stage alongside drummer Tobi Vail, bassist Kathi Wilcox, as well as their touring guitarist Sara Landeau. Bikini Kill then immediately launched into performing the first punk rock song of the night, This is Not a Test. 

While Kathleen Hanna confidently roamed around the stage with her liberating vocals, Bikini Kill persistently delivered a series of fast-paced exhilaration of their punk soul to the fans. During her performance, Kathleen iconically made unpredictable robotic dance movements throughout – matching the raw and invigorating energy of Bikini Kill. Also, the band members constantly switched their instrumental roles throughout the set (also at several occasions, Tobi Vail stepped in as a lead vocalist), showcasing their versatility and collaborative spirit to truly enhance the message of Bikini Kill’s optimistic “if I can do it, you can do it” mindset. 

Bikini Kill’s series of finale song choices, including Suck My Left One, Finale, and an encore performance of the band’s emblematic Rebel Girl were all truly a gem to watch as well. 

Throughout their set, Kathleen Hanna also promoted CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights), raising awareness about modern societal issues of oppression and systemic discrimination, as well as making playful red carpet photo poses with the organization’s flyer & QR code. It was extremely respectful how Bikini Kill was not only promoting social issues that persisted back in the 90s, including women’s rights, but also modern social and political issues that need to be addressed and resolved.   

Bikini Kill’s live performance at The Wiltern was not only a re-declaration of their feminist causes that shaped their fandom in the 90s, but also their continuation of expression to their anti-establishment sentiment about contemporary social and political struggles affecting immigrant communities in America. The fact that the crowd had a wide range of audiences also spoke to Bikini Kill’s music that remains confrontational, abrasive, relevant, and most importantly, iconic.   

Bikini Kill Set List 

1. This Is Not a Test
2. Don’t Need You
3. Capri Pants
4. New Radio
5. I Hate Danger
6. In Accordance to Natural Law
7. Demi Rep
8. No Backrub
9. Sugar
10. Jigsaw Youth
11. Feels Blind
12. For Only
13. Distinct Complicity
14. Carnival
15. Lil’ Red
16. Alien She
17. I Like F–king
18. Reject All American
19. Hamster Baby
20. Tell Me So
21. Double Dare Ya
22. Suck My Left One
23. Finale
24. Rebel Girl