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| Winona Fighter @ the Cornerstone (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The future of power punk appeared very bright at Berkeley’s Cornerstone on Wednesday night as Winona Fighter brought their tour to the Bay Area with a full tailwind behind them on the power of their new album “My Apologies to the Chef.” The fact that the album had been out for only a few weeks was betrayed by the majority of the audience seeming to know the lyrics and singing along throughout the night.
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| Winona Fighter @ the Cornerstone (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Lead singer Coco Kinnon provides an irresistible force of energy and enthusiasm at the on vocals and rhythm guitar. Thursday her lyrics of purpose were balanced by frequent moments of appreciation for the reaction of the Cornerstone audience and the others stops on the tour, “We are going to play every song off the new album,” she told the crowd.
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| Winona Fighter @ the Cornerstone (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Lead guitarist Dan Fuson seized the moment to add “So, you are going to hear your favorite song…your least favorite song and the songs that you think are meh.”
“If you hear your least favorite song, please keep it to yourself,” Kinnon added. “I don’t need my feeling hurt anymore.”
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| Winona Fighter @ the Cornerstone (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Though many of Kinnon’s lyrics are infused with rage, anger and outrage in true punk spirit and the band delivers fast lightning strikes of energy, there was a highly positive vibe in the air Thursday. Songs like “ATTENTION,” “Swimmer’s Ear” and “R U FAMOUS” landed strongly with the Berkeley crowd thanks to Kinnon’s 100% commitment to every song and the terrific playing of her bandmates Fuson and bassist/producer (and Kinnon’s husband) Austin Luther.
Winona Fighter combine the catchy hooks of Blink-182 with much more relatable and important messages in the vein of Pearl Jam.
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| Winona Fighter @ the Cornerstone (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
I had seen the band light up the audience at Aftershock Festival back in October and word of their impressive performance quickly spread throughout festival goers. Thursday in a Cornerstone’s more intimate environment and surrounded by devoted fans, the band absolutely killed it. By the time they had finished going through their entire catalog with their set with “HAMMS IN A GLASS” and then played an encore cover of Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” they had the crowd locked in and drooling for the next album and visit to the Bay. There can be little doubt that they are headed to a much bigger venue next time out and that their band will be an important one in the times to come.
For this tour, Winona Fighter has been focusing on local bands to fill out the bill and Thursday night brought two rising Bay Area stars in 2Morrows June and StrateJacket.
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| Winona Fighter @ the Cornerstone (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Opener 2Morrows June featured the brothers Molinar – singer Marcos and lead guitarist Fernando, along with guitarist Juandiego Britto. Marcos Molinar was on springs throughout their half-hour set – primarily focused on their terrific debut EP “I Need a Miracle” as he worked the audience with his enthusiasm on full display. From the outset, the crowd responded very enthusiastically to “Miracle” the first song off the EP, as well as the record’s “Self-Control” and “Rule the World.”
An early cover of Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” connected with the crowd and had the early arrivers engaged. By the time they had reached the end of their set, their anthemic closer “YTFS” (which stands for You’re the Fu#$ing Sh#$) had the crowd lustily singing along and cheering wildly.
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| Winona Fighter @ the Cornerstone (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Sunnyvale’s StrateJacket were welcomed to the middle slot like returning heroes. Supporting their October 2024 debut album “Bad Start” – lead singer / guitarist Jackson Roemers seemed like a stage combination of Billie Joe Armstrong and the late Joey Ramone with his energy and terrific vocals. The album’s title ironically reflects the group only getting to play one gig together initially before the Covid live music shutdown. Bassist Fabian Angel and drummer Nate Mangold provided strong rhythm support behind Roemers as songs like “Dreamcatcher” and “Cut the Cord” scored bullseyes with the crowd.
