This show was called The Aquabats Return to Pomona, and it was as much of a homecoming as it was a Bon Voyage. While The Aquabats originally hail from Huntington Beach, The Glass House in Pomona has long held a special place in their hearts, and in the hearts of their ever-loyal Aquacadets as a special hometown venue.
This past December, the band marked an incredible 30-year milestone with two sold-out shows at the Glass House, spanning tracks from their massive catalog. Now, a few months later, they were back in Pomona, a little older, but just as awesome.
Getting the night going with their ska-punk sound were The Bar Stool Preachers from Brighton, England. Their set was a blend of fast-paced ska-punk energy, with songs like “Choose My Friends,” “All Turned Blue,” and “Suicide Girls.”
Their cover of Cock Sparrer was a nod to their punk lineage, while tracks like “8.6 Days (All the Broken Hearts),” “Flatlined,” and “Bar Stool Preacher” had the crowd dancing and shouting along. It was a great start with tons of fun energy and a perfect warm-up for what was to come.
Next up was a band that’s quickly gained a large following and is fast becoming a favorite of mine, Anaheim’s Bite Me Bambi. Led by the ever-charismatic Tahlena Chikami, they hit the stage with their infectious single “Video Games,” and immediately got the crowd feeling the groove.
Their cover of The Offspring’s “Want U Bad” drew cheers and sing-alongs, proving to be a fan favorite. Highlights of their set included the cheeky “Bad Boyfriend,” an enjoyable take on Madness’ “One Step Beyond” (a fitting choice, since Madness was playing that very day just up the road at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena), and their high-energy closers “Carried Away” and “Hot Lava.” Bite Me Bambi brought the kind of ska-fueled elation that reminds fans why live music actually matters.
When the lights dimmed, the energy and anticipation in the room was so thick, it was as if it could be cut with a knife.
A video montage of hilarious clips from “The Aquabats! Super Show!” played across the backdrop, adding to the excitement of the already overstimulated audience.
Then, with cheers erupting, the Boys in Blue stormed the stage and blasted straight into the high-energy number “Shark Fighter,” complete with a barrage of a literal school of inflatable sharks launched into the sea of eager fans.
The audience was a nice mix of families with kids, longtime Cadets, first-timers, and friendly faces you start to recognize after your sixth or seventh Aquabats show. These aren’t just fans; they’re part of a community that thrives on joy, absurdity, and togetherness.
The mosh pits were a little less aggressive, more like whimsical conga lines where cool dads piggyback their mini-cadets through the chaos. It’s not just a show, it becomes a shared memory in the making. and there’s a reason why, they’re a great American band that is a lot of fun to watch.
And if all this was not enough, they kept the energy and excitement at 11 as the hits kept coming: “Super Rad” brought the roof down, while “Martian Girl” had everyone bouncing to the “Wo Wo Wo” part with accompanying hand gestures.
Fan favorites like “Cat with 2 Heads!” and the cosmic banger “Dr. Space Mummy!” had the crowd in full sing-along mode, while “Lovers of Loving Love!” kept the love fest going strong.
“Pizza Day!” is the anthem that transforms the pit into a floating wonderland of inflatable pizzas and airborne youth. One young Cadet got the moment of a lifetime, crowd surfing all the way to the back of the venue and returned safely to the stage, beaming with pride.
They followed that with the rallying cry of “Look at Me, I’m a Winner!” and the heartbreak ballad “Story of Nothing!”
And of course, no Aquabats show would be complete without an appearance from an evil villain to battle our heroes. Tonight, it was a character called Gas Face whose mission was to spray a gas that was supposed to make the crowd a little less intelligent. Of course, they battled the evil villain and, in the end, triumphed as we knew they eventually would. They followed that with the banger “The Aquabats Super Show Theme!” which is always short, fast, sweet, and a lot of fun.
With the release of their latest album, “Finally!,” the band has been sprinkling in new tunes that are quickly becoming mainstays. Songs like “Whatever Forever!,” “Where is Walter Fang?!” and (again!) “Dr. Space Mummy!” were met with enthusiasm from fans old and new. The Bat Commander even issued a challenge to the balcony crowd: dance to the next song, “No Rewind!,” or you need to leave the venue. Naturally, everyone danced like their lives depended on it.
Before the final curtain, MC Bat Commander delivered one last message: The Aquabats were flying to the UK the following Monday. And, in his typically unique sense of humor, he joked that “if that plane crashes down, this will be our last show ever.” Thankfully, the plane didn’t crash, and The Aquabats touched down safely in the UK, where they will be playing a handful of club shows, rocking the Slam Dunk festival, and continuing their mission of spreading awesomeness across the globe.
After “Chemical Bomb!” brought things to a brief but explosive close and the lights went out, the crowd chanted for “one more song,” and The Aquabats were happy to oblige.
They returned with an encore of “Fashion Zombies!” and the ultimate Aquabats finale: “Pool Party!” As inflatable pool toys soared overhead and Cadets danced like it was the end of summer camp, the energy in the room reached glorious, ridiculous heights.
After their venture across the pond, The Aquabats return stateside for their summer 2025 Bats, Kats & Rats Tour, joined by fellow rockers The Koffin Kats and Mike V & the Rats. SoCal fans, mark your calendars – your next chance to see The Aquabats will be at the “Sold Out” Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach on July 26th.
Whether it’s your first Aquabats show or your 50th, one thing is certain: you’ll walk away with a smile and a sore throat from singing. Long live the Bats!
