Live Shows: The Suicide Machines | Mesa
Mesa, AZ - The Nile Theatre - August 21, 2026
Released on May 21, 1996, The Suicide Machines‘ debut album, Destruction by Definition, includes 17 high-energy tracks that are the perfect blend of punk rock and ska. Three decades later, the band is marking the anniversary by playing Destruction by Definition live in its entirety.
With support from longtime friends and tour mates Assorted Jelly Beans and Buck-O-Nine, it was a night packed with skapunk.
Punk trio Assorted Jelly Beans kicked off the show, bringing raw energy that got the crowd moving. Bassist Ricky Boyer and guitarist Wylie Johnson traded vocals while alternating between aggressive riffing and tight ska upstrokes. Drummer Danny Deleon was ferocious, hitting hard and fast for the duration of the 45-minute set. Highlights included “8th Grade Nerd,” “No Time,” and “Braindead.”
Buck-O-Nine kept up the momentum with a set full of fan favorites. Lead singer Jon Pebsworth encouraged the crowd to skip work tomorrow before going into “Callin’ in Sick. Bassist Scott Kennerly took over on vocals for “Irish Drinking Song” with the crowd joining in for the “Drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and fight” chorus.
Buck-O-Nine closed out the set as Dan Albert and Craig Yarnold played the iconic horn line from “My Town,” an homage to the band’s hometown of San Diego.
The packed crowd pushed forward as Buck-O-Nine cleared the stage. A quick 15 minutes later, the house lights went dark and The Suicide Machines exploded onto the stage.
From the opening notes of “New Girl” to the closing notes of “DDT,” the band was unrelenting, keeping the collective energy at a fever pitch. Fans of all ages crowd-surfed, skanked, and stage-dived while the circle pit was a constant blur of motion.
Frontman Jay Navarro bounced around the stage, pausing occasionally to share the microphone with stage divers before they leapt back into the audience. Krees Borbon of The Aggrolites filled in on the drum kit, driving the tempo while singing along. Guitarist Justin Malek deftly switched between heavy palm-muted riffs and offbeat, percussive strumming.
Highlights included “Hey,” with its heavy, doom-inspired guitar intro that quickly gave way to Rich Tschirhart’s bouncing bass line. Other high points included “S.O.S,” “Islands,” and “Break the Glass.”
With Destruction by Definition clocking in at a lean 37-minute runtime, the band finished off the evening with additional tracks from their discography. Among the added songs were “Hating Hate” and “Give” from 1998’s Battle Hymns, as well as “High Anxiety” from 2003’s A Match and Some Gasoline.
The Suicide Machines next head West for a sold out show at the Hollywood Palladium before continuing East for several dates in the United States, Australia, and Japan. Tickets are available at https://suicidemachinesdetroit.com/pages/tour-dates.
