King Rat Returns: Why August 1st Is a Must-See Night for Colorado Punk Fans

In an age where everything feels overproduced and underwhelming, this show is a reminder that real punk—spit-in-your-face, sing-it-till-you-bleed punk—still thrives in the heart of Colorado.

King Rat 2023

If you’re a Colorado punk rock fan, cancel your plans for August 1st—because this is the night we throw down. Four generations of punk firepower are colliding in a single show that promises to level the playing field and remind everyone why Colorado has always been a fierce breeding ground for raw, unapologetic sound.

Denver legends King Rat return to the stage with sharpened claws and a decades-long legacy of ripping it apart.

They’re joined by Colorado Springs powerhouses The Sleights, Pueblo’s wildest underground punks Diskount Vodka, and a searing debut from Denver’s rising newcomers, 5150.

Whether you’re a scene vet, a pit warrior, or just looking to plug into the heart of a movement that refuses to die, this is the punk show to hit this summer.

Denver Legends: KING RAT

At this point King Rat is more than a band—they’re a Colorado punk institution. Born from the grit and defiance of the Denver underground in the mid-90s, King Rat have spent nearly three decades flipping off conformity and turning every room they play into a frenzied riot of sweat, speed, and middle fingers. Their music is loud, fast, and urgent—blending melodic hardcore with snarling vocals and lyrics that dig straight into the hypocrisies of modern life.

They’ve shared stages with punk royalty like Rancid, Bad Religion, and Dead Boys, but King Rat’s energy hits hardest in the rooms where the walls drip with condensation and every soul in the crowd knows the words by heart. Frontman Luke Schmaltz delivers with a ferocity that only deepens with time—part poet, part street preacher, part Molotov cocktail. King Rat’s live set is a storm—tight, brutal, and cathartic.

King Rat is still leading the charge.

The Sleights: Colorado Springs Pop-Punk with Teeth

Representing the pop-punk pulse of Colorado Springs, The Sleights bring melody, energy, and a blast of punk-infused nostalgia that still feels fresh and cutting. Their sound is rooted in the skatepark-era punk of the early 2000s—think Samiam meets The Methadones—with a local DIY ethic that keeps things grounded, raw, and real. With catchy hooks and anthemic shout-along choruses, The Sleights are a reminder that pop-punk doesn’t mean soft—it means heartfelt, fast, and powerful.

They’ve been steadily gaining steam across the state, playing sweaty basements, all-ages venues, and regional festivals with a workhorse mentality and a growing fan base who relate deeply to their honest, emotionally-charged lyrics. On stage, the energy is infectious. There’s no posing, no pretense—just four dudes ripping through songs that punch through heartbreak, frustration, and the weird, beautiful chaos of growing up in a country spinning off its axis.

For those who crave melody with grit, The Sleights deliver the kind of set that turns strangers into a chorus and makes the pit feel like home.

Diskount Vodka: Pueblo’s Punk Poison

Straight outta Pueblo and built for chaos, Diskount Vodka is a no-bullshit, pedal-to-the-floor punk rock wrecking ball. They blend a raw, grimy sound with tongue-in-cheek aggression and an edge that borders on nihilistic fun. Imagine what would happen if Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, and a pissed-off liquor store cashier started a band and refused to turn it down.

Diskount Vodka isn’t just a band—they’re a scene in motion. Their shows are sweat, spit, and fast beats; punk without the polish. There’s always a pulse of humor running beneath the chaos. They play like they’ve got nothing to lose—and that’s exactly what makes them dangerous in the best way.

If you like your punk wild, unhinged, and barely within the boundaries of legal volume, Diskount Vodka is your shot—and your chaser.

5150: Denver’s Newest Firestarter

Don’t sleep on 5150, Denver’s newest punk outfit already turning heads with their gritty, aggressive sound and unfiltered attitude. The name, borrowed from California’s police code for mental disturbance, is fitting for a band that thrives on manic energy and musical unrest. Though new to the scene, 5150 delivers with the confidence and chaos of a band that knows exactly what they want: to get loud, get noticed, and leave nothing behind but ringing ears and broken strings.

Their songs hit with that first-show hunger but a old school, seasoned attack—fast riffs, relentless drums, and lyrics that speak to the underdogs, the overlooked, and the pissed-off. Expect a set that crashes into you like a brick through a storefront—violent, unexpected, and impossible to ignore.

This might be your first time seeing 5150—but it won’t be the last.

This event brings 1000% energy to Pueblo's First Friday art walk.

Whether it’s the decades of grit King Rat brings to the table, the melodic defiance of The Sleights, the reckless abandon of Diskount Vodka, or the fresh fire of 5150, this night is about more than just music.

It’s about remembering that community doesn’t require perfection—just presence. It’s about celebrating a genre that never asked for permission and never needed mainstream approval. It’s about being loud, being weird, being alive.

So dig out your crustiest boots, grab your crew, and come sweat it out with us on August 1st. Colorado punk isn’t dead—it’s just getting louder.