The longest-running punk act in the DMV comes to Rockwell Brewery w/special guests on October 9th, 2026 @ 7:30PM

Formed in 1983 out of DMV’s underground punk circuit, The Submensas have spent decades evolving without ever fully disappearing. Now, with a steady stream of new releases that draw from influences as diverse as funk to dark country, The Submensas have found a new relevance in the world of today.

The band’s line-up itself is a collision of 1980s underground veterans: drummer Darryl Dardenne (Pony Fight), bassist Vernon Hawkins (Sex on TV) and Jim Mcpherson (The Platinum Slugs), all with roots in the band’s original era. Damon Norko, who fronts the band, is also a local English teacher.

Says S.D. Price in the Frederick News Post: “Their cross-generational appeal has become one of the most unexpected elements of the band’s current run. What began as a product of the 1980s underground has found new life with younger listeners, while still resonating with those who were there the first time around. It is a dynamic that speaks to something deeper than nostalgia. At its core, The Submensas’ music is rooted in themes that have not gone away: frustration, fairness, and the search for meaning in systems that often feel stacked against the individual.

"So come one, come all to a night where old meets new with catchy, fun riffs and a whiff of cultural rebellion!