On a rainy evening on March 16, 2025, Counterpunch with Wes Hoffman and Friends, Taken Days, and Versus the World played at 924 Gilman in Berkeley California. 924 Gilman was the perfect venue for these bands. Despite the downpour, the show was a resounding success, with the energy from the crowd keeping it vibrant.
Wes Hoffman and Friends opened the show with a fantastic performance! They started strong with their first song, “Take the Easy Way Out,” setting the tone for the rest of the night. The band played through their short set with impressive ease. Songs like “True Believers” and “After Hours” energized the crowd, and the band thrived off that energy. They gave it their all with only one song left, playing as if it were the last song they would ever perform—though we knew that wasn’t the case. These guys truly killed it!
Wes Hoffman and Friends Band Members:
Wes Hoffman – guitars
Jacob Boyd – bass
Johnny Wehner – guitars
Stephen Fee -guitars
Justin Unterseh – drums
Band number two was Taken Days. Even though they were a three-piece band, they rocked like nobody’s business. They opened with “I Decide,” which was terrific. From the first note, their shredding was impressive, and they were fun, engaging, and energetic throughout their performance.
After playing a couple more songs, they launched into “My S Cape,” which was outstanding and definitely one of the best songs of the night. Following that, they covered Rancid’s “Junkie Man,” a powerful track that resonated with the crowd. Everyone was singing along and fully engaged, creating an amazing atmosphere.
They wrapped up with two more songs before finishing their set with “Please Stay,” their last song of the night.
Follow Taken Days Band Members:
Corey Glockner – bass/vocals
Brent Waterworth – guitar/vocals
Hailing from Santa Barbara, California, Verses the World took the stage next and kicked off their performance with high energy. They started with their first two songs, the second of which was “The Santa Margarita.” The crowd was captivated from the beginning. Their fourth song, “Frank Sinatra,” delivered a powerful impact that resonated through the audience like a bombshell. Following that, they played “A Fond Farewell,” which served as a fitting tribute to life. They then transitioned to “The Black Ocean,” a fan favorite, as evidenced by the enthusiastic applause from the crowd. After a couple more songs, they launched into “Going Out for Smokes,” which rocked hard and kept the audience engaged. For their final song, they closed with “Homesick/Roadsick,” leaving everyone rocking along until the very end.
Follow Versus the World Band Members:
Donald Spence – guitars/vocals
Chris Flippen – guitars
Mike Davenport – bass
Tony Caraffa – guitars
Bryan Charleston – drums
The highlight of the night was Counterpunch, a band hailing from Chicago, Illinois. They kicked off their set with a bang, energizing the crowd right from the start. They played fan favorites like “Bruises” and “Collateral Damage”, keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout their performance.
At one point, the band dedicated a song to the guy who always leaves the bathroom seat wet at punk shows—everyone knew who they were talking about. The song, titled “Calling All Scars,” became a full-fledged anthem that resonated with the daily struggles we all face. Following that, they launched into “Grinder,” which was met with even more enthusiasm from the crowd.
As their set came to a close, they dominated with only a couple of songs left, finishing with “Waiting in the Wings.” Overall, it was a fantastic performance, and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
If you weren’t at this show, you really missed out. All four bands were at the top of their game and delivered an unforgettable experience. Be sure not to miss these guys the next time they come through!
Follow Counterpunch Band Members:
Eric Hausser – vocals and guitar
Jared Rohde – bass and vocals
Kyle Tilev – guitars
Follow Wes Hoffman and Friends on social media
Follow Taken Days on social media
Follow Versus the World on social media
Follow Counterpunch on social media
Photographer of about 10 years, I have been shooting concerts for about 8 of those years. I started to get serious about concert photography about 6 or 7 years ago and now try to shoot as many as I can. I shoot mostly rock but, have done some country and big band stuff. I love music and since I am nowhere close to being a musician, this is a way I can be a small part of what, in the words of Henry Rollins, “gets me through the highs, the lows and everything in between”.
