COBRA STARSHIP TEAMS UP WITH MILLIONAIRES AND 3OH!3 FOR AN INCREDIBLE SOLD-OUT SHOW AT THE BROOKLYN BOWL IN LAS VEGAS

Photos by Jenna Houchin.

When We Were Young Fest ushered in many legacy acts for their stacked 2024 lineup, drawing in big enough crowds for them to do event-sponsored sideshows. Among these, Cobra Starship made a rare return appearance at the Brooklyn Bowl with the help of their friends Millionaires and 3OH!3 on October 17, 2024. I was invited on behalf of 3OH!3 to cover the show, a dream come true for little me. A lot of When We Were Young Fest felt like I was living through a teenaged dream, but starting off the weekend at such a high point left a lot of expectations for the rest of it. These bands are among my favorites; one could argue that this would make my reviews skewed in favor of the performing acts, but it’s more accurate to suggest that I am more critical, expecting the best from people I know I can deliver.

Though not billed, Subculture Party performed DJ sets between each act, including before Millionaires took the stage. These sets encapsulated the vibes of the evening. I feel bad for those who missed out on the crunkcore scene queen era, where glittery MySpace profiles ruled the day. Granted, I was too young to revel in this era properly; that’s why this show and this weekend felt so emotionally fulfilling. I was gifted a pair of red light-up shutter shades while “Like A G6” played during a Subculture set, and it felt like fate. Plus, drag performers were given a chance to shine, which not only emphasized Subculture Party’s core values rooted in diversity but also that of the billed acts. These additions made the show feel like coming home.

Millionaires have been slowly soft-launching a comeback since 2021 when Melissa Marie began djing Emo Nites like their 7th anniversary party at Avalon. However, a few puzzle pieces needed to be implemented before the full-fledged Millionaires takeover could begin. Enter Meredith Hurley, a DJ for Emo Nite, who also works within their marketing team. She hadn’t had any performance experience before djing Emo Nites, but you couldn’t tell. It looked like Hurley belonged on stage, soaking in every second of it with the leftover drops of her Manic Panic hair dye. Of course, Millionaires is famous for their party girl anthems—and Melissa Marie is a seasoned pro who has established an unforgettable stage presence during the band’s first round. Still, Hurley’s captivating presence and stunning pink hair added depth to the reunion special. Millionaires had a surprisingly long set for an opening act, especially considering they shared the time slots with DJs and drag queens. They got to cover quite a bit of ground, like mega-hit “Alcohol” (which taught us all how to spell that word!) and re-release of MySpace anthem “The Weekend.” Thankfully, Millionaires’ new lineup suggests that many more live performances are in the future. I would love to attend a Millionaires tour in the front row, cheering on Melissa and Meredith…who conveniently created a triple M acronym for Millionaires. It’s truly a work of fate.

I’d seen 3OH!3 before the Brooklyn Bowl show once properly at When We Were Young Fest in 2022 and then at an Emo Nite last year. Sometimes, people approach me hesitantly when I say I will see a legacy act. This is understandable; not everyone is in this for the love of the art. However, 3OH!3 is, and they have never disappointed me, whether in conversation or from a performance. They have an incredible presence live, with Nat and Sean possessing a chemistry that can’t be forged. These real friends have just as much fun doing this now as when “DONTTRUSTME” came out. They run around on stage, taking up every corner of their space, somehow not running out of breath. I get tired of watching 3OH!3 because of the absolute stamina they possess.

Their diverse setlist covered a lot of ground. The festival’s “assignment” was rough, cornering bands into playing a restrictive set to adhere to nostalgia bait. Admittedly, this worked on me for a few acts, but for someone like 3OH!3, I was glad they were given a chance to expand upon their vast discography. They have material dating back to when I was a kid up until now, and each inch of their work deserves to be celebrated. Their performance always surprises me, but perhaps the fanfare surprises me the most. 3OH!3’s dedicated fanbase is an absolute marvel to watch. It is so thrilling to hold up the iconic 3OH!3 gang sign at any given opportunity with a room full of people who care just as much about what’s happening in front of you as you do. Besides the one that brought us together (Fall Out Boy), this is my best friend's favorite band, so it’s always an absolute joy to see them with her. As mentioned, the pure fanfare from their support base is admirable. Sometimes, the scene desperately needs reminders not to take yourself so seriously. Music is supposed to be fun, and everyone on this lineup makes “let your hair down” bangers. However, I noticed that their set was longer than the headliner’s, confusing the billing.

Finally, Cobra Starship took the stage for the first time in over a decade. This is where my heightened expectations began to arise, as Cobra Starship has significantly impacted my life. They are commonly placed alongside these crunkcore scene girl party bands, but they hold a lot of depth that others don’t tend to explore. Their production value, thanks to the masterful ears of Patrick Stump, has an elevated sense of musicianship. So, yes, songs like “Hot Mess” are so fun—but I expect Gabe Saporta to deliver energy and vocals…and I was not disappointed! This reunion was a long time coming, with reservations from Saporta being outweighed by excitement from his peers, including keytar player Vicky T, who wanted this to happen more than anyone, even me. As a result, the performance that unfolded before me was nothing short of real-life magic. I felt so lucky to be in that venue with everyone I know, smooshed together like sweaty sardines. I felt the urge to join the mosh pit for the first time. In my clunky Demonia creepers, I heard the first few notes of “The City Is At War” and nearly dove in.

They were vocally reserved about the album-based assignment, which is understandable because it had been so long since they properly took the stage. As a result, they opened with a few numbers from the ‘Hot Mess’ record, including “Nice Guys Finish Last,” which features a crowd chant. I’d seen Saporta do two Midtown shows in 2022, but as soon as Party Gabe took the stage, I knew he was right back where he belonged. It’s like they hadn’t missed a minute, though I know the band had been hunkered down for rehearsals for quite some time. Their new guitarist, Thrash, immediately blew me away; sorry to the founding members, who each hold a close spot in my heart—but I think Thrash is my favorite now, though I do tend to lean towards guitarists…but that is neither here nor there.

Around midway through the set, they kept up with traditions and allowed a fan to take over for Travie McCoy’s classic “Bring It (Snakes On A Plane)” rap. Although sans William Eugene Beckett Jr. for the choruses, tonight’s fan had been waiting her whole life to be there, just like the rest of us. Her accidental charisma made me fully supportive of her, and I do not feel at all that it wasn’t me, though I hope to get the chance someday. Traditions like these separate legacy acts; if Cobra Starship didn’t want to do this, they wouldn’t be here, and they certainly wouldn’t be giving it their all the way they did at the Brooklyn Bowl. I felt fortunate to be in that audience; it hadn’t escaped me that many didn’t get the chance because the show sold out so quickly. Everyone involved had been itching to “bring it” for years. This iteration of Cobra Starship is mature yet familiar, with the charm necessary to tell their story in a modern landscape. These bands have not gotten lost thanks to the test of time, but rather, their presence allows modern-day hyperpop to exist. We wouldn’t have Ke$ha without Millionaires, but we wouldn’t have Charli XCX without Cobra Starship and 3OH!3. Ultimately, the perseverance of these legacy acts allows new artists to blossom alongside them, taking inspiration from their killer instrumentals (MORE KEYTAR PLEASE) and incredible work from personal stylists.