Baltimore rockers Angel Du$t come to New Jersey’s DIY scene
No stage, one big dance party. That’s the only way to describe what went down in the basement of Maggie’s Bar and Grill on Sunday, September 21 in Lakewood, New Jersey. A night packed with great bands to keep your eye on, headliners Angel Du$t delivered an intimate performance, making it a night to remember.
With many people in the crowd anticipating their live debut, New Jersey hardcore band BODYLOCK set the tone of the night strong with a pit from the front to the back of the room active for their whole set. For their first show, they opened up the night with a heavy set filled with that classic hardcore sound and plenty of danceable sections.
Buffout was up next, playing their new promo, recently released on RTF records. Heavily influenced by Title Fight, their music is for lovers of hardcore punk who want to dance and sing their hearts out, making them a perfect lineup match with Angel Du$t. From many years of consistently playing DIY shows in and around the thriving New Brunswick scene, Buffout has a growing loyal fan base; familiar faces are seen at every show singing along to every word that vocalist Mikey Sanchez belts out. Buffout is certainly one of those sing-your-heart-out bands, and the amount of fun they have while performing is contagious.
Crush Your Soul played next, heightening the intensity in the room. Fronted by Jay Peta, the singer of Mindforce, the packed, energetic room was drowned in spooky metallic riffs layered on top of crunchy rhythms, with Peta’s distinguished vocals cutting through the mix for a set that really commanded the entire room.
Division of Mind kept the energy high as the final opener, summoning dog piles with their menacing tunes. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, the group delivered face-melting riffs that kept the crowd going.
Opening with “Toxic Boombox,” Baltimore natives Angel Du$t had the entire room bouncing from the moment they took the floor, up until the very last note rang out. Blending aspects of modern hardcore with surf rock, strong vocal melodies, harmonies as well as heavier hardcore vocals, Angel Dus$t is such a unique, creative group of talented musicians, and it was a pleasure to see them play in such a small setting.
Vocalist Justice Tripp, who also fronts the legendary hardcore band Trapped Under Ice, hung out after the show to chat, take pictures, and sign records. The whole night was a demonstration of the talent and kindness that comes out of and through New Jersey’s thriving hardcore scene. Anyone complaining that “music just isn’t as good as it used to be” has no idea about the magic that goes on at an Angel Du$t show.
angel du$T SETLIST
Maggie’s Bar and Grill, Lakewood, New Jersey (9/21/2025)
Toxic Boombox
Space Jam
Take My Love
Love Slam
The Knife
The Beat
Headstone
Brand New Soul
Stepping Stone
On My Way
Turn Off The Guitar
Bad Thing
Let It Rot
Sippin’ Lysol
Stay
Set Me Up
