Melbourne Beach Stomp Fest II went down last weekend at Pineapples in Melbourne, Florida, and it was everything a scene-built festival should be. This thing exists because Skip and his crew actually give a shit. When they didn’t have what they wanted locally, they built it from the ground up—and in the process, they grew a real community of likeminded individuals. That kind of intention shows in every detail. They’ve done something special down there.
The Eau Gallie Arts District rules. Between Traditionals, 518 Underground, and the Abra, there’s a ton of cool stuff happening in a very tight radius. Tony, Becca, Rob, and their whole crews are proof that if you build it, they will come. They dropped a pin on Melbourne. And those hot dogs from Mustard’s around the corner? Forget about it.
Two full days of heavy-hitting bands, a stacked lineup, and a crowd that showed up despite unseasonably cold Florida weather. Punks and skins, young and old, all packed in for knockout sets. Standouts of the weekend: No Time, Liberty and Justice, Bullshit Detector, Vaxine, and Mass Panic—no filler, no weak spots.
Saturday at the Abra was wall-to-wall walk-up tattooing. Mike Reed and Stevie Bravo from Control Tattoo came down from Titusville, while Nick Leombruno (or Scud, if you’re nasty) from No Time packed his tat gear and some fresh flash in his carry-on. It turned into head tattoo day for the boys from Liberty and Justice, and everyone who got tattooed walked out laced up and ready for action.
Afterparties both nights at the Abra were just as killer as the shows. So many friends from across the country converging, jet-setting down and snowbirding it on the coast for a weekend—exactly how it should be.
We’ll be back next year. No question.
Contributed by
@infernal_hailz 
