By MARISA TORRIERI BLOOM
Bikini Kill
College Street Music Hall
New Haven
Sept. 21, 2026
Bikini Kill proved they’re still queens of the neighborhood when the iconic punk band played New Haven on Monday, giving fans 70+ minutes of fierce, feminist rock anthems that still resonate decades after the riot grrrl movement’s heyday.
The show at College Street Music Hall offered more than a nostalgic dip into the band’s 1990s catalogue. It was an opportunity to revisit the sisterhood of like-minded souls and enjoy an evening of reprieve from an outside world brimming with existential threats.
Vocal powerhouse Kilynn Lunsford opened the night with an intense, vocal-effects heavy rock n’ roll, which showcased her expansive lung power. Admittedly, I struggled to hear the lyrics, but I appreciated the sentiments, especially when she proselytized the benefits of going to trade school in lieu of a traditional university. Her flowy, yet frantic, fae/floral aura reminded me a bit of KatieJane Garside of ’90s band Daisy Chainsaw, while her stage-prancing in a boa recalled PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love era.
Bikini Kill hit the stage around 9:15, bringing “girls to the front” to see founding members Kathleen Hanna (lead vox, bass); Tobi Vail (drums, vocals); and Kathi Wilcox (bass, drums), and touring guitarist Sara Landeau launch into “New Radio.”
It was one of several two-minute Bikini Kill bangers, singalong, four-chord micro-anthems paying homage to our heroes, decrying sexism, or celebrating friendship. (Side note: Watching Landeau do her thing was a personal highlight, as she and I were once guitar instructors together at the Willie Mae Rock Camp in Brooklyn).
Having never seen Bikini Kill play live before, I didn’t realize there’d be so many instrument changes throughout the night. Vail took over lead vocal duties on “I Hate Danger” and “Accordance with Natural Law” and others, while Wilcox claimed drums (and guitar for Landeau, who took over drumming duties for a hot minute). It was so cool to see those switches happen in real time. Vail’s voice is clear and resonant and powerful. Clearly, it was a sign I needed to familiarize myself with their catalogue beyond the big hits.
The breaks between the songs, when Hanna and Vail paused to tell stories or scold aggressive behavior in the pit, resonated throughout the night as much as the music. While I loved hearing songs like the slow-burning “Feel Blind” and fired-up “Carnival” live, hearing Hanna and Vail share their thoughts, and reflect on their shared history, made the experience more personal and cathartic.
Appropriately, Bikini Kill ended its set with “Rebel Girl,” their iconic underground hit, and an anarchic encore of “Suck my Left One.” It reminded the Gen Xers to keep fighting against patriarchy and the male gaze, while inspiring Gen Zers in the pit to be the torchbearers of justice in a messed-up world.
