Sold Out and Loud: Playboy Manbaby Tears Through Soda Bar

Friday night at Soda Bar was a sweaty, high-decibel manifesto. A sold-out crowd packed the room, demonstrating that San Diego’s indie scene is hungrier than ever for music that actually has something to say. From the jump, the energy felt different—diverse, inclusive, and ready to explode.

The Raw Power of New Misphoria

Tucson duo New Misphoria kicked the night into gear with a set that felt like a punch to the solar plexus. This femme two-piece commands the stage with a captivating live performance that refuses to be ignored. Their music serves as a raw reflection on self-discovery, holding space for every complex emotion through a massive, impactful sound. They set a high bar for the rest of the night, evidencing that two people can create enough energy to fill every inch of the Soda Bar.

DAMAG3: The Big Sister Rap Needed

Next up, DAMAG3 transformed Soda Bar into a sanctuary of rhythm and justice. Originating from a bedroom studio outside New Orleans, this trans artist brought a level of stage presence that felt simultaneously intimate and stadium-sized. DAMAG3 stands as the loud, proud “big sister” the rap world desperately needs, weaving themes of identity and social justice into a performance that moved the crowd both physically and emotionally. We loved her.

Then came the main event: Playboy Manbaby’s Corporate Chaos. Touring behind their new album, Violence, the band transformed the stage into the world’s most manic board meeting, complete with stiff corporate attire, high-octane slideshow presentations, and even a cameo from Clippy. They leaned hard into the “Corporations Are People” aesthetic, opening with “Shitshow” to a room that immediately went nuclear. When frontman Robbie Wood belted out the biting lyrics about our dissolving social fabric, the sold-out crowd screamed back every single syllable, setting an intellectually sharp and sonically deafening tone for the rest of the night.

The floor quickly devolved into a beautiful disaster as two separate walls of death erupted simultaneously, creating a dual-vortex of pure energy. Between the frantic mosh pits, the band facilitated “trust exercises” where audience volunteers launched themselves into the air for some of the most enthusiastic crowd-surfing Soda Bar has seen all year. This night felt like pure perfection because it represented more than just a lineup; it was a diverse coalition of voices speaking up for change. This relentless energy and the beautiful cross-section of San Diego’s music scene remind us why we must support indie artists who actually have something to say. Go see these bands, buy their merch, and let’s keep these tours alive—we need more nights exactly like this one.