Forming in 1979 from Hollywood, 45 Grave scorched MTV with their hit songs “Evil” and “Partytime” – from the cult classic movie “Return of the Living Dead”. Today the Queen of Deathrock, Dinah Cancer, performs all the 45 Grave favorites from the legendary album Sleep in Safety as well as modern tracks like “Night of the Demons” from the 2010 movie release. There may even be a few from the elusive album “Autopsy”.

Since their debut in 2022, Critical Response, led by charismatic frontwomen Celina Bottini, has been wowing audiences around the SF and Monterey Bay area. Their sound is a mix of old-school punk, rock, grunge, and blues, melding it into a raw, relentless and uncompromising mix.

While not overtly political, Bottini writes to empower women. She rants, screams, and sings with conviction, often all in the same song. The rhythm section includes Mark Hanford on bass and backing vocals (ex-Haggis – Boise, ID and SA90, of which Bottini was also a member) and Nick Priess. They lay down a solid backbeat for the grungy guitar of Ms. Lani White, teacher by day, rocker by night.

The band released their debut LP on silver vinyl and digital in early 2023 to great reviews. As Tim Brooks of Razorcake zine wrote: “Santa Cruz beach punk with strong vocals and plenty of snap and buzz. Sounds like the Avengers or The Gits at times, not straying too far from the classic West Coast vibes. Musicianship is top notch, with frenzied blues guitar from some folks who have been around the block. Punk with a big P, which is not reinventing any wheels, but is pretty damn fun.”

Having opened for the likes of The Dead Boys, Agent Orange, The Hickoids, Naked Aggression, M.D.C., and others, and playing around the Bay Area at venues like The Ivy Room, Moe’s Alley, The Catalyst, Winters Tavern, The Caravan, and the Blue Lagoon, the band has developed a following that draws fans from around the region.

Critical Response – Sound the Alarm!