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Winona Fighter brings Yes Chef tour to Washington, DC: Review

BBG News

On Wednesday evening, there was a tornado alert issued in Washington, D.C., yet this didn’t deter 250 individuals from gathering on the second level of DC9. Instead, they had their very own stormy event to experience. Performer Winona Fighter happened to be in town.

As a gamer, I can tell you that the moment Nashville’s garage-punk enthusiasts burst through the crowd and took over the stage, it was an endless burst of energy. This show marked the start of their final tour leg, titled “Yes Chef”, promoting their first album, My Apologies to the Chef. This album is a 14-track rollercoaster ride filled with raw guitar tones and heavy bass/drums, tackling the grittier aspects of love and stardom.

At DC9, the audience had the pleasure of listening to the entire album, plus some additional tracks. Frontwoman Coco Kinnon was overjoyed that the event was a complete sell-out. “Tonight, I usually have a lot of things to complain about, but not tonight,” she said. She continued by spreading a message of love and encouragement. “I don’t put much faith in the government, but I believe in the people in this room.

Afterward, she’d delve into yet another skillfully crafted power-punk anthem, a blend of raw anger and unbridled joy.

Nashville punk trio Winona Fighter does not disappoint on their first headlining tour

During the course of the performance, Kinnon inquired from the audience how many of them had been brought to the event reluctantly. As a gesture, she opted to perform just one cover track for the night, explaining that they strive to create a show where each attendee is familiar with at least one song. True to her words, she played a brief, high-energy rendition of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” and it turned out that everyone was indeed acquainted with this track.

If the primary motive for her temporary absence from “My Apologies to the Chef” was merely that, then Winona Fighter might not have felt it necessary to come back. It appeared as though almost everyone in the club was familiar with and enthusiastically sang along to all their original songs. I can’t remember ever witnessing a band, especially one embarking on their first tour and only having one album under their belt, where every word of every song was known by the entire audience.

Kinnon was able to rest her voice occasionally and let the fans do the singing.

Instead of Coco Kinnon getting much rest, envision what transpires when you liberate a rebellious drummer from her set. That excessive energy doesn’t dissipate; instead, it scatters across the stage for Kinnon. At times she would have a guitar, other times not, but this made no difference. She was an unceasing whirlwind throughout 16 songs in just 65 minutes.

Originally hailing from the Boston punk music environment but later moving to Nashville, Kinnon contributes her drum skills to the band’s first studio release. During their tours, Kinnon and the rest of the three-piece band are accompanied by Nashville’s session drummer, Steve Mascarello.

In this performance, Dan Fuson on lead guitar and Austin Luther handling bass and production duties kept the band going strong throughout each piece. The set kicked off with the crowd-favorite “You Look Like a Drunk Phoebe Bridgers” and concluded with “HAMMS IN A GLASS.” Throughout, Fuson and Luther maintained a lively tempo without letting it slow down.

The crowd never ceased their enthusiasm, and when Kinnon announced her desire for them to follow Chef‘s lead track “JUMPERCABLES”, they did just that. When she instructed a fan, who happened to be dressed as a chef, to ignite the mosh pit, he obliged without hesitation. His name was Jake, and he was cheered on by 250 strangers chanting his name not only before but also after “Wlbrn St Tvrn.

Kinnon demonstrates a knack for crafting sharp, insightful lyrics, showcased in catchy tunes such as “R U FAMOUS” and the more pop-oriented “Swimmer’s Ear.” The chorus of “Wlbrn St Tvrn” provides a succinct snapshot of the evening.

I will carry out my plans according to my own preferences regarding time, place, and method, and rest assured that I will follow through on them immediately.

In the bustling atmosphere of the DC9 stage, DC’s Massie, feeling right at home, kicked off the event with a captivating 30-minute set showcasing their unique brand of power pop. They concluded this energizing performance with their most recent single, “Lost Mary.” Vocalist Emily Yaremchuk expressed her gratitude to the audience for braving the storm, as they gathered during a tornado in the heart of DC.

It may have been pouring outside but on Wednesday at DC9, the tornado was swirling away inside.

Winona Fighter will be performing on the remaining leg of the Yes Chef tour, traveling northward into the northeastern states before heading west for shows in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota over the next few weeks. Additionally, a new 32-track deluxe version of Apologies to the Chef was released on July 10, featuring several new songs and acoustic renditions of the original album tracks. You can check it out now!

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2025-07-10 18:00

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