Name: Mpls: MikelParis of O.A.R. at Turf Club (Aug 31, 2026)
Start: 2026-08-31T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-08-31T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Turf Club

UltraBomb Setlist

Darwin Awards
Bang Punk
Never Better
Artificial Stars
Checked Out
Sleep Tight
Sicko Rants
Haunted
Zombie Zeroes
Who Knows
Look Forward in Anger
Star
Just Cut
Doggo
The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill¹
Stickman Vs. Hangman
Divert / Deflect
No Cap
Last Time
Mosquito Crucifixion (The Suicide Commandos cover)
BSS
— Encore —
New Day Rising¹
¹ Hüsker Dü song

Cheap Glue Setlist

Brainsmoker
Otherside
Closed Minds
Rose Tint
Hellbent
Lock & Key
Adhesive HEart
Take Your Chances
Grin & Bear It
Johnny Thunders

Over near Allianz Field in Saint Paul, it was all EDM on day two of the three day, outdoor Breakaway Music Festival. Just a stone’s throw away, in the lovely confines of Turf Club, it was a power punk rock dream with UltraBomb headlining with some Twin Cities’ veterans rocking this relatively recent band.

Up first was Cheap Glue. The quintet (vocals/guitar, keytar/vocals, bass/vocals, guitar, and drums) came out with a power pop sound, and the nifty opener Brainsmoker was great. These were tight, bright numbers perfectly in line with some of that 60’s rock and the suit coats for three of the front line hearkened back visually to those musical predecessors. Closed Minds had a bit of psychedelia feel and the crowd was bought in to what the band was doing. Hellbent continued the theme and was carried forward with a sense of urgency from all of the guitar work. The vocalist was particularly hitting staccato on his guitar and it made for a very punchy feel that contrasted the overall vibe from the band. A quick break to dedicate a song to his mom, and we were back in with Adhesive Heart, which was largely solo on guitar for the first verse before some back up vocals and a bit of drums gave support. The loud crash of the cymbals had the full band back in gear and that bass was holding things down very well. Grin & Bear It had triple harmonies and a quick and very solid guitar solo, but always maintaining that power pop feel. Closing with Johnny Thunders, we had a small hiccup as a guitarist was still tuning on the first try, but Cheap Glue quickly got back on track and finished their very effective and efficient thirty minute set, with an appreciative crowd cheering them as they left the stage.

I spoke with lead singer Charlie between sets and the excitement of the evening was palpable. Asking about how the band formed, he said there were several members between projects or with bands that were less active, so it gave the opening. Asked about what is in the hopper, I learned that they have their debut album finished up and the band is hoping to release it in July and that they also have a planned tour that will take them all the way to the Pacific Northwest. Here’s to hoping they continue to build their fan base and come back hungrier for more.

UltraBomb is a trio who first appeared around 2022 and had their 2024 debut album Dying to Smile. A full lineup change left only bassist Greg Norton around, but he re-tooled the band, bringing in drummer Derek O’Brien and lead singer/guitarist Ryan Smith. In our December 2025 interview with Smith, we chatted about his recent and rapid time line to joining the band, and it’s worth a read. The current line up is firmly ensconced now, as they just released a new album in 2026’s The Bridges That We Burn and have come back from a recently completed West Coast tour. The trio (vocals/guitar, bass/vocals, and drums/vocals) came out hard with the lengthy and enjoyable Darwin Awards, and the band was in full beast mode, as Smith was jumping and Norton was all across the left side of the stage. Never Better had O’Brien killing it on drums but also with key back up vocals, and UltraBomb had let loose with Smith taking a tremendous guitar solo. The band looked so comfortable together and whether that’s the long performance histories that each of these guys have or the gelling that has occurred over that recent tour, it was paying major dividends here as they were near smoking point. The guys were sweating hard already, but were clearly enjoying with a crowd that was so into the moment (dear reader, that crowd also included Soul Asylum lead singer Dave Pirner, who casually worked his way to the back of the house as things kicked off).

Although Smith had a lot of the focal point as lead singer and guitarist, you were always drawn back to Norton’s absolutely crushing bass work, as delivered on songs like Artificial Stars, where that bass line was also used to neatly close things out. The other thing professionalism quietly does is move the set along with no awkwardness, and going to as many concerts as I have in the last couple of years, I realize that is a major, if largely unseen, skill. You couldn’t sleep on any of the band, as they all were top notch: O’Brien slamming sticks while singing, Norton literally bouncing across the stage and Smith a heat seeking missle of energy. Sicko Rants was played at a searing pace and was a perfect fit for Smith’s lyrical style. Zombie Zeroes seemed to be even higher energy, which didn’t quite seem possible, but hey, there you go. (Side note: Norton’s energy was off the charts. I can only hope to be anywhere near that in my late 60’s.)

Look Forward In Anger felt like it would have been the radio single, back when that was a thing and it had a very entwined guitar and bass riff that really worked. Just Cut was an interesting mix of brightness countered by some darker musical tones, and UltraBomb was running the whole gamut of that high octane punk sound. Doggo was a Norton penned number for “all the dogs you’ve had and all the dogs you ever will have”, and he may have been even more locked in on this number than before, which is really saying something. Divert / Deflect was peak punk and had the crowd careening on the floor. This late set section was crushing and it was crazy to think that the band had held this gear in reserve, as they crossed the hour mark. UltraBomb was in the finest of forms, and Last Time was a driving number with some reverb for Smith’s vocals and Norton just being the essence of cool. Dave Pirner was suddenly on stage for a late song, and the crowd that hadn’t noticed him earlier went ballistic. Smith led a happy birthday (I didn’t catch who it was intended for) before closing the main set. The encore got audience members up on stage, including photographer Dan Michener (who documented that recent West Coast tour), up to sing chorus for the Hüsker Dü song New Day Rising (that Michener couldn’t help but take some photos of the crowd from on stage was hilarious). UltraBomb had killed it for the home fans and unlike most concerts, a large percentage of the crowd stayed after to interact with band members or just continue to soak in the afterglow of an amazing experience.