Circle Jerks in New York
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Never miss another Circle Jerks show near New York.
About Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks formed in Los Angeles in 1980, emerging from the hardcore punk scene with a sound that was deliberately abrasive and confrontational. Fronted by Keith Morris, the band combined the raw energy of punk with a sneering attitude toward everything—religion, authority, mainstream culture. Their debut album Group Sex became a cornerstone of LA hardcore, establishing them as uncompromising players in a scene that valued authenticity over accessibility. Throughout the 80s and beyond, they refused to soften their approach, maintaining a reputation for caustic lyrics and sonic intensity. I Don't Care became their most recognizable track, a perfect encapsulation of their ethos. The band has broken up and reformed multiple times, but their influence on hardcore and alternative rock remains undeniable. They're the kind of band that inspired countless others to embrace antagonism as an artistic statement.
Circle Jerks shows are violent, chaotic affairs where the pit is mandatory and the crowd is genuinely hostile. Keith Morris stalks the stage like he's looking for a fight. People dive, collide, and get up to do it again. It's not entertainment theater—it's confrontation.
Known for I Don't Care, Group Sex, Golden Shower of Hits, Religious Vomit, Deny Everything
Circle Jerks + New York
Circle Jerks have maintained a presence in New York's punk scene for decades. They last visited Brooklyn Paramount in April 2024, running through a 30-song set that included "Let It Be Me." The band's raw energy and no-bullshit approach have kept them relevant across generations of hardcore fans in the city.
Circle Jerks in New York News
- News: Circle Jerks Announce US Tour With Gorilla Biscuits and Negative Approach New Noise Magazine · Nov 14, 2025
- Circle Jerks’ Keith Morris Calls for an “Army of Luigis” During Coachella Set Consequence of Sound · Apr 14, 2025
- Calif. punk rockers call for an 'army of Luigis' during brash Coachella set SFGATE · Apr 13, 2025
- The Descendents & Circle Jerks Show is Sold Out… RVA Mag · Apr 5, 2024
- Circle Pits for the Circle Jerks: Night 1 at Irving Plaza The Aquarian · Jul 22, 2022
Live Music in New York
New York's punk and hardcore scene has always been a different animal from LA's. Where Circle Jerks emerged from SoCal's tighter, faster hardcore, New York built something noisier and more abrasive through bands like No Wave and early Sonic Youth. The city's punk roots run deep—CBGBs, Max's Kansas City—but hardcore took longer to establish itself here. Still, by the time Circle Jerks were going strong, New York had its own fierce underground. Seeing them here means testing whether West Coast precision meets East Coast rawness.
New York road trip to see Circle Jerks?
Stay in the Upper West Side near Central Park—quieter than Midtown, better restaurants, and close enough to everywhere that matters. Dinner at Balthazar in SoHo if you want classic New York energy, or Gramercy Tavern if you prefer something less scene-y. Spend your afternoon at the Met or catching live music at Blue Note or The Basement—both venues where you'll see the players who influenced Mars's sound. Walk through Washington Square Park, grab a coffee, remember why New York mattered to music in the first place.
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