THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA IGNITES THE RIOT FEST CROWD WITH A BLISTERING SET

By: Evan J. Thomas

The Barbarians of California is a relatively new heavy / hardcore-leaning project formed by Aaron Bruno (best known as frontman of AWOLNATION) in collaboration with producer/engineer Eric Stenman.  Just to give you a little heads up I had an interview with Eric but due to an audio issue there was no audio for the interview, only video so I will do my best to recall some of Eric's quotes.

From their debut, the Barbarians have straddled hardcore, metal, and even nu-metal textures. Stenman stated to me that Aaron was a skater in his younger days and loved the thrash music.  The band's debut album And Now I’m Just Gnashing My Teeth is full with punchy riffs, groove-laden breakdowns, and heavy vocals.  Their music videos are have a comedic style to them as they don't take themselves to seriously. 

Barbarians leaned into a more DIY energy and used that freedom to push boundaries without needing to adhere strictly to genre gatekeepers. Over time, buzz began to build, especially as fans of AWOLNATION or heavier music looked on curiously.

Stenman had told me that their 5th ever show they were opening up for their idols Deftones on tour.  Most bands understand that this isn't a common occurrence to open up for a legacy band within their first handful of shows and the Barbarians didn't take it for granted.  

Riot Fest 2025 in Chicago took place a few weeks ago (September 19–21) and marked the festival’s 20th anniversary.  The Barbarians of California were tabbed  for the Friday, September 19, on the Roots Stage, from 1:05 PM to 1:35 PM — a mid-afternoon slot during a day packed with punk, rock, and alternative names. This was a strategic placement: early enough to capture both dedicated festival goers and curious passersby, but also challenging, as late afternoon and evening draws often dominate attention.

​I can guarantee most of those checking out the Barbarians set didn't realize who the lead singer was and while I was walking through I could see the crowd get bigger and were more curious than at the start.  

If you have a chance to see The Barbarians of California live I highly recommend it.  Not only is the music a throwback to the 1990's-2000's skate culture but also a vibe that brings the heavy.