Marina Bravo
Arts Editor
ZOMBIELOAF headlined March Madness at The Haven. Their intense sound quaked Downtown Pomona on Saturday. The doors opened at 7:30 p.m. and had various local bands. Thinking, Road Trip, The Hell Bombs and Something Somewhere each gave it their all and brought their unique sound.
Damian Torres, the lead singer of ZOMBIELOAF, hosted the event and chose the bands who performed. ZOMBIELOAF headlined the event celebrating their one year anniversary for their album, Pelican Bay. Torres shared that the bands chosen to play throughout the show, leading up to their celebration, were all bands that made music that resonated with him.
There were at least 100 people attending the show. At the show Torres also promoted the non-profit organization Saving Innocence to end human trafficking.
“With everything that has been going on with the Epstein files, I only felt it was right to give back to something that would make a difference,” Torres said. “I wanted it to go somewhere that would try and help victims in any way it can.”
The first band that took the stage was Thinking, a Los Angeles-based alternative rock band. Frontwoman Jenie rocked the stage with her powerful vocals. The four-piece band immersed the audience with their sound. Their newest single, “Call Me,” was a hard hitter.
Road Trip got the crowd to move. The trio brought their everything to the stage. Guitarist and lead vocalist Caden Cantwell, bassist John Mariano and drummer Alex Straniere took up the energy to the next level.
Their song “Mosh Pit” off their album “Off Duty Millionaire” had the crowd two-stepping and moshing their hearts out.
“This is our first time playing here at The Haven in Pomona,” Cantwell said. “We are definitely going to be coming back.”
Not only did they give their all but also a little more. Mariano was fresh off a torn ACL injury, with a funny story that had won the audience over. He proved to everyone what it means to truly be hardcore.
The Hell Bombs are a five-piece band from Ontario. Their loud cathartic sound continued to rock the audience.
Lead singer James, bassist Andrew, guitarist Eduardo Sanchez, guitarist Devin and drummer Marcos Picazo moved the audience with their performance.
Their sound was almost bone-crushing and their energy was through the roof. Vocalist James was truly a master at his craft.
“Shout out to Damian for bringing us up here,” James said. “Thank you for putting us on.”
They brought lights and even chose someone from the crowd to record their set for them. Making it a unique Haven experience.
ZOMBIELOAF took the stage with a loud message. Lead singer Torres, guitarist Xander Vasquez and drummer Jack Blake dominated the stage from start to finish. Before playing their anticipated set of their album, Pelican Bay, Torres had a message that needed to be heard.
“I know we’re here to listen to the album,” Torres said. “But just real quick, F– ICE and free F–cking Palestine. We should all be free to live.”
ZOMBIELOAF played two new songs of protest, which made their message loud and clear. They played their album and with each song, the crowd only got louder and rowdier.
Their album was ten years in the making. It represents the band from its very origin up to now. The album had started being recorded back in 2023 but some songs went as far back as 2014. It was born from the Cal Poly Pomona Music Department studio.
They closed with their cover of Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff,” which shook the entire venue.
Torres reminded everyone to take care of each other and to pick each other up if one would fall. He made it a point to thank The Haven especially for always being a space that allows free-speech and creates a place of love.
“Shout out to The Haven,” Torres said. “Thank you for being a place where we can come dance and have fun despite all this fucked up shit going on in the world.”
In an online post, ZOMBIELOAF shared that they donated all their earnings to Saving Innocence.
“Stay blessed, remember to always support the causes you believe in.”
Marina Bravo can be reached at marina.bravo@laverne.edu.
Marina Bravo is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times, and has previously served as a staff writer and photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She enjoys going to live shows and everything spooky.
Vicente Rodriguez is a senior photography major with a marketing minor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. He has previously served as photography editor of the Campus Times and a staff photographer for La Verne Magazine.
