MIRAC Benefit at Flying V

 A Mixed-Bill Show

Q

On 9/11, 2025—exactly five years since my first ever punk rock show—I saw Slut Intent, Your Own Knife, Onlytime, VIN, and Melanerpes at the Flying V in Minneapolis. For those unfamiliar, the Flying V is a straight-edge hardcore music venue catering to the youth crowd, although the venue hosts more than just pure hardcore shows, as seen this night. Flying V also contributes more than just shows and a place for youth to hang out; they’ve provided—as of this night—fifty guitars and other musical equipment to teens! My first punk show was at the legendary First Avenue, seeing Pennywise, and now I witness the new generation of the music scene. It is so crucial to not only keep the scene alive, but also to build a community that venues like Flying V do what they do for the youth of today.

The night started with Melanerpes, approximately a quarter of an hour after the intended 6 p.m. start time. Self-described as “post-hardcore,” the set featured slower, heavier riffs and screamed vocals. Aside from the drummer, the members faced away from the crowd, a bold choice which I have seen before, yet still drew my curiosity. Between sets, I spoke with Sofia and Gretchen of the band to ask about what motivated the decision. They responded that they were “feeling angsty” and “channeling the venue.” Excellent responses.

Next was VIN, or VIN Riffs. This band described themselves as “post-prog,” and continued the previous act’s slower and heavier style, though with a bit more of the technical flair that one can expect from a prog-adjacent act. They had a fun stage presence with lots of movement and heavy headbanging from the guitarist. The name “VIN Riffs” is quite fitting, owing to their masterful use of impressive riffs throughout the set. It seemed like they tried to get a circle pit going at one point, but the crowd was non-cooperative, unfortunately.

Onlytime played after, with heavy fog filling the air, a lot of palm-muted riffs, and chorus-pedal-laden guitar. Another “post-” prefix band, they fit right in with the established trend of the night.

After this, the out-of-towners, Your Own Knife, played. Feedback-heavy and emotionally raw, this band, hailing from Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, put on a hell of a show. Lots of movement on stage, with the vocalist even coming down onto the floor. They got the crowd moving as well, even tempting me to get out there (though for now, I resisted the urge). It was during this set that I witnessed the infamous—and what I thought to be thoroughly verboten in such a venue—push-moshing. While the now hardcore staple of pit karate was dominant this night, as is to be expected, I was pleasantly surprised to have seen some lighter moshing going on. I say all this owing to the prevalence of hardcore dancing (pit karate) in the scene right now, and the significant railing against push-moshing by those in favor of the former.

Finally, the headliners Slut Intent. A very technical self-described “hardcore girl group”, they really got the crowd moving—a standout performance bringing some real energy to cap off the night. The set was electric, prompting me to give in to temptation and get in the pit myself. If there’s one thing about me, it's that I love a good two-step.

And as if the entertainment wasn’t enough, it was all to raise funds for MIRAC! MIRAC, or the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, describes itself as an “all-volunteer, grassroots, multiracial, and multinational immigrant rights mass-movement organization.” The group is responsible for campaigning for immigrant rights, believing that the current system of immigration in the United States is “unjust, racist, and white supremacist.” Currently, they are running a campaign demanding, among other things, funding for DACA, the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and legal representation for immigrants in Minneapolis detained by ICE. In our current political climate, with fascistic government intervention in people’s lives through three-letter organizations like ICE, it cannot be understated how valuable a group like MIRAC is.

All in all, it was a fun night with talented and unique bands, at a cornerstone venue in the Minneapolis alternative music scene, for a great cause. I always say I’ll never regret going, only not going, and this night was no exception to that rule.