Photos by Sharon Steele – Formed in Los Angeles in 1985 by guitarists and vocalists Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner, L7 spent four decades tearing through the punk, grunge, and alternative rock landscapes on their own unapologetic terms. Alongside longtime drummer Demetra “Dee” Plakas, the band built a fierce reputation on heavy, fuzz-drenched riffs, subversive humor, and relentless feminist activism—most notably co-founding the Rock for Choice benefit concert series in the early 1990s. With seminal releases like Smell the Magic and the Butch Vig-produced Bricks Are Heavy, L7 bridged underground grit and mainstream visibility, delivering enduring anthems like “Pretend We’re Dead” and “Shitlist” while refusing to be boxed into industry tropes.
In 2026, the band embarked on a monumental and deeply emotional final chapter with their global farewell run, The Last Hurrah Tour. Following summer dates alongside Amyl and the Sniffers and a festival appearance in Belgium, the group’s year was struck by tragedy in July with the passing of beloved founding bassist Jennifer Finch from aggressive brain cancer. Determined to honor her spirit and fulfill the tour dates Finch had hoped to play, Sparks, Gardner, and Plakas welcomed former 1990s L7 bassist Janis Tanaka back into the fold to carry the low end through their autumn North American trek.
As the tour culminates in November 2026 with a hometown finale at Los Angeles’s Wiltern Theatre, L7’s legacy stands taller than ever. Every night on the final run has served as both a raucous victory lap and a cathartic tribute to Finch, whose posthumous memoir, Shooting Up and Making Out, is slated for release in early 2027. Going out loud, defiant, and entirely on their own terms, L7 closes out 2026 not as a nostalgia act, but as enduring icons who reshaped the sound and attitude of heavy rock.
NOBRO
Formed in Montreal in 2014 by vocalist and bassist Kathryn McCaughey, NOBRO is an explosive Canadian garage-punk powerhouse built on ferocious riffs, unapologetic humor, and high-octane party energy. Alongside longtime guitarist Karolane Carbonneau, the band spent a decade grinding through basement venues and international tours with heavyweights like PUP, Alexisonfire, Billy Talent, and blink-182 before breaking out with their 2023 debut full-length album, Set Your Pussy Free. Produced by Dave Schiffman and released via Dine Alone Records, the record earned a 2024 Polaris Music Prize shortlist nod and won Rock Album of the Year at the 2025 Juno Awards, cementing NOBRO’s reputation as one of modern rock’s most electrifying live acts.
Heading into 2026, the group entered a bold new era with a revamped five-piece lineup—welcoming drummer Andy Silver, guitarist Josée Caron, and keyboardist/percussionist Tara Cohen—to accommodate a relentless global touring schedule. The expanded roster wasted no time, embarking on the band’s longest North American run to date alongside punk legends the Descendents and Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls, as well as sharing stages with icons like L7. With new music in the pipeline and a renewed sonic punch, NOBRO continues to turn every stage they touch into a sweat-drenched, celebratory riot.
