“This isn’t just an event. It’s a legacy, pharmacy and we’re all part of it, cialis ” Mariam Bastani says shortly before her band Permanent Ruin begins the final set on Saturday night of Smash it Dead Fest 2014. She’s not exaggerating; we are becoming part of history as organizers, malady bands, or attendees of the fourth Smash it Dead Fest. This year SID raised over $5,600 for the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center all while putting on three solid days of non-stop punk and good vibes. Readings, workshops, discussions, and delicious vegan meals filtered throughout the weekend to break up the loud energy from the music.

But the music says more than you could probably understand from within the small confines of the Democracy Center both Saturday and Sunday or the theater in the Cambridge YMCA on Friday. These women, queer peoples, transpeoples, genderless peoples, and more all have something important to say against our white straight cis male-ruled society. They say, “Fuck you. I am an important human too,” whether eloquently in a pop-punk or funk song or screaming at you in the voice behind a hardcore band. Everyone at Smash it Dead Fest was here for an important purpose: to educate themselves on how to be a better and more open person, teach others to do the same, and have a fucking fun weekend.

I was able to attend most of the bands at this year’s Smash it Dead Fest, and here are some takeaways from the weekend:

• Downtown Boys was having the most fun of any band, both on and off the stage. Its members were periodically found in the audience dancing harder and singing louder than anyone else. They also joined Neonates for a song on Friday night. This escalated in their own set on Friday night where they couldn’t help themselves. Both Victoria Ruiz on vocals and Norlan Olivo on drums spent a good chunk of the set within the crowd.
• Peeple Watchin’ was the band with the most to say. I left their set having a lot of ~feelings~. Lead singer Sadie Smith also gave some important life advice: “Don’t eat a banana before playing.”
• Sorrows, from Brooklyn/Queens, played their first show ever at Smash it Dead Fest, which you wouldn’t have gathered watching them play. They put on one of the tightest sets I’ve ever seen from a new band.
• Matt Damon! created the most meta experience of SID by performing in actor Matt Damon’s hometown. They also played a super punk cover of Drake’s “Take Care” that had the whole crowd singing along.
• In Chemical Peel, Victoria Mandanas proves that she’s the best drummer alive.
• Most dancing per capita and best 311 cover go to Shady Hawkins.
• Distract was the band I heard most people talk about how excited they were, and they lived up to said excitement by playing a powerhouse set in almost complete darkness.
• If you play Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, or Ginuwine’s “Pony,” a dance party will ensue. No one is ever too punk for those jams.
• People from Chicago love chanting more than anything.
• Disipline had the best outfits of the weekend. There were no boundaries. It reminded me of the time I drunkenly stumbled into Ramrod finding leather-clad men dancing on stage. I tried to join them on stage, but they kicked me off. I guess I’m over it.
• Anomoly almost brought the crowd to tears with all of their talk of #feelings.
• Number one band I shouldn’t have missed: Ragana
• Overall best set of the weekend: Spitting Earth. Luckily for all of you here in Boston, you could see them play all the time. Their music was played tight, they had a lot to say about Smash it Dead Fest, and they blew everyone away in the crowd. I heard more people talking about that set afterwards than any other.
• Curmudgeon left their heart and knees out on the stage. Guitarist Ryan was getting so moved by their own set that he dislocated his knee and wobbled off stage at the end.

Smash it Dead Fest 2014 was a huge success all around, and congratulations to the organizers for raising all that dough for BARCC and putting together one hell of a festival. Until year five!

Watch a video below the photos of Christine Tupou (Sourpatch, Crabapple, Try the Pie) perform Sourpatch’s Salt at the Smash it Dead Fest after show on Friday night.