PUNKTASTIC 13.09
INTRODUCTION You know that Autumn is on it’s way in PTHQ when I start to go on and on about Fest. I’ve been for the last 3 years and there is nothing quite like thousands of punks taking over a town in Florida for a weekend full of bands, beers and really good pizza. It’s the best weekend of the year hands down. This month we dedicate the compilation to bands playing The Fest this year (some for the UK peeps and some for the Americans!) that you might not know and that we think you should check out. Even if you’re not going to The Fest (sucks to be you), if you like punk rock and amazing bands you will love the thirteen bands on here. From pop punk at it’s best in the form of Devon Kay and the Solutions to something a little more twinkly from Big Awesome to some straight up punk rock Great Lakes USA we have you covered. We’re letting the bands speak for themselves this month, bios straight from them! So what are you waiting for? Crack open that PBR and start pretending you’re out in that Florida sun. There’s only a month left to go after-all! And if you’re heading down to Gainesville we’ll see you at the bar. Maryam and the Punktastic Team.
TRACKLISTING 01 Dudes Night - ‘26th and Alston’ 02 Throwing Stuff - ‘Steve’s Jobs’ 03 Good Graces - ‘Good Idea, Glad I Had It’ 04 Jabber - ‘All I Wanted’ 05 Great Lakes - ‘Drink & Stagger’ 06 Prevenge - ‘Missing Out’ 07 The New Lows - ‘Stove’ 08 Donovan Wolfington - ‘Hell’ 09 Devon Kay and the Solutions - ‘Toilet Drunk’ 10 Big Awesome - ‘Grey’s Birthday’ 11 American Lies - Groundhog Day 12 Andrew Cream - Leaving It Behind 13 Calvinball - Ron Swansong
01. DUDES NIGHT 26th and Alston
We’re just drunken assholes singing songs sung out of key! We’ve been a band for 3 years. We get sweaty. And we’re growers not showers.
From: Fontana, CA
Doin’ thannnggggs
Release: ‘Split with American Lies’
4-piece “punk rock” band started in mid 2010. Think: beards, koozys, and high fives...
Genre: Punk Rock
FEST: FRIDAY LOOSEY’S 11:20pm - 11:50pm facebook/dudesnight
02. THROWING STUFF
Steve’s Jobs
Throwing Stuff have a singer (singer, ha), someone who plays three strings on a guitar, someone who has a bass and a drummer with great hair.
From: Manchester/Liverpool/London
We formed because Throwing Stuff was a wicked band name, turns out not giving a fuck about your songs or what you’re doing is quite appealing to people.
Release: ‘Throwing Stuff’
People said: “If Minor Threat were never straight edge.” “It sounds like The Steal, but completely fucking wasted.”
Genre: Punk Rock/Hardcore
FEST: SUNDAY LOOSEY’S 6:00pm - 6:30pm facebook/throwingstuff FEST:
03. GOOD GRACES Good Idea, Glad I Had It
From the streets of Philadelphia comes Good Graces, a melodic indie punk band whose nucleus took shape after many inspired conversations shared between singer/guitarist Aaron Ditro and guitarist Justin Dehel following their trip to The Fest in 2011. After being joined by bassist Dan Kuzma and drummer Frank Tieri, their plan had begun to fully take root. . Good Graces have carved their own unique niche into a sound that most listeners will find to be familiar yet fresh, by blending the urgency of punk and the melodic sensibilities of indie rock.
From: Philadelphia, PA Genre: Punk Rock Release: ‘Volume II’ FEST: facebook/GoodGracesPHL
04. JABBER All I Wanted
Jabber is a four piece pop punk band from Oakland, CA. Compromised of two California natives, and two California transplants, they have taken root in the fertile musical heritage of the East Bay. The band originally formed in 2012 when Danny and Kris got together after each of their previous bands(Pillowfights and Dead Ringer, respectively) had dissolved. Rounded out by Cody Bustos and original drummer Lindsey Collins, the group began crafting their hookladen harmonies and released their debut ep Too Many Babes before the year was over.
From: Oakland, CA Genre: Emo/Indie/Punk Release: ‘Too Many Babes’ FEST: FRIDAY 1982 11:50pm - 12:20pm facebook/jabbapunx
05. GREAT LAKES Drink & Stagger
Born out of a fury of shitty OkCupid dates and even shittier beer comes Great Lakes USA. Coming all the way from Allston MA to bum you out with their unique brand of stolen punk rock riffs and Futurama one-liners. No longer relegated to playing (mostly) naked Fest acoustic shows in your hotel room, this year GRLUSA are now allowed to “lay it down” on an actual stage.
From: Boston, MA Genre: Punk Release: ‘Live Fast, Die Whenever’ FEST: SUNDAY 1982 11.10-11.40 facebook/greatlakesboston
06. PREVENGE Missing Out
Prevenge are a super famous punk band from sunny Montreal, QC. When not joyriding in lamborghinis or hunting man for sport on their private island, they can be found playing their brand of heart-on-their-sleeve punk-pop in various dive bars, legion halls, garages and basements along the eastern seaboard.
From: Montreal, Quebec Genre: Alt/Tech Rock Release: ‘Shared Arms Split’ FEST: SATURDAY MARS PUB 8.50-9.20 facebook/prevengemtl
07. THE NEW LOWS Stove
The New Lows formed in the summer of 2000 in Orlando, Florida, a year after regional punk rockers Shyster called it quits. Lead singer/guitarist Mike Levin, drawing from a broader range of musical influence, produced a less recognizable strain of punk music – one that owes a debt to pop punk, Americana, rock and indie styles, without settling into any of these categories.
From: Orlando, FL Genre: Punk/Rock/Indie Release: ‘I Couldn’t Sleep’ FEST: THURSDAY DURTY NELLY’S 8:00pm - 8:30pm facebook/Thenewlows
08. DONOVAN WOLFINGTON
Hell
Donovan Wolfington is a party angst 5-piece hailing from New Orleans, LA. Their brand of catchy, yet emotional punk draws from an eclectic group of influences including saltines, partying, making friends, traveling, and just growing up in general. Their debut album “Stop Breathing� was released April 2013 through Broken World Media & Community Records. The album consists of love, hate, disgust, and a charming hint of a silver lining for all hectic situations.
From: New Orleans, LA Genre: Party Angst/Sad Shit/Southern Drawl Release: FEST: SUNDAY BOCA FIESTA 3.30-4.00 facebook/donovanwolfington
09. DEVON KAY AND THE SOLUTIONS Toilet Drunk
Hailing from the Midwest, Devon Kay & the Solutions are band of super rad dudes who play some super rad tunes. Their particular brand of rock slings lessons about life and death, while giving a great insight to the amount of pot these guys have smoked in parking lots. If you see them at FEST, definitely offer them some beers. They love beers.
From: Chicago, IL Genre: Pop Punk Release: ‘Losing It’ FEST: FRIDAY ROCKEY’S 5.20-5.50 facebook/ devonkayandthesolutions
10. BIG AWESOME
Grey’s Birthday
Big Awesome started as a band in late 2010, and were a 4 piece. A 4 piece up until we recorded Birdfeeder in March of 2012. Had a bunch of member changes like Spinaltap. Started working with Beartrap PR/Tiny Engines in Mid 2012 and that was the best thing for us. Its pretty much how we got onto Fest last year. Love those guys (Will/Chuck/Jeff). “Big Awesome: kids mom likes who play music moms like.”
From: Savannah, GA Genre: Emo Release: ‘Birdfeeder’ FEST: FRIDAY ROCKEY’S 9.30- 10.00 facebook/bigawesomeband
11. American Lies Groundhog Day
We are a band that plays melodic punk . I once overheard someone compare us to early 90’s Lookout Records bands, so they may be correct in that assessment. Razorcake magazine had this to say about us: “Everyone in this band is talented as hell. The songs are all very catchy, and they pretty much draw you inside of them. Honest and real lyrics are sung through strong vocals that make it easy to understand where the songwriter is coming from. Songs about questioning your existence and growing old, but not wanting to let go of your youth. Good stuff.”
From: Glendora, CA Genre: Pop-Punk Release: ‘Split with Dudes Night’ FEST: SATURDAY DURTY NELLY’S 10.30-11.00 facebook/americanlies
12. ANDREW CREAM
Leaving It Behind
Acoustic singer-songwriter from Peterborough. Whilst Andrew used to play in horror punk band The Ruined, his acoustic output is more akin to the likes of Mike Park, Sundowner and Frank Turner.
From: Peterborough, UK Genre: Acousic Punk Release: Adapt and Adjust FEST: SATURDAY CMC 6.10-6.40 facebook/ pages/ andrewcreammusic
13. CALVINBALL Ron Swansong
A band abusing the punk genre. Shouting catchy songs over half decent music. (Colin hates writing band bios and we don’t blame him but we’ll add here that these are some of the last Calvinball shows so go check them out!)
From: Sheffield, UK Genre: Pop Punk Release: ‘Last Orders’ FEST: SUNDAY LOOSEY’S 5.10-5.40 facebook/calvinball
Thank you for taking the time to read this magazine and listen to our 9th compilation of 2013. If your band would like to be on one of our monthly compilations, then please email a song and a bit about yourselves over to tom.aylott@punktastic.com.