Are you Festing? Getting Fested? At The Fest?
Pre-Fest Issue for The Fest 20
Are you Festing? Getting Fested? At The Fest? I read that good SEO requires the first line in a story should be the header, so how’s that search engine? Am I now the definitive, optimized source of Fest? With my Pre-Fest Fest Issue for The Fest 20
I’m taking a page from Patrick Kindlon’s playbook, or rather comic book newsletter, and writing this issue pretty candidly because I’m feeling worn out tonight. I’ve been dealing with car problems and a tooth extraction, all while wrapping up things at my old job before I take off for my new job next week (ICYWW, it’s for OffBeat Magazine and I plan to bring more underground coverage to the site and actually feel belonging in New Orleans somewhat, heh).
But tomorrow I leave for FEST. So in quiet contemplation, I figured I’d write about some bands before I go. Anyway, here is my Pre-FEST “guide” that might interest you a little if you like grocery lists of bands.
Note: I had many cool new people subscribe to my silly little newsletter, so thank you, cool people. And, of course appreciation to the old folks for sticking around.
The bands I’m excited to see
Iron Chic - I didn’t know about this band’s existence until recently, but I heard “Cutesy Monster Man” and was instantly hooked. They’re pop-punk in the way Jeff Rosenstock is pop-punk so in an anthemic, kinda artsy, true-to-their-DIY roots way. Definitely my kind of punk. Anxious, in your head, capital “C” in Community band that wants to make you feel like you belong.
The Ergs - I’ve never seen “The Ergs” and I feel like New Jersey has been on my mind a lot the past year thanks to new friends and the music scene seemingly popping off over there (where tf did Adjacent Fest come from??). Mickey Erg is one of those dudes I should like but never really got into, so maybe seeing the band live might make me “get” it.
Anti-Flag - Few punk bands write political rippers better than Anti-Flag and seeing them feels like a pilgrimage. To me, they’re the Dead Kennedys of the 2000s. Full of creative energy and overflowing with searing anti-fascist, anti-capitalist lyrics.
Chris Farren - He’s the best. Everyone knows that. Chris Farren forever.
The bands I’m excited to see… again
The Sonder Bombs - I’m a sappy simp boi for my partner and we decided to start dating at a Sonder Bombs show, so this is mostly for sentimental reasons. But their music is good too. Willow’s untouchable vocals, quirky ukulele and veracious lyrics make for cathartic pop-punk unafraid to stand out.
We saw them at the Masquerade in Atlanta in 2019 and they made single folks go to one side and couples to the other, so I asked, “Which are we?” (no pressure) and now we’re celebrating our third year together and her first Fest.Zeta - The Venuzlean post-hardcore band, Zeta, has been coming to Fest for years. Working as volunteers, playing small stages until Fest 18 when they packed out The Wooly for the album release of “Mochima.” And they’ve continued playing bigger and bigger stages, getting the Heartwood last year and now THE stage at the Bo Diddly Amphitheater.
It’s so hard to articulate just how unique and incredible this band is and I implore people to listen for themselves. They use diverse percussion, atmospheric guitars, effects, and other weird stage tricks to create a psychedelic experience that still has raw punk energy. I tried to capture them more elegantly here if you want to check that out.Catbite (Catfite) - I photographed this band at the Heartwood last year as part of my exclusive ska deal with Joystick! and it was one of the highlight performances of the weekend. I was able to contribute a meme photo to the band, which might be my biggest contribution as a music journalist (as seen at the start of this newsletter).
Catbite is just fun. Married couple, Brittnay and Tim exude charisma and their Elvis Costello-esque melodies translate well as ska. But this year, they’re trying something different with a hardcore take of the band inspired by Minor Threat called Catfite, so I’m stoked to see that.
Florida Scene Dream (Read my Florida issue)
Woolbright - Been dying to see this band after hearing “Clean” and seeing Candice perform in Insignificant Other. They’re part of the recent wave of amazing Florida bands that have come out of the underground there in the last five years. Bad Operation (NOLA SKA) approves, so that seals it for me.
Home Is Where - Home Is Where made the best emo release of 2021, full-stop. They’ve got it all. Epic riffs, harmonica, blistering melodies, singing saw, tantrums, what more could you ask for?
R-Dent - With the motto, “Too weird for the punks. Too punk for the weirdos,” you know you’ve got something special. I’ve only ever seen this band one time. The guitarist of the month then was Tilley of Home Is Where (so shreds), and the frontman Woody had an infectious presence. He’s a dorky guy who seems like he’d be really good at role-playing games, but his banter and crowd-lunging make R-Dent captivating.
FEST’s “FEST bands”
The bands that make Fest feel like Fest.
Wolf-Face
Signals Midwest
The Flatliners
Radon
Hot Water Music
Cover bands suck (jk I kinda wanna see these)
The Weakerthans covered by New Junk City
Thursday covered by Gilt
Turnstile covered by also Gilt
Dead Kennedys covered by Wolf-Face
Get Hard
Chris (Chris Gethard) (ya know, the comedian) (the guy with the public access show) (he wrote a book) (he has a podcast or something) (No?) (...) (Gatorland guy?) (yea that guy).
Bands I might skip because I’ve got a chance to see them in NOLA
The Menzingers
Hey Thanks!
SKA
Abraskadabra
The Best of the Worst
Eichlers
JER
Omnigone
The Suicide Machines
Friendz
Machinist
Sports Reference
Joystick!
Flying Racoon Suit
The new bands I want to discover
?
?
?
Cliche sincerity, I know, but I’m excited to watch some bands I’ve never heard of and hopefully find something new to enjoy so…
Tune in later and maybe I’ll do a post-fest issue with my favorite discoveries
Everybody else I like
Algernon Cadwallder
Califonia Cousins
The Callous Daoboys
Camp Trash
Taking Meds
City of Caterpillar
Comeback Kid
The Copyrights
Cursed Birth
Dikembe
Gillian Carter
The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir
La Dispute
Night Witch
Pool Kids
Short Fictions
Scowl
Sweet Pill
Toys That Kill
Worriers
I’m sorry this newsletter is the way that it is sometimes. I won’t promise anything anymore. Happy Festing!
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Big thanks to Brett Fountain and family members who have supported me so far!
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Roast me plz
Send me love, hate, music recommendations by emailing me at daltonspangler25@gmail.com. Criticism or corrections are cool. I tend to make dumb errors without an editor so please, I like to learn when I make mistakes! (I know this one is especially bad).
