FOM(F): Experiencing FEST 22 vicariously
Fear of missing Fest: Budding bands and cool moments from FEST 22
This weekend, I’ve been living vicariously through the social feeds of friends at FEST 22. As I write this, the final day is just starting. I’m sure there will be more experiences to share later, but even so, there are plenty of budding bands playing this weekend worth mentioning today before it’s all over. Hope you discover something ya like!
Combat - “Stay Golden”
This song has all the elements of a good Jeff Rosenstock song. Catchy lyrics you want to sing along to about some sad shit juxtaposed to fast, fun guitars and of course, twinkling bits of xylophone. “Stay Golden” has all that and then some with modern emo sensibilities a la Origami Angel and a vocalist who sounds like Gerard Way.
Flagman - “Hot Off The Log”
Like if Primus was a little more post-hardcore and a lot less psychedelic. Absolutely insane bass and heavy metal screaming adding up to a goofy but compelling mix of styles.
My pick for the next hardcore breakout following the footsteps of Scowl, GEL and Speed. For the last two years, MUGGER has been hustling on tour with some of the aforementioned bands (and many others). This track features John Brannon of Negative Approach giving them that legacy punk cred but the music actually holds up. Fast, powerful no-nonsense HC with grueling guitars and callous vocals.
lowheaven - “cancer sleep”
Spacious, doomy screamo from Toronto, lowheaven’s haunting guitars put a sound to strife. The lyrics remind me of the crushing weight of complacency. Sometimes to save oneself, we must try something, anything to change our circumstances. Or else “resign to everlasting rot.”
PG14 - “BORN FREE BUT GETTIN’ PRICEY”
Catchy indie rock with some cutesy and clever lyrics. Having fun with nihilism.
Dosser - “Learned To Breathe”
Grungy, ‘90s guitar worship like listening to Foo Fighters without all the baggage. Between this band and Combat, Baltimore is cranking out some real DIY bangers.
Circuit Circuit - “Deleted Skin”
Glitchy sass-core diving into the Black Mirror-esque espionage happening on our devices every day. Like if MSPAINT broke bad and became a skramz band.
NAW - “You're a Coward and This World Will Remain Unchanged Without You”
I think the title kind of says it all. A “fuck you” to complacency from another killer Atlanta post-hardcore band.
Anita Velveeta - “TERFS WILL NOT GET INTO HEAVEN”
If you haven’t guessed it yet, the common theme today is “fuck you to complacency,” so sorry if I’m overusing the word at this point but maybe it says something when all the young bands have the same complaints. This time it’s decrying TERFs as just as bad as Nazis while calling out cis folks for not taking a stand. Anita’s proving she can pull off almost any style from hardcore to indie pop to nightcore.
Sidenote, I first discovered Anita Velveeta through her song, “disassociating in the back room of a starbucks,” while listening to my Spotify discover weekly playlist which was ironically paid for by Starbucks because I was working there at the time. There have been many times in my life where I have thought, “We really have no original experiences, huh?” and this was definitely one of them.
winded - “Black Coffee”
A gentle track beautifully recounting ordinary scenes while awash in fuzzy guitar. A certifiable Community Records classic.
Chastity - “Nightmare”
A nostalgic emo ballad with towering guitars and a marching drumline.
Hope you like some of these picks. Every year, there’s always a bunch of stories that come out like a secret parking lot set or two (this year it Soul Glo, Portrayal of Guilt and pageninteynine played one). I’m not feeling the most verbose today but I did want to add a couple of notable events from FEST 22.
South Georgia metal-core band Machinist! played their final show ever this weekend. They weren’t the most popular band by any stretch but they created a little DIY scene for themselves befriending many over the years. They became mainstays at Fest and for me, an anchor I could always count on being there. Sad to see them put a lid on it but happy to see them go out loud.
Some “Orbiting Punk alumni” played this weekend:
Zeta was on the big stage again this year and brought up the folks from the Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir to perform with them.
Teenage Halloween did a cover set of Black Sabbath.
Ceschi has been killing it with his new band Codefendents which he started with NOFX’s Fat Mike (which is probably the coolest and most respectable thing Fat Mike has ever done). He performed with members of Zeta for that project and also did a solo set.
Queer the Fest has been a mainstay event as a cheaper alternative to FEST for over ten years. Always worth mentioning those who organize to the benefit of others. All their proceeds went to Books to Prisoners as well as Gazan mutual aid and abortion travel funds.
Anita Velveeta rules! their album was on my year-end list, can't wait for more from them!