Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast At Least There’s Fest

We are one month away from Fest 24 and you can feel it in the air. The leaves are changing, there's a chill in the air, and you are enjoying this chat with Scott Radinsky of Pulley during your commute or your workout. Welcome!

Scott of course has been fronting punk bands since the 1980s including with Scared Straight, Ten Foot Pole, and with Pulley. In addition to his music career, Scott playing Major League Baseball for years and has also been involved in skateboarding throughout.

With his rich and varied background, Scott is a perfect podcast guest as he discusses seeing shows in SoCal in the 80s as well as how he started his first band. He also talks about balancing a punk rock career with a baseball career. Pretty fascinating stuff.

Pulley will be making their first ever appearance at Fest next month and you can catch them Friday night at Vivid. It'll be awesome.

**Itsa Cookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

**Go visit GEEKS during Fest**

Greetings everyone and Happy Friday! We are five weeks away from Fest 24 and to celebrate this joyous milestone, Todd Congelliere stops by the show. 

You know Todd from his work with all of his bands under his Recess Records label: F.YP, Toys That Kill, Underground Railroad to Candyland, Clown Sounds, and Jumpstarted Plowhards. Many of these bands have played Fest multiple times, it is possible that Todd has played more Fest sets than anyone in history.

We talk about his early years skateboarding in Southern California in the 1980s and taking his earnings there to start Recess Records. Todd also talks about some early shows he was lucky enough to see during this time, it's a pretty fun topic if you're a punk nerd.

We really cover so much ground in an hour that it's impossible to summarize it here. Do yourself a favor, listen to this episode for some real good chat on running a record label, being in bands, and the beauty of Fest. It's excellent stuff.

You can catch Todd at Fest with Toys That Kill on Friday, URTC on Saturday, and with FYP and Jumpstarted Plowhards on Sunday. Shocker, Todd will be busy.

**Itsa Cookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

**Go visit GEEKS during Fest**

Hello and welcome back to At Least There's Fest! We have a real good one for you here today as we welcome Mike Sosinski to the show.

Mike owns and operate Bad Time Records, one of the more fun record labels out there. We ask Mike about forming the label, the ups and downs of the work, and why starting up a ska label is so important. Bad Time is a Fest sponsor this year and Mike tells us about some of terrific bands from the label that are playing Fest next month.

Along with his label work, Mike is also the lead vocalist for Kill Lincoln. We dig into the formation of the band, having an official hype-man, forming a ska band while ska was "out", their live shows and much more. 

You can catch Kill Lincoln Saturday Night closing out the ska showcase at Depot Village. It will be a situation. Get there.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

**Go visit GEEKS during Fest**

Hey! We've got a first for all of you today as we welcome our first Fest wrestler to the show. Brandon St. James is returning to Fest Wrestling again this year to defend his belt. 

Brandon tells us all about how he got into wrestling, why it is so fun, what his co-workers think, and most importantly, why professional wrestling is not anything like you think it is.

You can check out Fest Wrestling as it returns for the 10th year at Fest 24 on Sunday night at Vivid.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

**Go visit GEEKS during Fest**

Hello internet! Welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest. We are getting dangerously close to Fest 24 and to mark the occasion we've got a packed house on this episode as we talk to almost all of Orange Blossom Trail.

The Orlando band is new to the scene and new to Fest and will be playing the first time next month. The group chat about the evolution of the band, their changing sound, the real world challenges of touring, and one of the more amusing stories you'll ever hear about how a band landed on a name.

The group has only a handful of songs out now, but has a number of things in the works including their first full-length album coming out in the coming months.

You can catch Orange Blossom Trail on Friday night outside of The Bull.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

BIG show today! Mark and Blake chat with Bob Nanna of Hey Mercedes. Bob was kind enough to chat Braid, Hey Mercedes, and his seemingly endless list of other artistic projects.

Bob shares stories about playing with Braid, moving on to Hey Mercedes, his solo projects, along with his Never Ending Polaroid Project, and other endeavors. 

Hey Mercedes will be playing "Every Night Fireworks" at Fest this year as the band celebrates the 25th anniversary of the album. Bob shares stories about how that album came together out of the break-up of Braid and how sees the two bands as different.

We also get into some of his Fest memories as well as memories of playing shows with Less Than Jake and Saves the Day. You can catch Bob THREE times at Fest this year:

Hey Mercedes on Saturday at Bo Diddley

Smiths cover band set Saturday night at Looseys

Solo set on Sunday at Baby J's

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Greetings and welcome back to At Least There's Fest! Terrific show for you all today as Derron Nuhfer stops by the pod.

Derron has DEEP Fest/Gainesville roots as he used to be in a band called Less Than Jake, played Fest 1 with Gunmoll, and has also been active in other bands to play Fest.

We talk about his decision to leave Less Than Jake, work various jobs within music, playing with Gunmoll, Cutman, and Reconciler, and much much more. 

We talk about following what brings you joy and then just going in that direction, collaborating with a yo-you company on multiple projects, and what makes Fest such a special weekend each and every year.

You can catch Derron at Fest 24 during his sets with Cutman and Reconciler (both on Saturday) as well as during some shows in the days leading up to Fest.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! On today's episode we are joined by Jason Rockhill. To say Jason wears many hats is a tremendous understatment.

Jason fronts two bands playing Fest this year, HAWGS and Cutman. He also does graphic design work for Fest and other shows, and has been to literally every Fest ever.

We talk about his new band HAWGS and his old band that is making their triumphant return, Cutman. In addition, Jason talks about the challenges and joys of working venues during Fest and why he has really learned to love and embrace our favorite weekend of the year.

You can catch HAWGS on Friday and Cutman on Saturday, both shows are at The Atlantic. You can checkout his art and other projects over on instagram using his Heckfire handle.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Thank you so much for listening to At Least There's Fest. Do us a quick favor, go rate and review this podcast wherever you get your podcast needs met. 

Joining the show today is Adam Fletcher from The Copyrights. As an added bonus, with Mark away for the episode, we have a special guest as Jon Lewis of The Dopamines stops by to lend a hand.

Adam shares some stories from the early years of The Copyrights, playing shows in the local punk house in Carbondale, IL, how they met Jon and The Dopamines, and more.

We also ask Adam how the band ended up signed to Red Scare. Will he answer just like everyone else or will we finally hear a different version? Tune in to find out!

Adam and Jon also take a walk down memory lane as they discuss the split their two bands did together over 15 years ago. It's a real thrill for Fest nerds. We also talk a bit about the split The Dopamines and Adam's other band, Dear Landlord did together. Bonus: If you're looking for details on the new music Dear Landlord is working on, Adam is generous and provides some details.

Finally, we spend a lot of time on Fest. It's all good. It's often funny. We hope you enjoy it.

You can check out the Copyrights on Sunday at Bo Diddley and we can all keep our fingers crossed for a Saturday set as well.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

It's the last day of August. That means tomorrow is September. That means next month is Fest. Get excited. In celebration of this big milestone we are kicking it up a notch: Starting this week you will THREE episodes a week until Fest!

Kicking things off this week welcome in Laurie Cottingham, aka Brightr to the show. Brightr is no stranger to Fest and this will mark the fourth time he has made the trip to play Fest.

We talk about being in bands when he was younger, playing around the UK, tour managing for bands, the pros and cons of being a solor artist and much more.

You can and should catch Brightr at Baby Js on Saturday night at Fest 24. 

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest and thank you so much for listening. Joining the show today we have Jeff Caudill and Guy Julian from the Southern California band, Gameface.

The group has been around in one form or another for over 30 years and they are gearing up for their second Fest performance this fall. 

In the episode we try our best to cover 3+ decades of band history and Jeff and Guy are great narrators of the story. We talk band formation, lineup changes, albums, and how bands change and grow over the years.

You can catch Gameface at Heartwood on Saturday. Their newest EP "All My Friends" is out on Iodine at the end of September.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Hello Fest community and visitors alike and welcome to another episode of At Least There's Fest. Today we are joined by Jon Hernandez of Pressure Wheel.

The Philadelphia based band is made up of Jon (Timeshares), Maxwell Stern (Signals Midwest), and Jeff and Dan (Restorations). It's honestly probably the most FESTIEST band that could ever be assembled.

Jon talks to us about the New York Knicks, how Pressure Wheel fits into their already busy schedules, how the band formed, their first EP "Atomic Woe" and much, much more. 

If you listen to the whole episode we get a special guest for a couple of minutes and that provides us all with some very mild fun. 

Jon joined us from the recording studio where Pressure Wheel was working on new music. Exciting times. You can catch the band on Saturday at The Atlantic. Since we won't have them on the show I think we can safely say, go see Pressure Wheel instead of Lagwagon.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest where we are fully dedicated to making sure everyone is fully ready and prepared for the hundreds of bands and artists playing Fest 24.

Joining the show today is Logan Greene. Logan works primarily as a solo artist in Tucson, AZ, but as you'll hear in this episode, he's got his hands in all kinds of pots.

In this episode we chat with Logan about where he got his start with music, being a solo artist, playing in bands, setting up shows, and how he's taking matters into his hands in the American SW. He's a joy.

You can catch Logan playing at Fest 24 on Sunday at the Bull.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! Joining the show today we have Jake and Brian from Night Mayor.

The Gainesville band is new on the scene, but the Brian and Jake are no strangers to Fest. In fact, Jake has played at every single Fest!

They both tell us about the formation of the band, what it's like making songs in a new band with old friends, and why playing in bands is something you just have to do.

The group is currently working on recording new music. You can catch them at Fest on Friday at The Atlantic.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest. We are pleased to have Brian and Leslie from Sorry Sweetheart on the show today.

The Colorado ska band released their debut full-length on Bad Time Records earlier this year and it is absolutely terrific.

Brian and Leslie share stories about the early years of the band, how the lineup rounded out, their writing process, and what it's like being a ska band in Colorado along with why the scene there is so strong.

You can catch Sorry Sweetheart on Saturday at Depot Village. It'll be quite the show.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Hey! We're 74 days away from Fest 24 and to celebrate we're hanging out with The Slow Retreat!

The Iowa band rolls deep and we have a fun chat about the start of the band, what it's like being a punk band in Iowa, opening for Off With Their Heads, and how excited they are to play Fest.

We also dig into their new record "Indifferent" which comes out on August 26th. They talk about influences, writing, and having a good time with your pals.

You can catch The Slow Retreat on Friday at Bazar 47. Be there or be square.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Very fun episode for your humble hosts today as Blake and Mark welcome Mike Reed to the show. Mike has spent the last couple of years focused on his newest project, 84 Tigers, but this year we all get to the enjoy the return of Small Brown Bike to Fest.

The Michigan band formed 30 years ago and this fall they are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their classic album "Dead Reckoning" which they will play in full at Fest this fall and then in other parts of the country later this fall and winter.

Mike talks about coming up in small town Michigan, finding punk at a young age, making mixtapes, following zines and labels to find new music, ending up on No Idea and much more from the early years of SBB.

We also talk about some memorable shows (a bowling alley show with Cursive?), what happened right before Fest 2, playing Fest with SBB, 84 Tigers, and more, as well as what it's been like getting the band back together in the wake of loss.

You can catch Small Brown Bike playing "Dead Reckoning" in full at Vivid on Saturday night. It will be amazing.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Hey, we did it, we made it August! If you squint, it's only two months until Fest and boy are we ready to go.

Joining the show today are Mike Vizzi and Craig Shay from the NY band, Cold Wrecks. The band has been around for years now, but their new full length "You Can't Plan for This" is out on Friday!

Mike and Craig talk about the beginning years for the band, how it all started with ska, their first few records, playing Fest, and we also talk plenty about the new album.

You can buy the new record on Friday via Bandcamp on a Bandcamp Friday, everyone wins!

Cold Wrecks is playing Friday at Heartwood. Check them out.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

We continue to march on this summer as we inch closer to Fest 24. Joining the show today are DJ and Dan from Middle-Out.

The Detroit band made their Fest debut last fall and will be back again this October for Fest 24.

These guys are characters and have no shortage of stories about being a band, Fest, and more. We talk about how the guys got together, recording as a three-piece, touring as a four-piece, and the work they've done this point. 

We also talk about their strong merch game, their even stronger and more prolific music video game, and what they've got cooking in terms of new music.

You can see Middle-Out at Fest 24 this fall on Sunday at The Atlantic. We will be there with bells on.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Greetings and welcome back to At Least There's Fest. On today's show we welcome Will Carter to the show. Will plays trombone and lends vocals and more (listen how) to the Nashville ska band, Stuck Lucky.

The group has been around for over 20 years and is playing Fest for the FIRST time this year. If you want to hear about a band persevering and grinding to end up at Fest, this is a great episode for you. 

Will talks about the early years of the band, reissuing their first full-length, touring, and the groups you-gotta-see-it-to-believe-it live show.

You can catch Stuck Lucky on Sunday as part of the ska showcase at Heartwood.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

With the immense fanfare of our 100th episode firmly in the rearview mirror, we are pleased to welcome 300 USD to the show today.

The NYC-based band is relatively new on the scene but their Fest roots run deep (listen to find out how). The band has one EP out and is hard at work on a new record as you read this.

We discuss the formation of the band, their previous bands, the fun in creating music videos, and how their past work has helped them in creating a new sound and a new band dynamic.

You can catch 300 USD at Fest 24 on Friday at Bazar 47.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

We did it! Welcome to episode 100 of At Least There's Fest! To mark the occasion Blake and Mark welcome Jose Prieto of MakeWar to the show.

Jose was kind enough to put off watching the Knicks in the NBA Finals to chat with us and had plenty to share. We discuss the formation of MakeWar as a band out of what was a solor project and the early years of the band.

From there he shares another Red Scare Industry story, their jump from Red Scare to Fat Wreck, and Jose even gives us his best impression of Fat Mike...you don't want to miss that.

You can catch MakeWar on Friday at Vivid and you can see Jose solo on Sunday at Fest 24.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Greetings and welcome back to ALTF! Joining the show for this one we have Steve and Mason from the Michigan band, Bike Tuff. 

Bike Tuff has been around for over a decade now and were regulars at Fest about ten years ago. However, life happened and things slowed down for the band so they could handle life. Coming out the other side the band is back with some singles recently and they will make their triumphant return to Fest 24!

Steve and Mason talk about how the band got together and a bit about their earlier recordings. They also tell us about some of those early days playing shows and what it was like to first play at Fest.

They share a bit about future plans for the band and who they are excited to see at Fest this fall. The set times get released tomorrow, make sure to look for Bike Tuff and circle that set, it'll be a good one.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Hello and welcome back to At Least There's Fest. Joining Mark and Blake today are Sean, Chris, and Beau from the Jacksonville, FL band, Tides.

The band has been around for just a few years, but the band members have been friends for decades and the stars finally aligned for them to all be in a band together.

We talk about their formation, their writing process, we receive all kinds of sage medical advice/tips, and the band also shares some tips they received from Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music.

They also talk about their new record "How to Survive A Fall" which comes out next month on ADD records. They talk about how the album came together, the lead singles from the record, and their music video for the track "Undertow".

Tides has a massive split coming out featuring six bands that have ALL appeared on this podcast: Tides, Unseemlier, Dead Bars, The Carolyn, Back Teeth, and Her Head's On Fire. The massive split has the potential to be our favorite way to release music ever invented.

You can catch Tides playing shows with You Vandal and Dikembe in the near future along with a host of other dates. If all else fails, you can always catch them this year at Fest 24. 

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Greeting and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest. Joining the show today are Matt Burns and Chris Pfister of the Orlando band, Debt Neglector.

The band will be playing Fest for the 10th (!!!) time this fall and they released their terrific "Kinda Rips" full-length last spring.

Matt and Chris share their collective musical past, the influences they pull from in the band, the importance of political punk, and how their message continues to evolves as their lives change.

You can catch the band this fall at the Whatever, Dude pre-Fest shows in Orlando and Gainesville and then, obviously, again in Gainesville for Fest 24.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Happy July! In addition to our weekly episodes on Monday we will now have episodes up every Thursday as well! That's two episodes a week until Fest to help you get ready for Fest 24.

Joining the show for this episode is Joseph Grillo of Her Head's On Fire. The supergroup of sorts is back and playing Fest again this year on the heals of their new album, "Am I Not Your Girl?" which comes out on July 17 via Iodine Recordings.

Mark and Blake talk to Joseph about how the group came together and where everyone has been before joining the band. Joseph does as a good a job as anyone else in summing up why community is such an important part of Fest AND our bigger scene as a whole.

The band has been very active, releasing three full length records since 2022. Joseph talks about their writing/recording process as a band and how they are able to keep things moving like they do. 

You can catch Her Head's On Fire in the UK this summer with Back Teeth as well as at Fest 24 in just a few short months.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! We've got the full Fest 24 lineup out now. We are nearing peak summer weeks and as an extra-special treat you get to hear from Tim Browne of Elway today!

The Colorado band has been turning out clever punk tunes for almost 20 years and they will be playing Fest for the twelfth time this fall.

Tim talks with us about their newest record, "Nobody's Going to Heaven" which is is one of the best albums to come out in 2025. Tim digs into the stories behind some of the songs as well as the history of the band and what they've got cooking.

We also dig into some of the more entertaining Fest stories you will ever hear on this podcast. This was our first time ever talking with Tim and we sincerely hope it is not the last, he is thoughtful, funny, and makes terrific music.

You can catch Elway at Fest 24 this fall and on tour starting in a few days with Tired Radio.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! Great show today with Trevor Reilly from A Wilhelm Scream. Hailing proudly from New Bedford, MA, the group has been crafting their blend, of punk, metal, thrash, and everything else for over 25 years at this point. Somehow, they just continue to raise the bar.

Trevor talks to us about the formation of the band, the friendships that keep things churning along, recording new music, and memories from the road.

We also spend a very healthy amount of time talking about Fest as Trevor recalls getting passed on in the early years of the band, before finally breaking through and getting the call for Fest 7. He tells us all about that first show and some of his favorite Fest memories from the last 20 years. 

Trevor talks about the new AWS album, "Cheap Heat" and tells us why this cannot possibly be the last A Wilhelm Scream record (yay!). You can check the band out in Europe this summer and of course you'll see them at Fest 24 this fall.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Fun episode today as we Blake and Mark are joined by Kevin Athas of Oh The Humanity! The band has been around for over a decade now and they have been mixing metal riffs with punk choruses with the great precision the entire time.

We talk to Kevin about the early years of the band, the highs and lows of touring, recording their first albums, and how one GREAT show can sustain you for months.

Kevin also talks about working with Trevor Reilly from A Wilhelm Scream, some of his favorite Fest memories (VERY fun), and what the band is now working on (hint, it's NEW music). 

You can catch Oh The Humanity! on tour later this month as well as at Fest 24 this fall. Get there early, it will fill up with MA folks.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Really fun show today for everyone! To celebrate round two of of the lineup reveal, we've got Sam Russo joining the show today.

Sam talks about life as a solo artist and how he really enjoys the the solitude of traveling solo and with friends. We also talk about how he has begun to introduce more full-band arrangements on his albums and how this has been a joy and also really pushed him as a person and an artist.

You can check out Sam's PERFECT album "Hold You Hard" over at Red Scare and I suggest STRONGLY that you swing by their online store and pick up that record, it really is terrific.

You can catch Sam touring around the UK this summer and of course you'll be able to catch him at Fest 24 this fall.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

The Fest 24 lineup is out! I hope all of your favorite bands are playing this year.

We try to be fun and helpful here at ALTF and I think we have a fun and helpful episode for all of you today. Joining the show is Jordan Shroyer. You know Jordan from his bands Teen Agers and Virginity. However, Jordan also heads up Whatever, Dude Productions and for 12 years now he's put together some dynamite pre-Fest shows.

Like years past, Jordan is putting on a pre-pre-Fest in Orlando on Wednesday, October 21 and an unofficial pre-Fest in Gainesville  on Thursday, October 22. Both shows are absolutely STACKED and will take place across multiple stages. 

This is your chance to see a bunch of Fest 24 bands a day or two early in relatively small, intimate venues. Tickets are on sale now and you can buy them right here for Orlando and here for Gainesville.

The Gainesville show ALWAYS sells out, so if you know you're going to be in GNV on Thursday anyway, do yourself a favor and grab yourself a ticket. They do wristbands so you can come and go as you please at both shows.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest and we are officially closing in on our 100th episode. We hope you've enjoyed this non-stop thrill ride as much as we have.

Joining the show today is Rory Phillips from the Austin, TX band, The Impossibles. The band formed over 30 years ago and put both ska and non-ska records out on Fueled By Ramen back in the day.

Rory walks us through the history of the band, why they left and why they are now coming back, the reason(s) for switching away from ska, and why they are so excited to be back.

The group is playing Fest for the first time and will play their first shows outside of Texas in 25 years this coming August. 

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Welcome back to the show! This is quite frankly a bucket list show for Blake and Mark. As college students during Bear Vs Sharks recording time, this has been a favorite of their's for about a quarter-century and this was just a total treat.

We have four members of the band joining the show today in Ashley, Brandon, Derek, and Nick and they share with us the humble beginnings of the band, their decade absence, what it's been like coming back and how in the world they explain their surge in popularity after breaking up (spoiler alert: they have no idea at all).

The band is playing Warped Tour in Long Beach this summer along with a show at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. They are making their triumphant return to Fest this fall for the first time since Fest 4. That is a 21 year gap between Fest appearances. There will be people at Fest this year that were not alive the last time BVS played. Wowzers.

Anyway, this is a terrific episode and the band is both forthcoming and humble. Just the best dudes. We hope you enjoy the show.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Greetings and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest! We are excited to be joined by Phil Dalton of the Gainesville band Drosera.

Drosera makes blistering metallic hardcore that will make the perfect soundtrack to your next run, gym visit, pit session, or rage room visit. 

Phil tells us about how the band formed, their process when making music, his love for Poison the Well, and the release that takes place when playing live music.

He also talks to us about the new Drosera album "Outlier" which came out on Friday, their legendary set at Swampfest, and of course we talk about Fest.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Very fun show for Mark and Blake today as one of their podcast heroes, Keith M stops by to chat about music, life, and Fest.

Keith fronts the NY based band, Memory Entry who will be playing Fest for the first time this year. He also is the man behind The New Scene podcast, the BEST music podcast in our scene. This was a real treat for us.

Keith talks about the formation of the band and how some of the best things in life can come from the ashes of things falling apart all around us. He also talks about how their first EP came together and how they have gather momentum around writing and recording their first full-length record as well. 

We also spend some time talking about podcasting, and to me, this is riveting stuff, I hope you all agree. Finally, this is Keith's first time coming to Fest, let's make sure we show him a good time at Fest this fall.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Hello and welcome back to At Least There's Fest. Joining the show today is Nic Maroulis of Hit Like a Girl. The band has stayed busy over the last decade, releasing four full-length records and playing as many shows as possible.

We talk about what it's like to tour so much, the why behind touring for Nic, recording and putting out music, and the fact that you could build two full soft ball team rosters out of people that have at one time been in this band. 

We also talk Nic's non-profit No More Dysphoria, Nic and team do great work there. For more information on this work, please check out the link below. You can catch Hit Like A Girl on tour almost of the time and at Fest 24.

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

**No More Dysphoria**

Joining the show today we have Jordan Hill from Hell Beach returning to the those and he brought along his good friend Devon Kay of Devon Kay and the Solutions as well as Direct Hit!

Jordan and Devon both fill us on what they have been up to with their projects as well as giving us some hints of what may lay ahead (new music!). We also discuss the ups and downs of touring and how you find the rights bands with which to hit the road.

To that end, Devon and Jordan will be touring together starting this weekend at Stoop Fest in Lansing, MI as both of their bands travel to Pouzza Fest. You can find their full schedule of stops on their socials, and both bands put on a terrific live show.

If you cannot make to any of those shows, I do have some good news: Hell Beach is playing Fest 24!

**Itsa Coookie on Instagram**

**Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Greetings and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest! This is an exciting time of year because we are able to confirm who is playing Fest 24 and really zero in on bringing you the goods.

Joining the show today is the entire lineup from Dear Cincinnati. The Tallahassee band has been around for just one short year, but they have crammed A TON into that time. 

We discuss their busy year of recording multiple EPs, touring, writing new music constantly and even working on their first full-length record. We talk about the idea of a concept record and the pure joy that comes from hitting the road with your friends and doing what you love.

***You can check out Itsa Cookie on Instagram, and make sure to their Fest tent this year as they will have a collab cookie up with Dear Cincinnati!***

Hello and welcome back to At Least There's Fest! Joining us on the program today is Tony Truzzolino from the New York band, Tired Radio. Tired Radio was just announced on that first Fest 24 lineup drop and they will be returning to play Fest for a fourth straight year. We are psyched to have them on the pod and back in Gainesville.

Tony tells us about their brand of "bummer punk" and how it is helpful to him and how we can all use music to help us navigate the murky waters of life. He also talks about the origins of Tired Radio and how it shifted from a solo project to the terrific full-band sound we hear now on the records and at shows.

We also dig into the importance of establishing real connections with those around us. Tony talks about how vital this is in building our community and getting a band started. This is a necessary step in being in a band and being a human and it cannot be faked. We all smell it when it's fake. 

You can catch Tired Radio at Fest 24 this fall and you can follow them at all of the familiar places. 

***Check out Itsa Cookie Bakery on Instagram***

Welcome to a very special episode of At Least There's Fest. Mark and Blake sat down and talked to bands, tattoo artists, and a baker to see who they were most excited to see now that we have our first wave of bands.

Fest is great, we all know this, but one of the challenges each year is diving into all of the bands and giving them all a fair shake. Our panel of experts will tell you who they are excited to see from headliners to bands further down the bill, this is the perfect place to start preparing for Fest 24. 

In order, you will hear thoughts from:

• Glazed
• Anthem Tattoo
• Dopamines
• Little Low
• Unseemlier
• New Junk City
• Cape Crush
• Tides
• Rebuilder
• Tired Radio
• Itsa Cookie
• Dikembe
• Teen Agers

In addition to this fun primer, you can also check out a Fest 24 playlist we put together over on Apple Music. Here you will find 3-4 songs from every band on the lineup. 

We hope you enjoy this episode.

***Visit Itsa Cookie Bakery on Instagram***

Happy Fest lineup day! We are thrilled to celebrate this joyous occasion with a special Friday episode with a band that will be playing Fest 24, marking their fifth time making the trip to Gainesville, The Bollweevils!

Dr. Daryl Wilson fronts the band and was kind enough to treat Mark and Blake to over an hour of punk history, the growth/pause/continuation of The Bollweevils and much more.

Daryl talks about the importance of Naked Raygun, growing up going to shows and finding community, why he became a doctor, juggling your passions, and how we were are all in this thing to help each other out. It's really a fun conversation.

We also talk about his new band, Pressure Set and how a guy with a family, a job, and a band, juggles all of this and starts a NEW band. You honestly get more energy just by talking to the guy. Good stuff.

You can see The Bollweevils at FEST 24 and look for remastered stuff from them along with new music from Pressure Set.

***Check out Itsa Cookie Bakery on Instagram***

Here we are folks, it is Fest Lineup Week! On Friday we will find out a good chunk of the bands playing Fest 24.

Before we get there though we are pleased to welcome Miranda Jayne to the podcast. Miranda has been a member of the Fest Photo Team for the past decade.

We talk about getting into photography, the joy/danger/thrill of shooting hardcore shows, learning from those around you, developing your craft and much more.

In addition to talking about shooting Fest, we also discuss Miranda's "Florida Band" project. These short videos do an absolutely tremendous shop of profiling Florida bands and their stories. Fans of Fest will see a lot of familiar names, this project is worthy of your time.

You can check out the "Florida Band" series and all of Miranda's work here.

***You can check out Itsa Cookie Bakery here on Instagram***

If you like hearing podcast hosts stumble through being starstruck then this is the episode for you! Joining Mark and Blake for this one is Greg Barnett of The Menzingers.

The Scranton, PA band has been active for over TWENTY years now which is just as wild to you as it is to Greg. We talk about the bands long history and how they keep churning out strong record after strong record.

We dig into the bands early years, moving from Scranton to Philly, touring constantly, band dynamics, signing to Epitaph, and what the future holds for the band. If you want to hear about NEW MENZINGERS MUSIC, you'll want to listen to this one.

Most importantly, we spend a LOT of time talking about Fest. The Menzingers are among the all-time leaders in most Fests played (trust me, I counted) and we play a fun game of lightening round questions, where Greg shares a ton of really good Fest stories. It's honestly, just the most fun.

The Menzingers are going to be busy in the coming months, so keep an eye on all of their socials for news on all that good stuff. 

***Check out Itsa Cookie Bakery on Instagram***

HUGE SHOW ALERT! Joining Mark and Blake for this one is Tony Weinbender, Fest found and godfather of ceremonies.

Tony shares his journey through music that led him to start Fest way back in 2002. We discuss how Fest went from humble beginnings the the monster festival it is each and every fall, all while staying fiercely independent and truly one of a kind.

We talk about what makes Fest unique and important for all of us and exactly how much work it takes to put this thing together. Unsurprisingly, Tony shows up as a humble force for good as he talks about how volunteers and a small staff make Fest so special for all of us.

If you're interested in the history, future, and ins and outs of Fest, then this a must listen. We are only a week and change away from the first lineup announcement. Time to get excited.

We're only three weeks and change from our first Fest lineup reveal! What better way to get fully jacked than by checking in with the world's most humble and gracious werewolf, Michael J Wolf.

Michael has been fronting the Florida punk band since it's inception 15 years ago and the band has been absolutely crushing it ever since. They do not hold back and have set their lasers on everyone from Jason Bateman and Lars Ulrich to Hollywood and the great entertainment establishment.

Wolf-Face has been a fixture at Fest for the last decade and their live show has reached a legendary status. If you are unfamiliar with the band and their story then this is the episode for you. Michael shares the humble beginnings of the band and how they've since gone on to dominate Fest and shares stages with the likes of Streetlight Manifesto and Explosions in the Sky.

We are out of control over here at ALTF as we welcome in not one, but TWO bands for this episode. We are joined today by Jon Oddo of Dead Bars and Lewis Bloor of Back Teeth. 

The bands are about to hit the road together in the UK for short tour across the country. We talk about how this tour came together, how drunken meet ups at Fest can lead to international travel plans, the magic of Fest, and much much more.

Back Teeth are supporting their EXCELLENT full length record, Ultimate Warrior. Dead Bars is coming off of a terrific 2025 release of their own in All Dead Bars Go to Heaven. However, they also just released a new single and video for their song "You Look Like a Smoker", it's another classic Dead Bars banger.

Check out both bands together if you are in the UK and look for them both as they continue the grind throughout 2026. They rule.

ALERT ALERT! Very fun show today as we are joined by Matthew John Lawrence, David Littleton, and Jeff Riddle from the cult classic film, Uncle Peckerhead!

Mark and Blake dig into how the movie was written and created, how it was scored, the importance of making a real band make REAL music for the movie, the importance of getting the casting exactly right, and why have a "no assholes" rule is the key to success for just about everything.

The cast and crew of Uncle Peckerhead are celebrating the 5th anniversary of the film with three shows this weekend on the east coast, go check that out! There will a Q/A with the team, a showing of the flim, and a live show from ALTF legends, Five Hundred Bucks (DUH). These shows are going to be outstanding.

They're releasing some very cool merch for these events. Whenever it posts, you can find it here.

Greetings and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest! Joining us today is Christopher Chaisson of Hedge. The Worscester, MA band has a new EP out on March 27 via Best Brother Records, and Christopher is here to tell us all about it.

We discuss the history of the band, the importance of Dinosaur Jr, touring, writing new music and much more. We discuss what Fest was like over a decade ago when he played with a different band AND Mark and Blake even try to convince him to fill out a Fest application for Fest 24. Tune in to see if we made it happen.

You can check out Hedge over at Bandcamp and all of the other streaming spots. You can also pre-order the new record right on Bandcamp. You can catch Hedge out on the east coast this spring.

Minneapolis-based band Couch Potato Massacre creates punk music inspired by movies, TV shows, and personal experiences. With over 100 songs in their catalog, Paul writes lyrics rapidly—often within 20 minutes—while the band performs high-energy shows.

They're currently getting set to record new songs and planning some shows for the summer. Their next album MIGHT feature an 1980s theme, and there could even be whispers of a concept album. The band has long attended Fest and they talk about past visits to Gainesville

In particular, Paul's Fest 23 was memorable despite a dog bite injury in August, including a surprise performance with Dollar Signs. The band balances their lighthearted project with Paul's involvement in two other bands exploring darker themes.

You can find their new single on Bandcamp and streaming platforms.

Welcome back to another episode of At Least Theres' Fest! Joining the show today are Andrew and Mikey from the Portland, Maine band, Borderlines.

Borderlines played Fest 11 and didn't play again until Fest 22, that's a lifetime in Fest years. The band talks about what they did in the 11 years between appearances and what it was like to be back.

The guys talk about their songwriting processes, what it's like to be a band in Maine, and what they've got in store for all of us in 2026. Check them out on Bandcamp.