Thank you for joining us for the FIRST episode of "At Least There's Fest"! '

Joining the pod on this journey is Jon Lewis of FEST INSTITUTION, The Dopamines. Jon talks about his first Fest (Fest 7) and why their first ever set lasted only 3-4 songs. 

Do the right thing and buy some Dopamines merch from Rad Girlfriend, Anxious and Angry, or Bandcamp. They promise to spend all the money on booze.

Florida's Virginity has been a Fest staple since 2019. Their energetic live show and heart-on-sleeve lyrics are always a hit. Their new EP "Fidelity Castro" is out now and they MIGHT have some new stuff in the mix (hints in this episode). 

Joining the pod today is singer and guitarist, Casey Crawford. Casey got his start at Fest doing stand-up comedy before getting back into music. We talk about the therapy Fest provides and how music and live music in particular help provide the community we all value so much.

This is, as you'll hear, a big show for me. Christine Atturio (Little Low) and Mike Assatly (Unseemlier and Little Low) drop by to do the pod and talk about their new albums, both out on Sell The Heart Records.

Christine and Mike are MA scene veterans and have both played Fest in previous bands. However, they talk here about Little Low and Unseemlier, who just put out my two favorite albums of 2025. They talk about how music helps them put their introspective natures to work, growing up in MA, drinking too much, and seeing Bane way back when.

Mike and I also share a brain in how we prepare for things. Hang on until the end when he hauls out his homemade doc of Fest bands he plans on seeing each day. 

Swing by the Sell The Heart Records shop and just order both of these records, you will not be disappointed. You can also find their Bandcamp sites here and here.

"Dark Beer Archives" Music Video

Joing the pod today is Anna Troxell from the Austin, TX hardcore band, Mugger. Mugger has an EP and an LP out on Quiet Panic and is currently working on new music.

Anna grew up in the Philadelphia hardcore scene and is also in the band Creepoid who recently had some of their classic shoegaze albums repressed.

We discuss growing up in the Philly hardcore scene (before the internet!), moving to Austin, being married to a bandmate, and how you are never too old to pick up new things. 

Mugger is playing Saturday of Fest at Vivid and it is a show you do not want to miss!

Mugger Bandcamp

Creepoid Bandcamp

Quiet Panic 

Welcome back to "At Least There's Fest" a podcast dedicated to profiling and celebrating the bands that make up the best weekend of the year, Fest weekend. 

Our guest today is Andy Pohl, founder of Sell The Heart Records. Andy talks about the formation of the label, being in bands himself (including Fest band Tsunami Bomb), the ups and downs of running a label, and why Fest is so important.

Sell The Heart is the real deal in supporting bands and their vision and celebrating their work. They have multiple bands at Fest each year and Fest 23 is no different.  

The label is celebrating their 15th anniversary (!!) with a two day event in the Bay area on August 1st and 2nd. Check out the pod for more on that or visit the Sell The Heart socials for more details.

Please follow us on Instagram and save the pod wherever you find your podcasts for the most up to date episodes and news. Thanks for your support and see you in Gainesville.

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! Our guests for this episode are Steven and Randy from Florida punk legends, Dikembe. Dikembe has been in the Florida/Fest scenes for nearly 15 years and have new music coming out prior to Fest 23.

Both Steven and Randy have been going to Fest since it was in single digits and some of the stories they have to tell, you will not want to miss. It is always so interesting to hear how Fest has changed and improved as the years go by.

Dikembe hits the road on July 17 with Kerosene Heights and Swiss Army Wife (both Fest bands!) for a two week run. Catch them if they are in your neighborhood!

July 17: Atlanta

July 18: Nashville

July 19: Newport, KY

July 20: Chicago

July 22: Detroit

July 23: Pittsburgh

July 24: Massapequa

July 25: Philadelphia

July 26: DC

July 27: Durham

Hello and welcome back to "At Least There's Fest"! We are officially only 99 days from Fest 23 and these band profiles are just going to keep coming and coming. Thanks for following along and supporting these bands.

Stopping by the podcast today is Beau Crum of the Jacksonville band, Tides. Tides has a split and single out with new music on the way. They are playing Saturday night of Fest at Vecinos so be sure to check that out. 

More immediately they are playing Jacksonville on July 19 and will then do four dates in Florida this September with The Raging Nathans. Those will all be great shows.

Welcome to another episode of At Least There's Fest! Our guest today is the delightful Joseph Lazzari of the Atlanta band, Reconciler.

Reconciler has played the 8 or so Fests and look forward to playing again this year (at The Wooly no less!).

We talk about the formation of the band, how being is a band differs from being a solo artist, and how we can all collectively use and create art to get through tough times.

Reconciler has some of the best merch in the game, checkout their Bandcamp so you can proudly sport a shirt that says "All Billionaires are Criminals" to your next family gathering.

Joining the show today we have Jeremy Quitko and Travis Johnides of Bitters and Distractions. The band is proudly "acoustic punk" and their unique take on the genre will surely fit right in at Fest this fall.

The guys talk about how the two of them grew up on Long Island together but never connected as musicians until the formation of the band. They also talk about the pros and cons (but mostly pros) of being a band of two and why they are so excited to travel down the Fest this year. 

Bandcamp

On today's episode, we welcome Justin and Liam from Glazed to the podcast. Glazed hails very proudly from Jacksonville, FL and has over a decade together as a band.

We discuss the start of the band, developing their chops covertly in a church, the Jax scene, begging to be on Fest, getting the call as a replacement band, and how excited they are to play again this year.

You can check out their music on all streaming platforms and on their Bandcamp. They have a couple of Jax dates ahead of Fest, check them out. Great dudes.

Thank you for tuning in to "At Least There's Fest"! Today's guest is Steve Rovery of the Washington DC punk band, American Television.

AMTV is playing their 4th Fest this year and is playing the Heartwood on Friday and doing a Green Day cover set on Saturday. 

Steve talks about the formation of the band, switching record labels mid-release, the pure joy of seeing fans sing along to songs...no matter who is performing, and what he's most looking forward to seeing at Fest 23.

The band has a new EP out in September and will have the record for sale on a little fall run as well as at Fest. You can find them on Instagram at AMTVband and right here on Bandcamp.

NOTE: Eventually I'll likely move the pod to Patreon so some episodes will be free and others will be available via membership. For now, please enjoy the episodes for free. If you are interested you can support the pod using the Patreon here.

One of my favorite conversations so far. Josh Goldman swings by fresh of a trip to Europe with The Dopamines. Josh shoots it real straight from the start and the he was incredibly earnest and honest in describing his experiences in punk over the last 20 or so years.

We talk about starting bands when he was young, creating Rad Girlfriend Records, trying to please yourself and others, and the real ups and downs of grinding away to make a living. We probably could have talked for two hours.

The Raging Nathans are touring around a bit this fall including 4 shows in Florida this September. Please check them out on the socials for all of these dates. 

Welcome back to "At Least There's Fest". Three quick things:

1. Save and share and like and rate the pod. Thanks.

2. If you are a vendor at Fest this year and would like to advertise here, I'd love to have you do that. Fest related ads are better than non-Fest ads.

3. I am FULLY booked up all the way to Labor Day. If you are in a Fest band and would like to be on the show, reach out on Instagram or email me at blake.altf@gmail.com.

Our guest here on episode 11 is Ali Lipman from the NORTH SHORE, MA band, Cape Crush. The band has an EP and a split under their belts, but has new music coming out in August and a new full length is also in the works. 

Ali talks about the unique ecosystem for making great music in MA, the importance of all ages art spaces, touring, writing, and why she is psyched that Cape Crush plays early on Friday afternoon of Fest.

We have a truly delightful conversation. Hope you enjoy.

Hello and welcome back to "At Least There's Fest" thank you for continuing to listen. Please like, save, share and all that jazz if you have the time. They say these things matter. 

Joining the pod today are Jeff Riddle, Justin Goldman, and Steven Johnson from Five Hundred Bucks. This band is amazing. Please check them out. Please go see them play at The Wooly (but save room for me). 

The guys discuss how the band formed, making horror movies, their past bands, how living far apart is no big deal at all, and about Fests from way back in the old days. These guys have seen a lot.

Their most recent album Pest Sounds is a great listen and the band will hit the road with Signals Midwest in October before Fest. Respect their grind in all the ways that you can afford.

Welcome back! In this episode Blake talks to Adam Davis from Omnigone and formerly of Link 80. 

Join them as they talk about "In Defense of Ska" coming to a close, completing college in your 40s, balancing music life and kids, and his work with both Link 80 and Omnigone.

Omnigone is playing two sets at Fest this year and is currently bursting at the scene with new music. Adam is a super-nice guy and was a pleasure to talk to. His journey through the 90s Bay Area punk scene to 2025 is joy to hear about. 

Hello and welcome back to "At Least There's Fest"! 

Today's guests are NOT playing Fest 23 but they've played multiple Fests and hopefully have more in their future, but we could not pass up the chance to talk with Middle-Aged Queers. We are joined by Shaun, Fureigh, and Josh from the band and they discuss influences, purpose, and fun.

We discuss the creative process and how being silly allows you to really get some important messages across when you need to. They really are the nicest people, it was a pleasure to talk with them. 

Of particular interest to me was diving into their songs. Once song in particular, "Big Sisters" is highlighted. If you are interested in reading up a bit more on "The Blood Sisters", here is a link.

The band has several dates this August including the Sell The Heart 15 year anniversary show. Check out the bands socials for more info on dates. 

Eric Cannon from Gainesville band You Vandal stops by the show today. You Vandal has been at it for over 15 years and is a regular at Fest...playing their own music and doing cover sets each year.

Eric talks about the formation of the band, Seinfeld, the bands AWESOME new album, going to Fest 5 by himself, and the real benefit of living near Fest. He also gives us the scoop on what the indoor Heartwood stage looks like. 

You can buy the bands excellent new album here and you can find more of their stuff right here on Bandcamp.

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 have some mild sound issues on this and the next episode, so I'll put up two episodes this week instead of just the one**

SPECIAL SHOW ALERT! Two firsts on this one:

1. I am joined by my new co-host, Mark! Please join me in welcoming Mark to the At Least There's Fest, make him feel like family.

2. Today we welcome James Scott, the first Fest photographer to join the show.

James is based in Jacksonville and has been shooting the Fest for years. We discuss his love of hardcore, how you manage to get the shot AND stay out of the way, and we talk about the logistics of shooting Fest (spoiler alert: It's a lot).

You can support his work by swinging by his Instagram (elev8d_view) and by purchasing his Fest photo book. As a proud owner of this book, I can tell you, it makes a great addition to your at-home Fest collection. 

Thank you for listening! Fun show today as we are joined by Andy and Dom from the Bay Area band, Tsunami Bomb.

Tsunami Bomb formed last millennium and, a few breaks aside, have consistently been creating and performing their unique style of punk adjacent tunes.

Dom, with the band from the beginning, shares the history of the band, which honestly could have been its own episode. He talks about how the band has changed over time in terms of members, styles, and just how touring bands now operate.

Andy joined the latest iteration of the band and talks about what it was like to join a "veteran" band and how the band finds joy and fun in what they do now.

Dom shares what's next on the horizon for Tsunami Bomb and you know we talk about Fest!

Welcome back! Joining the show today is Matt Stacks from the Michigan band, Bong Moutain. Most Festers are familiar with the band and Matt talks about playing Fest, how it has changed over the years, and why it is always so fun to play.

We discuss the bands beginnings, playing with North Lincoln, the story behind their iconic/silly logo, and the challenges and joys of recording their albums live.

Matt shares what it was like playing Fest for the first time and how he felt Bong Mountain was received when they first played, seeing D4 at the Florida Theater way back when and a lot more. You can find their music in all of the familiar spots. Support their grind.

Hell Beach's Jordan Hill joins the show today to discuss their extensive pre-Fest tour spanning Arizona to Florida The New Hampshire-based band shares insights into their post-pandemic evolution from studio project to touring act, featuring occult-inspired punk tunes.

Jordan reveals their prolific songwriting with 22 demos in progress for a 2026 release, upcoming projects including a vinyl reissue, plus future touring plans through the Midwest and Canada. The conversation highlights FEST's unique community energy and Hell Beach's approach to touring. You can check out their latest album BEACHWORLD in all of the places.

Hello and welcome back to At Least There's Fest! Joining the show today is Nat Lacuna from The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir and Rosemary Nods Upon The Grave. 

Nat and I chat about being an artist in Savannah, touring in the South, and the formation of The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir. We also get into how the band grew and change over the years, their multiple performances at Fest, and the importance in finding community. 

We also talk about Nat's new band, Rosemary Nods Upon The Grave and how the band differs in an important way for from Holy Ghost. We dig into Holy Ghosts farewell show, happening this Saturday in Savannah. It is an absolutely stacked lineup, get to that gig if you can.

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! Our guest today is Mike Natoli from Timeshares.

The band just celebrated the 16 year mark as a group after forming in NY back in 2009. We discuss the bands beginnings there as well as their change from a NY band to a NY and Philly band. We talk about how weather influences what we feel like listening too as well as how Fest has changed since Mike first attended way back at Fest 8.

We also talk about how being in a band as you near 40 is different from when you are in your 20s and the bands influences. More than any other guest, Mike also has a TERRIFIC memory of past Fests. He talks about playing at a laser tag building and some of the great shows he has seen over the years. 

Timeshares released two new songs around Fest this year, check that out.

Thank you for coming back for our final episode of 2025. Today's guest is Jared Knapik a songwriter from CT. We discuss his musical evolution from childhood influences like Blink-182 and Green Day to his current solo career.

Starting with guitar after receiving a bass from his brother, Jared was inspired by Dashboard Confessional's MTV Unplugged to pursue acoustic music. He began releasing original music under his own name in 2011, eventually embracing this identity despite initial regrets.

Jared discusses his strategic approach to touring from Connecticut, his preference for quality over quantity in releases, and his collaborative recording process. He's currently working on new material targeting a spring/summer release.

Fun show today on At Least There's Fest as we welcome Cris Redon of Talking Props from Santiago, Chile. 

The band has been the literal journey to Fest twice since forming in 2018. Cris talks about the formation of the band, what the punk scene is like in Chile, and how the band has been working hard to make a name for themselves in Santiago and beyond.

We talk about how the their full-length "Passive Aggressive" came together and how they hustled to get that album put together and out ahead of a trip to Gainesville. Cris also talks about the bands chance connection with Tony from Fest and how they led to them trying to play Fest the following year.

You can check out their music on all streaming platforms and their sole full length "Passive Aggressive" is available on Bandcamp.

Welcome back! Blake and Travis Omilian of Banquets explore the bands triumphant return after a decade-long hiatus with their new album "Petty Relics."

Travis shares how the band disbanded in 2016 due to burnout, reformed for Fest in 2020, then pivoted during COVID to create music without pressure.

They discuss modern music consumption challenges, the album's introspective themes including personal loss, and Travis's hands-on approach to fan connection through limited-edition releases. We talk about, Fest's evolution, and the band's renewed passion for creating authentic music on their own terms.

Welcome back to the show! Joining me on this episdoe are three members from Sandcrawler. The Gainesville band is no stranger to Fest, but they are a newer band and just played as this group for the first time at Fest 23.

We discuss the bands formation, playing past Fests with their other bands, where they draw inspiration, recording, and they even recount some pretty great Fest memories along with their favorites sets from this past year.

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.

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! TV Cop, an Iowa City punk band, joins the show today. We discuss their first-time experience performing at Fest 23 and the surrounding tour. The band members also share their musical evolution from metal to punk, their DIY recording approach, and how they navigate Iowa's diverse music scene. They outlined future plans including upcoming shows, applying to Fest again next year, and recording their new full-length album "Karate City Bomb Rips." You can check out all of their stuff via Bandcamp, they're a lot of fun.

Welcome back to ATLF! On today's show I am joined by the Washington DC band, Curse Words. The band has been honing their unique brand of sci-fi infused punk for around a decade and they have new music coming out in 2026.

I talk to the band about their formation, their changes, making a video game around an album, new music, touring, and Fest. 

The band is currently working on a new album and they will play some shows around that release. Check out their website for more information on all that as well as to try out that video game, it's a good time. 

Fun show today as I am joined by Dana Bollen. Dana does the "Two Weeks Notice" podcast which is excellent. In addition to his own podcasts he is the tour manager and cow bell expert for Piebald. He wears hats for tons of other bands each year.

We talk about his unique workload, life on the road, leaving a corporate gig for his current life, what makes Fest specials, and everything in between. Dana is a super nice dude and he has a really unique perspective on our scene. He does a great job of sharing the highs and lows of living life on the road with some of our favorite bands.

Dana just wrapped up a weekend at Warped Tour in Orlando, but you can catch up working with Unearth later this month before wrapping up the year doing holiday gigs with Piebald in December. Go say hey if you are at these shows, just a real solid guy. Also, check out "Two Weeks Notice". He often talks to bands while on the road with them and he has some very interesting guests. Check that out.

Greetings and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest! Joining the show this week is Jake LeDrew of the Orlando band, Dial Drive.

The group has played the last few Fests and did an Alkaline Trio set this year. Jake and I talk about the formation of the band, traveling to the Arctic Circle, being in a band that strives to tour as much as possible and more.

Additionally, Jake discusses ANOTHER Florida Festival, the Florida Underground Festival. FUF brings together nearly 100 bands from Florida and then throws a big party in Sanford the second weekend of January. If you are in FL, get there. If you live up north, escape the snow and the cold and come on down!

Welcome back to At Least There's Fest! I hope everyone had a terrific Fest 23 and is back home safely. Over here, we are already gearing up for Fest 24 and you should get an episode a week until the April lineup announcement when things will kick into a higher gear. While you're here, please rate and review this podcast on the app of your choice and also follow us on Instagram.

Our guest for this show is Travis Miles of The Penske File. The Ontario band has played Fest 4 times over the last 10 years and they just released their latest full length "Reprieve" at the beginning of October.

Travis talks about what it was like starting out as a band in Canada, coming to Fest, the challenges of touring in the US, what it's like to have three vocalists, the joy of creating something important with your best friends, and much more.

Hello and welcome to our final episode ahead of Fest 23! What better guest to have swing by than the prolific, legendary and all-around great human, Mikey Erg!

Fest 23 will be Mikey's 19th fest in 20 years and that is some impressive longevity. In the podcast we talk about all of those Fests, the most sets he ever played in a single Fest (seriously, it'll blow your mind and it honestly seems impossible), the joys and collecting records, and much much more. It is a great conversation, we could have easily filled two hours.

You can catch Mikey on Sunday night at Boca Fiesta for his only (!!!) set at Fest this year. Swing by Bandcamp and support his grind.

Fest is almost here! Joining the show to celebrate is Tiff Hannay of the Lansing, MI band Rodeo Boys. The band has played Fest the last two years and will be back again for Fest 23.

Tiff talks about the formation of the band, the growing pains of being a songwriter, landing on Don Gionvanni, touring with the Menzingers and Laura Jane Grace, and the joy of seeing yourself in the crowd.

Rodeo Boys are touring around Fest with Weakened Friends and are playing on Saturday afternoon at The Wooly. Get in there and have some fun. You can find their latest release over at Bandcamp and all of the other familiar places.

We're about a week from Fest 23 and we have a fitting guest for the occasion, Mike Terry of The Jukebox Romantics. The New York band has been at it for over 15 years and they've lost count of how many times they have played Fest.

Mike and I talk about the early fluctuation of band members, playing the late night shifts at Fest, their new record, recording a music video is Gainesville and much more.

The bands newest record "This One Looks Cool" is out on Sell The Heart tomorrow (October 17) and they are playing on Saturday night at Loosey's. Check out the album and check them out live. They will likely play their new album closer "The Walk to Heartwood" which is a total force of nature. 

It's our 50th show! Time flies.

Our guests today are Colin and Justin from the New York band, Neckscars. Neckscars formed in 2018 and they have two full lengths to their credit, with their latest just coming out this summer.

We talk about the new record, playing in NY, having a recording session interrupted by Covid, playing Fest, and much much more.

You can catch Neckscars at Loosey's on Saturday night along with several other Sell The Heart bands. Their new album "Unhinged" can be purchased via Bandcamp or Sell The Heart.

Welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest! My guest today is Bobby Caruso of The Caution Children. The Florida band has been in active in one way or another for nearly twenty years and is playing Fest for the first time in around ten years (give or take).

The band just released their first album in over a decade, "Appropriate Music" and it is one of the best albums of the year in my humble opinion. We talk about the new album, the changing lineup of the band, their amazing live shows and how unpredictable they often are.

Buy the album here and make sure to check them out at Fest on Saturday at Vivid.

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.

Fun show today! Stopping by the show are Viggy Ram and Eric Nakano from the Bay Area Band, DROUGHT. The band formed in 2022 and just released their first full length record, Souvenir, this summer.

Viggy and Eric discuss starting a band via Craigslist, working with Pat Flynn from Have Heart/Fiddlehead, touring, writing music, playing Fest for the first time.

The band will make their Fest debut on Friday at How Bazar and will tour down the East Coast just prior to that. Check them out if you can.

Thank you for tuning into another episode of At Least There's Fest. Joining the show today for episode 47 is Jon Oddo from the Seattle, WA band, Dead Bars.

Dead Bars plays Fest just about every year and Jon makes the argument that Dead Bars wouldn't exist without Fest. He also talks about history of the band, the current lineup, how they write songs, the diversity of styles on the new album, and much more.

Dead Bars released their latest record "All Dead Bars Go To Heaven" earlier this year and it is seriously just a total pleasure, I highly recommend it, whatever that's worth. The band is playing Friday at Vivid and they are also playing a pre-Fest show at the Atlantic on Thursday night as part of a pretty stellar line up. Check it out.

Hello and welcome to the 46th (!!!) episode of At Least There's Fest, thank you so much for listening. 

Joining the show for this episode are Ben Roy and Chuck Coffey of the Denver band, SPELLS. The band has been around for over a decade and is playing Fest for the 5th time this fall. The band is knows for their prolific output, fun music, and lively shows.

Ben and Chuck talk about how the band formed, their primary drivers in being a band, what makes this thing work, the energy they try to bring to a room, new music, and their favorite things to do in Gainesville.

Ben is also an accomplished comedian with his latest special "Hyena" being particularly terrific. You can check out both SPELLS and Ben Roy stand up at Fest in a few weeks. Get out there!

On today's episode I am joined in the virtual studio by John Massel. John is in the Grand Rapids, MI (my hometown) band North Lincoln who will be playing Fest for the first time since Fest 8!

John talks about the formation of the band in the last century, connecting with the Gainesville scene and No Idea, touring with Planes Mistaken for Stars, unreleased tunes, his other band Spares (also playing Fest), and much more. If you are a fan of old band, label, and venue references, then this is the exact episode you've been waiting for.

North Lincoln and Spares both play on Saturday at Boca Fiesta and Loosey's respectively. You can find their records on Bandcamp and streaming services.  

Joining today's show is Peter Marullo of Protagonist. The Florida band formed in 1999 (!!!) and will be playing Fest for the 13th time this fall. 

Peter shares the formation of the band, writing for two vocalists, working with Omnigone, recording new music, past tours, and much more. On the Fest front Peter impressively recalls every venue Protagonist has played at Fest (RIP to many of them) and gives plenty of food recs for folks who are interested. 

You can check out the Fest 21 compilation for their contribution to the record. The band is playing at Loosey's on Saturday afternoon, swing on by.

Hey, if you've enjoyed this podcast so far please consider sharing, rating, saving, and/or supporting this work via our Patreon. I don't want to have make some episodes pay only, it defeats the purpose. But I would love to not lose money. Thanks so much!

Joining the show today is Maxwell Stern. Max is known for his solo work and for fronting the terrific band, Signals Midwest. The band is playing Fest for the 11th time this fall and is back after a one year hiatus.

We talk about his solo work, eating well on the road, his first Fest, food recs in Gainesville, what gets him in the pit, ska, and so much more. 

You can catch Signals Midwest on the road October 2-11  as the they tour around with friends of the show, 500 Bucks. In addition to playing a solo set at Fest and with Signals Midwest, you can catch Max at Fest playing with Timeshares and Orbits as well. Yes, he's playing 4 shows this year. 

HUGE show today in terms of fun and in volume of bands. We have THREE bands on today's show with Mega Infinity, PWRUP, and Joker's Republic stopping by together to talk ska, Fest, and their upcoming tour to Fest.

The bands talk about their local (NE) scenes, sharing band members, why everyone looks to Joker's Republic when they need a sub, touring down to Fest as a group, and the changing venue landscape.

If you live on the East Coast, the bands are working their way down from CT on their way to Fest. Check them out! Additionally, Joker's Republic has a new album out on October 10. Listen to the episode to hear about a Fest exclusive variant.

Greetings and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest. Our guests for the show are Duck and Becks from the NOLA band, Joystick. The band has been playing their unique blend of ska, hardcore, punk, and jazz for over 15 years. They will be playing Fest for the sixth time this fall.

Duck shares about how they moved to NOLA and knew they wanted to start a ska band. They were able to fill the group out quickly given the amount of musicians and shows in New Orleans. Becks joined years later and has helped fill out the horn section from their home base in NJ. 

Hear about the start of the band, the challenges of traveling as a ska band, how having a huge band is really great in many ways, the must see bands at Fest this year, new music, and much more.

Check out the band as they tour their way East to Fest starting in TX. They are playing shows with Omnigone, Jer, and Hell Beach. 

Joining the show today is Steve Brewer of Distants. The Michigan band has played Fest the last few years and will make the long trip south again for Fest 23.

Steve tells us the story of the band, their process for making new music, how breweries make a perfect home for local punk shows, and why this year's Fest will be a special show for the band.

You can find their stuff on Bandcamp and at Fest this year. Check out their most recent record "LP", it's a good one.