Rookie error on my part when I started posting these up, no By Line!
I get so used to seeing the back side of it where it tells us who posted or wrote what that I forget that's NOT PUBLIC! lol. Insert an emoji face for idiot. Anyway, this is Damon! And I'm the chief Noise Analyst here! If it's reviews, news, fun interviews etc I'm the one you get usually, while my partner Amy handles PR duties and spreads the good word helping bands learn things to help themselves! Glad I cleared that up! I promise to remember...
The Fest in Gainesville Florida is considered by many to be the best punk festival in the United States if not the world. Folks from everywhere make the yearly trek to partake in 3 days of music, community and comraderie. I thought it might be fun to interview some of my and your favorite attendees, their bands, their brands, and see what makes this such a special event in the hearts and minds of so many. I'll try to get as many in as i can and hopefully convey a little of the joy it evokes!
Without further ado:
Who are you? What do you do? Where do you do it?
Shaun: I’m Shaun or shauners. I yell and call it singing. I also do all the coordinating and 75% of the song writing. I don’t sleep very much but I’m highly caffeinated and Gay so it makes up for it.
Niki: I’m Niki i play drums. I am also a photographer. Sometimes I scream in the background. I also have the best outfits.
Josh: I’m the bass player and the oldest members the band. I bring a lot of my influences from previous bands and music I love and I write a good amount of the music in this band with shauners.
Fureigh: I’m Fureigh I play guitar, sing harmonies and take my shirt off. I try to provoke Niki on stage.
Awesome to meet you all! And Thanks for taking some time to talk!
Ok, let's go: How many times have you been at FEST?
Shaun: this will be our third time at fest but it felt like family even at the first year.
Nice! Lucky number three! Well, lucky for me anyway. Who are you most stoked for this year when you aren't playing yourselves?
Shaun: i love the scamz shit so stoked to see pg99 and city of caterpillar.
Niki: Loud Graves! Zeta!
Josh: pg99 and American Steel.
Fureigh: I’m excited to see Mystery Band. I love their first demo. (I’m also excited to see Ted Leo and Bad Copy Bad Cop)
Some solid choices, but i don't think Mystery Band is a...
Nevermind, So third time playing FEST how do you like getting there? Prefer to fly in or tour your way to Gainesville?
Niki: Tour!
Shaun: In the past we’ve only done a show or two. We are currently on tour with our labelmates, Dog Park Dissidents, having a blast whilst spreading the gospel of queer punk to the masses.
Fun!
Have a favorite memory you want to share with folks?
Niki: Meeting Laura Jane Grace
Shaun: We were in an article about Fest last year that Daily Beast ran. Laura Jane Grace told me her publicist sent it to her and I was like “Yeah our publicist sent it to us as well” and then we both chuckled cuz it’s so obvious we wouldn’t have a publicist.
*laughs loudly Oh man that's hilarious!
Since you play shows on the way to Gainesville, any of you have a favorite Buccee's snack?
Shaun: Bussy? I love bussy. I could eat bussy all day. On tour or off of tour!
Niki: Parnassian goldfish crackers
*laughs again
Ok, running low on time. Couple quick ones before I let you go
What's your beverages of choice for long days of band watching and FESTing?
Shaun: Ghost
Josh: Ghost
Fureigh: Ghost
Niki: Margaritas (I’m such a mom!)
A cool mom!
Any good rumor you'd like to start about the band? Maybe we can get a little inside joke going around.
Shaun: Nobody in this band is queer or middle-aged. We are actually cis-het 20-somethings. It’s all a scam to make money off the lucrative gay punk industry.
Oh man, I haven't laughed so hard during an interview before. Go see Middle Aged Queers at Loosey's on Saturday night late (sunday very early lol) and go to sleep with a smile on your face before the reality of Monday creeps in.
As always, like us follow us whatnot so forth. My ribs hurt from laughing now. Thanks Shaun!
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