bandifesto*

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly “Do I sound distorted to you?” Ian Shelton, lead vocalist and songwriter of punk band Militarie Gun, is in his home in Los Angeles. He’s relishing the last few days before another tour, spending time with the people he’ll miss while on the road and writing songs. This morning, he’s hoping to finish a new Militarie Gun track. “I’m always writing music, every interview starts almost identical to this,” he tells Orlan

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly “We’re in control of our destiny and what we do, not the people in power. That has not changed. If anything, I’ve only gotten stronger in my desire to foster that mindset within our community, because I don’t believe that we need to rely on anybody else to do things for us and make our lives better.”  Singer-songwriter April Hartman of folk-punks Apes of the State is at home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, reflecting o

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly “Even if these capitalist reptile-people own the media companies and our social media, it doesn’t necessarily reflect how everyone feels. And I think there’s a way we can figure this out and live in a better world together.”  Credit: Graham Tolbert When we spoke to Will Anderson — founder, singer and guitarist of rapidly ascending alternative rock band Hotline TNT — he was in the courtyard of a Holiday Inn Express

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly “It’s not cool to like us, and you don’t want to make it cool to like you, because then they might not actually like you. They’re just saying they like you.” Credit: courtesy photo Anthony Raneri, founder, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of stalwart punk band Bayside, knows who he is and why he makes music. At this moment, he’s in his living room in Franklin, Tennessee, gearing up for the third leg of the band’s

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly Step right up, Orlando. Gainesville’s Less Less Than Jake’s Summer Circus is coming to town on Sunday, and it’s bound to be a ska-punk spectacular. Credit: photo by Gavin Smith We got that tip from a pretty reliable source: Chris DeMakes, the guitarist, vocalist and founding member of Less Than Jake. DeMakes beamed in from his home studio in Tennessee to give Orlando Weekly the scoop. “Our shows have always been w

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly "The world around us that we experience is told through stories, whether...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly "Hey baby! I'm calling you from a landline. Hey baby! I'm not having a good time." The opening lyrics from Sincere Engineer's "Landline," off their 2023 record Cheap Grills, captures the Chicago band's sonic spirit well: wholeheartedly earnest and tragically honest, blending nostalgia with modernity, to a backdrop of infectious riffs and full-throated execution. If you were to distill these qualities into a human,

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly It is a balmy Friday afternoon, and Orlando Weekly is sitting outside...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly It's the final day before Ty Vaughn, frontman of Oregon punks Broadway...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly Regardless of borders, nationality or language, music speaks a universal...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. "On tour, inevitably you have those dark moments of like, 'What am I doing...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. "There's people who rely on us not doing anything to keep their power ......

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. "I am really happy that we're a part of something that's becoming more...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. "Ever since we started learning music, we've been playing together." The...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. "Can we be saved, or has the damage all been done? Is it too late to...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. Punks of the world, unite! After three reliably tragic years of pandemic...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. Embrace the calamity and put on your cargo shorts, Orlando. PUP the band...

Reflecting on a life lived with the music of Paul McCartney, ahead of his Orlando stadium show By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. "My dad used to say to my sisters and I when we were kids that 'life's not...

By Ida V. Eskamani Originally published in the Orlando Weekly. Do you know you're making history while you're making history? According...