Prenatt’s Picks: 100 Artists To Check Out In 2020 (Part 6)

Only four more left.

Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the next 10 weeks, I’ll give you 100 artists that you need to tune your attention to throughout 2020. This list will feature numerous acts from numerous genres.

This is part six of ten. If you didn’t read the previous list, click here.

Destroy Boys

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Out Now: Fences – Single (Uncool)

For Fans Of: FIDLAR, Skating Polly, Tacocat

If Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong is a huge fan of your work, then you’re doing everything right. Sacramento punk rockers Destroy Boys are carrying the riot girl banner that was raised back in the 90’s from bands like L7 and Bikini Kill. Influenced by everyone from Operation Ivy to Lady Gaga, the trio write “Tales of misanthropic school days, elitist parties and drunken frat boy shaming barely scratch the surface of the vision into their world.” The trio are signed to Uncool Records, the label created by the band SWMRS, and have done shows with Hobo Johnson & The LoveMakers, The Garden, and PUP. They’ll appearing on this year’s Sad Summer Fest alongside All Time Low, Movements, and The Story So Far.

Song to Listen to: “Fences”

Go For Gold

Hometown: Conway, AR

Out Now: Let Me Go – Single (InVogue)

For Fans Of: In Her Own Words, Like Pacific, Seaway

Who knew that Arkansas could give us something so good? Hailing from Conway, Go For Gold deliver you that classic early 2010’s pop-punk vibe that Warped Tour craved. Amy Albinson from Discovered Magazine said about the band, “Reminiscent of teenage years with a stream of consciousness lyrical style, their energy is infectious as they remain relentlessly hopeful, suggesting that maybe you can just dance all over your problems.” Last year they signed with InVogue Records (Assuming We Survive, Heart To Heart, Secret Eyes) and will drop their new EP Color Me on May 15.

Song to Listen to: “Let Me Go”

Sadfields

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Out Now: Sofocar – Single (Buen Dia)

For Fans Of: A Place To Bury Strangers, Ceremony, Ringo Deathstarr

Sadfields might be making noise in their city of Mexico City and beyond, but in the U.S., we aren’t listening. Let me change that. Influenced by Pornography-era The Cure and A Place To Bury Strangers (who they opened up for once,) alt-noise rock trio Sadgirls have a captivating tone while causing chaos on stage. The three lads — guitarist/vocalist Daniel Espinoza, bassist Miguel Flores and drummer Erick Román — got together in the fall of 2015 and have been rocking out since. Their lyrics are emotionally packed and their noise evokes discordance and beauty. If you like bands such as The Cure and Ride, you’ll love Sadfields.

Song to Listen to: “Sofocar”

Peach Pit

Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Out Now: Shampoo Bottles – Single (Columbia)

For Fans Of: Beach Bunny, Declan McKenna, Slaughter Beach, Dog

This isn’t bubblegum pop, it’s chewed bubblegum pop. That’s what indie pop quartet Peach Pit call themselves. The Canadian band formed in 2014 when lead vocalist/guitarist Neil Smith and lead guitarist Chris Vanderkooy, who were friends in high school, decided to work on a musical project together. They then added bassist Peter Wilton and drummer Mikey Pascuzzi shortly afterwards. Peach Pit first got some recognition when their self-titled single went viral in 2016. Since then, they’ve released several singles, one EP, and two full-length records, their newest one You And Your Friends comes out April 16 via Columbia Records (645AR, Blink-182, Foster The People.) Speaking of You And Your Friends, the album was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton (Best Coast, Explosions In The Sky, Kimbra.) They’re embarking on a North American tour next month with Sun Seeker and Hailey Blais.

Song to Listen to: “Black Licorice”

Lyon Estates

Hometown: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK

Out Now: Welcome To The Family – EP (Side Mission)

For Fans Of: Man Overboard, The Starting Line, WSTR

Named after the subdivision that Marty McFly lives in in the Back To The Future series, Lyon Estates are a pop-punk band who love pop culture. With songs named after references from The Simpsons and Back To The Future, their loves knows no bounds. “Lyon Estates came together as a bunch of friends who all lived in the same dreary northern town,” bassist Rich Harrison told Discovered Magazine.  “We didn’t really have any sort of plans except to just jam out some songs and play a few hometown shows.” Not only do they love pop culture, they also love charity. In 2018, they raised money for Safe Gigs For Women and Independent Domestic Abuse Services by creating a tee with 100% of the profits split between the both of them. They’ve done shows with This Time Next Year, Calling All Captains, Room 94, Woes, and MxPx. Lyon Estates dropped their new EP Welcome To The Family last October.

Song to Listen to: “Hokitika”

Chamber

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Out Now: Ripping/Pulling/Tearing (Pure Noise)

For Fans Of: Disembodied, Sanction, Zao

Nashville’s Chamber are “one of the most technically pugnacious hardcore bands around.” That’s what Revolver called them. Formed in 2017, the quintet have been hitting hard, even with some roadblocks (the band parted ways with ex-vocalist Sam Fleming who now fronts Incendiary.) They dropped their debut Ripping/Pulling/Tearing last year on Pure Noise Records (The Amity Affliction, First Blood, Reggie And The Full Effect.) Chamber have toured with The Acacia Strain, Counterparts, Gideon, Old Wounds, and Year Of The Knife. If you’re looking for something heavy to get you out of your self-quarantine rut or just need a band that reminds you of Zao, listen to Chamber.

Song to Listen to: “Replacing Every Weakness”

Sleep Token

Hometown: London, UK

Out Now: Sundowning (Spinefarm)

For Fans Of: The Contortionist, Thomas Giles, Hozier

It’s time for worship. Sleep Token are an anonymous band who’s names are not important for us to know of, except vocalist Vessel. His haunting, powerful voice helps spread the band’s message of reintroducing the world to the forgotten god known as “Sleep.” The god is crudely called that because modern tongues cannot pronounce his name. While they’re known in the UK, it’s time for us to be woke to their beauty and message. Worship with us. Later this summer they’ll appear at festivals like Mad Cool, Sunstroke, and Download.

Song to Listen to: “The Offering”

Fate’s Got A Driver

Hometown: Amityville, NY

Out Now: Fate’s Got A Driver – EP (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Glassjaw, Lifetime, Texas Is The Reason

Does Fate’s Got A Driver’s guitarist look familiar? That’s because it’s Taking Back Sunday’s former guitarist Eddie Reyes. Formed in 2018, FGAD sound like a darker TBS, heading towards a Deftones-ish style. They dropped their self-titled EP last November. Expect more from them later this year.

Song to Listen to: “Pennies”

guardin

Hometown: Hornell, NY

Out Now: creature, Pt. 2 (Photo Finish)

For Fans Of: guccihighwaters, Fats’e, Lil Peep

guardin is the genre-bending emo-rap project hailing from the mind of Western New Yorker Nicholas Kerr. Signed to Photo Finish Records, the label that once housed 3OH!3 and MisterWives, guardin creates music for everyone. He’s already gained success with touring with gnash and Mallrat and having his music appear on Alternative Press. Music was a major part of his life, starting music at an early age, picking up the guitar at 9. He then dabbled with piano and drums, wearing out the heads after owning a kit for two years. At 12, he began writing songs with his acoustic guitar, and it all spiraled right there. “I usually record a handful of freestyled melodies over a beat to figure out a base structure, and use that to help me craft sort of a walking stick for my writing,” guardin said in a press release. “I’ll usually write a hook and a verse, and then come back to it later once my mind is in a new place so my verses feel welldifferentiated. From there, I add in separate layers such as ad libs or backing vocals to really fill it out and bring the track to life.” He’s doing a show with guccihighwaters in May.

Song to Listen to: “i think you’re really cool”

Stepson

Hometown: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Out Now: Run – Single (SharpTone)

For Fans Of: Counterparts, Stick To Your Guns, early Trophy Eyes

Freshly signed to SharpTone Records (Broadside, Holding Absence, Miss May I) are these Aussies who pack quite a punch. Stepson began all the way back in 2014, showing their country how hard they can really go. Now it’s time for the world to know of Stepson. So far the band have dropped two EPs and several singles, their newest track “Run” came out on March 20. They’ve toured with Polaris, Stray Form The Path, Trash Talk, While She Sleeps, and The Brave. Look out world, here comes your favorite Stepson.

Song to Listen to: “Run”

Come back next week for more artists!

 

Where Are They Now?: Checking Up On 25 Bands From Last Year’s Prenatt’s Picks List (2018 Edition)

Back in December, I wrote a massive article about half of the artists I covered on my first ever Prenatt’s Picks lists with The Record. I wanted to look at where some of those bands and musicians went. Some died (Lil Peep), some fell apart (Home Sweet Home), and tons were accused of sexual allegations (Pinegrove, Sorority Noise, PWR BTTM).

Now that it’s 2019, I can see what happened to those who I covered on last year’s lists. Let’s check up on them.

Settle Your Scores

2018 was a big year for the easycore group. They dropped their second album Better Luck Tomorrow on SharpTone Records (As I Lay Dying, Holding Absence, Miss May I), toured with We Were Sharks, Bilmuri, and Nominee, and…then got dropped by SharpTone. Now independent again, the group are picking up right where they left off. So far this year they’ve dropped an electric version of “My Reason To Come Back Home” called “My Reason To Come Back Home 2: Electric Boogaloo”, started recording new music, and toured with Calling All Captains, who were on this year’s Prenatt’s Picks list. And yes, they’re still shitposting. Never change, fellas.

Awaken I Am

No one should have gone through what Awaken I Am went through in 2018. Last May, guitarist Connor Verner-Oakley was killed in a car accident. This tragedy would help the band grow stronger, creating the EP The Beauty In Tragedy, which honored their fallen brother. They also got a new vocalist Jimmy Stevenson who replaced Adam Douglas. Since being featured, they’ve toured with SECRETS, Escape The Fate, and Slaves, dropped an EP, and just wrapped up a headlining tour in their native Australia with I The Mighty.

nothing,nowhere. 

He blew up quick. The New England based emo rapper had a successful 2018 and so far a fantastic 2019. nothing,nowhere. dropped his Fueled By Ramen (A Day To Remember, The Front Bottoms, Lights) debut record Ruiner last April, dropped a collaboration with clothing label Famous Stars And Straps, toured with Fall Out Boy, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, and is currently on the road with grandson. A collaboration EP with Blink-182’s Travis Barker called Bloodlust is coming out Friday, September 27.

7 Minute Martians

The Ohio based pop-punk group 7 Minute Martians seemed to have had a great year. I wrote, “I really hope the world pays attention to these guys, they sound amazing.” And it seemed that people were paying attention. They ended up doing shows with The Ataris, Keep Flying, and a former Prenatt’s Picks list band Mascots. Minus the departure of their drummer Nick Neumeister, it looks like 7MM are getting there.

MAKEOUT

Earlier this year, the future for MAKEOUT was blurry. Just a year prior, they appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, toured with Cute Is What We Aim For and Icon For Hire, and were riding high with the success of their album The Good Life. Then January came and their lead vocalist announced he was done with tour life and quit, leaving the rest of the group unsure of their future. That was until just last week when former American Idol contestant Kyle Dee and ex-Sleep On It bassist AJ Khan joined the group. Expect big things for MAKEOUT in 2020.

Mt. Joy

Folk group Mt. Joy enjoyed their 2018, playing various festivals along with artists like Paul McCartney, Rise Against, CHVRCHES, The Hives, and Modest Mouse, dropping their debut self-titled record, toured throughout the country and Europe, and even performed on TV twice (CBS This Morning and Jimmy Kimmel Live!). And it seems their 2020 is looking bright since they’re opening up for The Lumineers on their world tour. Not bad.

The Frights

Indie punks The Frights may have started off as a prank, but their success ain’t nothing to joke about. They dropped their third record (and first with Epitaph Records) Hypochondriac last August, appearing at Riot Fest last fall, playing Coachella in April, made a live album, and so much more. Just yesterday they announced they’ll be on the second Songs That Saved My Life compilation covering Modest Mouse’s “Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes” which comes out November 8. Later this fall the band will be opening up for The Story So Far and Matt And Kim.

Sharptooth

Last year treated Sharptooth well. With a spot on the final Vans Warped Tour as well as shows with Cane Hill, Snapcase, Knocked Loose, Propagandhi, and Senses Fail, the Baltimore based hardcore group showed they’re a force to be reckoned with. 2019 so far has been great, with the band touring with As It Is, Comeback Kid, and Obey The Brave, performing at Groezrock in Germany, and were called one of the 50 best American hardcore bands right now by Kerrang!. Later this year they’ll appear on the charity comp Songs That Saved My Life Vol. 2 covering Anti-Flag’s “Die For The Government” and will hit the road with Limbs and Wristmeetrazor.

I Don’t Know How But They Found Me

The new wave/indie pop duo iDKHOW blew the fuck up in 2018 after Fearless Records (Capstan, I Prevail, Set It Off) signed the duo and dropped their debut EP 1981 Extended Play. They opened for Deaf Havana last fall, appeared at Riot Fest, Reading And Leeds, and Slam Dunk this year, and even appeared on the cover of Alternative Press back in January. Let’s see what 2020 has planned for the duo.

We Were Sharks

The Ottawa based pop-punk group gained some attention after Victory Records (Abandoned By Bears, Broadside, Cro-Mags) released their debut full-length Lost Touch in early 2018. They got to do one day of Warped Tour, tour with Settle Your Scores and Abandoned By Bears, and by the year’s end, have Lost Touch reach over 3.1 million streams on Spotify. Fast forward to 2019 and they’re now independent again. WWS have currently toured with Summer Wars and later this year will be at The Fest in Florida and tour with Assuming We Survive and Never Loved.

The Millennium

If you weren’t aware, the Midwestern pop-rock band The Millennium called it a day back in November, lasting only four years. In that span of time, they played with 3OH!3, The Wrecks, and State Champs, did Warped Tour, and won Ernie Ball’s Warped Tour Battle Of The Bands twice.

lovelytheband

Born from the ashes of Oh Honey, alt-pop trio lovelytheband have been riding high after the success of their single “Broken” back in late 2017. The next two years would have the band drop their debut album Finding It Hard To Smile, doing shows with Walk The Moon,  Jimmy Eat World, and Vance Joy, and partook in an event run by Pepsi for the return of college football in Cleveland. Who knows what the new year has in store for the trio.

L.I.F.T

The emo rap group L.I.F.T aka Love In Future Times were having a promising 2018. That all came crashing down prior to appearing at the inaugural Sad Summer Fest with The Wonder Years and Just Friends when the group were allegedly grabbing fans inappropriately during photo ops. They’ve since went M.I.A. and maybe it’s for the best.

Fernway

The departure of a member isn’t gonna slow down the Buffalo alt-rock group. Now armed with bassist Alec Dub, the band are ready to take on 2020 with new material. They just dropped a new song called “Half-Life” back in August. Before Halloween, they’ll be playing their second annual Halloween show at Buffalo Iron Works with Ugly Sun, Post Prom, and Grace Greenan.

Dead Girls Academy

Rock outfit Dead Girls Academy have been doing well since releasing Alchemy last summer on Victory Records. Last summer they had the privilege of playing the final Vans Warped Tour and touring with Falling In Reverse. This year they’ve been constantly on the road, playing festivals like Welcome To Rockville, touring with John 5, and their first headlining tour. Later this fall DGA will tour with P.O.D. and Alien Ant Farm.

Color Killer

The youngest band ever to play Warped Tour did so much last year. Besides doing Warped Tour, they got to open up for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones during their annual Hometown Throwdown, added an additional guitarist Dylan, and dropped their debut album Generation Z independently last July. This year they released three songs, one being a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”, played with their idols The Queers, and even have a skateboard, yes, a skateboard. Only 5 remain. Buy one.

*repeat repeat

A year ago I did photography for their show with Our Lady Peace. A year later I did the same thing at their headlining show at Buffalo Iron Works. And they remembered me. Since the last I wrote about them they dropped their sophomore album Glazed, performed at several festivals, and are currently touring with The Black Keys and Modest Mouse. It’s only up from here.

PKEW PKEW PKEW

Canadian punks PKEW PKEW PKEW were doing well in 2018, but when 2019 struck, big things happened. They dropped their second album Optimal Lifestyles on Dine Alone Records (Alexisonfire, JEFF The Brotherhood, Single Mothers), appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers, toured with Prenatt’s Picks 2019 band Spanish Love Songs, and played festivals like Riot Fest and Riverfest Elora. Wonder what 2020 will bring to the PKEWx3 boys.

Calpurnia

Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard’s band Calpurnia did so much since I last wrote about them. Their debut EP Scout came out last year and they dropped a new song “Cell” back in March, appeared at Riot Fest last year and Shaky Knees Music Festival this year, and appeared in a Weezer music video. Sadly they cancelled a bunch of shows this summer, including an appearance at Lollapalooza. Hope they get better.

Story Untold

Canadian pop-punkers Story Untold dropped their debut album Waves on Hopeless Records (Emarosa, Neck Deep, Tiny Moving Parts) last year, which gave them several opportunities like a spot on the final Vans Warped Tour and touring with ROAM and With Confidence. This year, the band toured with Between You & Me and MAKEOUT and even got to play the Slam Dunk Festival. Expect their sophomore album sometime next year.

ASHES

Buffalo based metalcore group ASHES went through some changes this year, such as vocalist Felix Cruz III leaving. Besides playing a show earlier this year, they’ve been quite dormant. Unclean vocalist Jack Friend did launch a side project called Cold Camp last year and released their latest EP Holy Grail earlier this month. Check it out.

Varials

The Philly metalcore quintet are loving it at the moment. Just this year, they played both days of Warped Tour’s Atlantic City shows, touring with Sylar and Gideon, kicked ass at So What?! Music Festival, and just announced their new album In Darkness is coming out October 11 via Fearless Records. They’re touring with Counterparts and Stray From The Path this October through November.

Bearings

Last time we saw Bearings the Canadian band had their guitarist Tyler Nickel leave the group prior to their tour with Less Than Jake and Four Year Strong and were making their debut album Blue In The Dark, which came out last October on Pure Noise Records (Chamber, Meg & Dia, Take Offense). Fast forward to 2019 and the group have toured with Set It Off in Europe, co-headlined a tour in Canada with Belmont, and played Groezrock in Germany. Later this year they’ll play Four Year Strong’s Christmas show with Citizen, bloom., and The Movielife. They also seem to be up to something.

Hi, Mom!

The Sacramento pop-punk trio have been awfully quiet in 2019, just recently announcing a local showcase on Thursday, October 17. Earlier this year, they dropped their debut album Songs For Me. Maybe next year will bring more activity for the band.

Hobo Johnson & The LoveMakers

They blew up. I could simply leave it at that but you wouldn’t be satisfied. Since writing about them, they signed with major label Reprise Records (Deftones, Family Of The Year, Green Day), dropped their second album The Fall Of Hobo Johnson, played on Late Night With Seth Meyers, appeared at Reading And Leeds, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza, toured the UK and Ireland with Cavetown, played NPR (finally), and will playing a North American tour with Mom Jeans.. So yeah, they’re doing well.

Prenatt’s Picks: 50 Artists To Check Out In 2019 (Part 2)

Here we go, part two baby.

It’s that time again! Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the next five weeks, we’ll give you 50 artists that you need to tune your attention to throughout 2019. Spanning artists in genres like rap, pop-punk, electronic, post-hardcore, rock, and acoustic, Prenatt’s Picks will show you the finest acts to check out.

This is part two of five. If you didn’t read the previous list, click here.

Without further delay, let’s start the list!

itoldyouiwouldeatyou

Hometown: London, UK

Out Now: Oh Dearism (Alcopop!/Failure By Design/Beth Shalom)

For Fans Of: Pianos Become The Teeth, Taking Back Sunday, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die

If you weren’t aware, I’m a sucker for bands with long or odd names. Case in point: London’s emo/indie-punk septet itoldyouiwouldeatyou checks off both boxes for me. The band breathe new life into the emo genre, doing things the genre hasn’t seen since Panic! At The Disco came into our lives in 2005. The septet are here to help queer people find themselves in this world (four of the seven members identify as they/them). As vocalist Joey Ashworth told NME, “Emo is a nasty genre. t’s an untrustworthy part of music history. But the way it was marketed means that a lot of kids who were queer, or other marginalised demographics, needed it to move forward. I see no reason why we can’t take those positive aspects, and cut the negative out, right now.” The emo septet’s debut Oh Dearism came out last year and was called “a solid debut for this upcoming emo troupe” by Discovered Magazine. The band have played shows with Jordaan Mason, Dikembe, and Delta Sleep, and will be touring with Hellogoodbye in May. They’ll also be performing at 2000trees Festival with As It Is, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, and Drug Church on Friday, July 12. 

Song to Listen to: “Young American”

Winski

Hometown: Buffalo, NY

Out Now: Enola. – EP (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Just Surrender, The Spill Canvas, Yellowcard

Local pop-punk group Winski have successfully taken over the Western New York area. Now, they’re setting their sites for the rest of the world. The quartet have had numerous lineup changes since vocalist/guitarist Ed Slowinski (see where the name comes from?) turned his solo project into a band, currently consisting of guitarist Jason Arenos and drummer Joe Musial. Winski dropped their latest EP Enola. back in May 2018. They’ve done shows with SayWeCanFly, ASHES, Landon Tewers of The Plot In You, Metro Station, and I See Stars, as well as selling out several shows in the Queen City. As the band simply puts it, “nothing will stop Winski.”

Song to Listen to: “Bubblegum”

Year Of The Knife

Hometown: Newark, DE

Out Now: Ultimate Aggression (Pure Noise)

For Fans Of: Harm’s Way, Jesus Piece, Vein

Pure Noise Records (Bearings, Hawthorne Heights, Less Than Jake) are well known for signing some heavy hitters. For example, the label’s home to First Blood, Rotting Out, Left Behind, Counterparts, and Sharptooth, a former Prenatt’s Picks artist. Now, they have Delaware straight edge group Year Of The Knife, a band who’ll kick your ass with their brutal, shredding riffs. YOTK formed in 2015 and consist of vocalist Tyler Mullen, guitarist Brandon Watkins, bassist Madison “Madi” Watkins (married to Brandon), and twin brothers drummer Andrew Kisielewski and guitarist Aaron Kisielewski. The hardcore group have toured with The Acacia Strain, Terror, Jesus Piece, Knocked Loose, and Backtrack, and have played shows with Eighteen Visions, Code Orange, Vein, Sanction, and Microwave. They’ve so far released three EPs, with two of them being released last year. The quintet’s new album Ultimate Aggression dropped in February.

Song to Listen to: “Fatal”

Calling All Captains

Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Out Now: Nothing Grows Here – EP (Equal Vision)

For Fans Of: Carousel Kings, Like Pacific, Sleep On It

Let’s quote their Facebook. “Calling All Captains burst into the scene in 2014 and have since been tirelessly developing their sound amidst the newest wave of the genre, evoking elements of early 2000’s emo-infused pop punk to blend with their own brand of modern easycore angst. Their haunting lyrical sentiments and infectious melodies seldom fail to provoke a crowd amassed scream-a-long.” The five-year-old pop-punk act have done shows with Red City Radio, Seaway, Silverstein, Set It Off, and Bedroom Talk, now known as Youth Fountain. The boys signed with Albany, N.Y. based label Equal Vision Records (As Cities Burn, Gideon, Polyphia) last July and just dropped their second EP Nothing Grows Here in February. They’re currently on the road with Makari. 

Song to Listen to: “Chasing Ghosts”

William Ryan Key

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Out Now: Virtue – EP (Lone Tree Recordings)

For Fans Of: Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties, Brian Fallon, Matt Pryor

Seriously, does this man really need an introduction? Well, if you are not in the know, William Ryan Key is Ryan Key from Yellowcard, the pop-punk band who went defunct in 2017 and gave us such classics like “Ocean Avenue”, “Lights And Sounds” and “For You, And Your Denial”. Since Yellowcard’s ending, he went solo and gave us two incredible EPs in 2018, and he also started producing music for acts like Selfish Things and Like Torches. Under this project, he toured with This Wild Life, Mayday Parade, and Alex Moses of Columbus, and is currently touring with Selfish Things and Cory Wells. If you’re a fan of William Fitzsimmons and This Wild Life, you’ll enjoy William Ryan Key.

Song to Listen to: “The Bowery”

LOKELLA

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Out Now: Set To Flame – Single (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Circa Survive, Glassjaw, In This Moment

When the post-hardcore band Fine Fine Titans called it a day in 2016, LOKELLA rose from those ashes. Husband-wife duo Evan and Jennifer Bartlett called up friends guitarist Chris Bursley and drummer Josh Poel to make the spectacular LOKELLA, a word that’s German for famous warrior. And just like a warrior, they’re fierce and strike hard. The midwestern rock quartet have shared stages with Andrew W.K., Seether, and The Fall Of Troy. Their next EP Censory Overload comes out May 17.

Song to Listen to: “Wicked”

Youth Fountain

Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Out Now: Letters To Our Former Selves (Pure Noise)

For Fans Of: Knuckle Puck, State Champs, Trash Boat

Known originally as Bedroom Talk, Canadian emo/pop-punk duo Youth Fountain are a new face in the scene. Composed of Tyler Zanon and Cody Muraro, YF have done so much in their short amount of time (YF were created in 2017). Pure Noise Records (Boston Manor, Four Year Strong, Sharptooth) delivered their self-titled EP in July and their full-length Letters To Our Former Selves earlier this month. That album was #11 on the Billboard Heatseekers list when it first came out. They even toured with Can’t Swim, Abandoned By Bears, and Demon In Me. Currently they’re on tour for their debut album and will be hitting up St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, March 28 at Caydence Records.

Song to Listen to: “Deadlocked”

Author & Punisher

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Out Now: Beastland (Relapse)

For Fans Of: Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Sunn O)))

Dark, harsh, and unsettling. These are the three words that sum up Author & Punisher, the industrial dooom/drone stage name of Tristan Shone. Once you hear any song by him, whether it be the skin crawling “Terrorbird”, the uneasy “Nihil Strength”, or the nearly seven minute creep show known as “Callous And Hoof”, you know you won’t be catching sleep tonight. This one man show is here to scare you with speaker-blowing bass and harsh, droning dub machines. Forget fearing Freddy Kruger, fear Shone. He’s the real man of nightmares. Sweet dreams.

Song to Listen to: “Nihil Strength”

Church Girls

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Out Now: Cycles – EP (Chatterbot)

For Fans Of: Angel Olson, Speedy Ortiz, Waxahatchee

Philly based post-punk quartet Church Girls have been going nonstop since forming in 2014. The band, consisting of drummer Michael Liszka, bassist Vince Vullo, guitarist Joseph Wright (what’s up man?), and guitarist/vocalist Mariel Beaumont, are, as their Facebook page puts it, “on a quest to tap into listeners’ emotional marrow by lyrically confessing a resistance to growing up, espousing a tendency towards self-destruction, showing the pains of communication, and celebrating the ways we work to become better humans a little at a time.” With muddled guitars and hard-hitting drums, the indie group go hard on each release, including their current EP Cycles dropping back two months ago on indie label Chatterbot Records (California Cousins, Hit Like A Girl, Origami Angel). Besides going hard on their sound, the band also go hard on touring, constantly playing shows in the U.S. and even the U.K. They’ll be playing Pouzza Fest in Montréal this may with Against Me!, War On Women, and 50 Shades Of Punk Rock. 

Song to Listen to: “Balance”

dying in designer

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Out Now: PTSD – Single (Hopeless)

For Fans Of: Boyfriendz, Lil Peep, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal

2018 was a shit year for the emo rapper dying in designer, aka Bobby O’Brien. A toxic relationship nearly led him down the path of suicide, yet he powered on and turned the pain into gut-wrenching music fueled by 808s and breakdowns. The Windy City rapper has been fueling those emotions into some pretty fine music, fine enough to get him signed to beloved pop-punk label Hopeless Records (Emarosa, New Found Glory, Sum 41) in 2019, making O’Brien the first rapper on the label. He’s done collaborations with artists like dubstep musician Riot Ten, rapper Larcin, and trap artists TERRA BLVCK and DËKAY. dying in designer will be performing at So What?! Music Festival on Saturday, April 27 with Of Mice & Men, Wage War, and ERRA.

Song to Listen to: “PTSD”

Come back next week for more artists!

Where Are They Now?: Checking Up On 25 Bands From Last Year’s Prenatt’s Picks List

When I was growing up, I would wait every year for Alternative Press‘s “100 Bands You Need To Know” list to come out. I would read each page, scanning for new bands to check out. From that list, which started in 2001 and ended in 2015, I discovered artists and bands like Code Orange, letlive., PUP, Anamanaguchi, and Japandroids.

But I always wondered whatever happened to those bands on the list. Sure some like Coldplay, Simple Plan, Every Time I Die, As I Lay Dying, Panic! At The Disco, Silversun Pickups, Katy Perry, Emarosa, Never Shout Never, Black Veil Brides, AWOLNATION, twenty one pilots, Northlane, and Broadside, went on to find fame and popularity, but what about the ones everyone forgot about? Bands like The Garden, Butter The Children, A Fucking Elephant, Hotel Of The Laughing Tree, and DD/MM/YYYY, were pushed to the wayside and forgotten by AP. But here at Punk Goes Prenatt, I won’t let that happen to the bands who I put on my list from last year.

If you didn’t know, I used to work for Buffalo State’s online newspaper The Record. During my final year, I suggested to my editors if I could do my own version of Alternative Press‘s list, and they loved the idea. For five weeks, I introduced the campus to bands like Hot Mulligan, Chase Huglin, DREAMCAR, SWMRS, and Julien Baker.

A year has passed and I wanted to see what happened to some of the bands I wrote about last spring. Let’s find out.

Chapel

The indie pop band has had a busy time since I wrote about them. Made up of ex-Nightmares vocalist Carter Hardin and BFF Kortney Grinwis, the duo did a bunch of things that are impressive for a band who hasn’t released a full-length album yet. Chapel played a radio station festival in Philly with The 1975, Pale Waves, and Bastille, toured with Set It Off, Pierce The Veil, Good Charlotte, Waterparks, and Sleeping With Sirens, and released their debut EP Sunday Brunch last November via Rise Records (The Acacia Strain, Knuckle Puck, Palisades). They’ll be releasing their debut album next year.

Carousel Kings

It’s still hard to believe that these Lancaster, Pa., pop-punkers are on Victory Records (Abandoned By Bears, Dead Girls Academy, Reverend Horton Heat). Since dropping their latest album Charm City in early 2017, the band have kept themselves busy, playing Warped Tour last year, a tour with Ice Nine Kills, and a one-off show with State Champs and Victory label mates Broadside. In 2018, they played Milwaukee’s Summerfest, one day on the final Warped Tour, playing a festival with Eve 6 and Sister Hazel, and shows with I See Stars and City Lights. Their follow up to Charm City should come out next year.

Home Sweet Home

I played a show with these guys. Back in April of this year, the Indianapolis rock band announced that they were taking a break. During their downtime, vocalist Sean Potter became a bartender, trombonist Samuel Oliver got married and is working in graphic design, bassist Daniel Obermeyer started a home renovation business, guitarist Marshall Powers started making his own music, and drummer Austin Puckett, along with Sean, made a new project called brainlock. Hopefully they come back soon.

Swet Shop Boys

Made up of ex-Das Racist member Heems, actor Rizwan Ahmed (Nightcrawler, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Venom) aka Riz MC , and producer Redinho, the group have been quiet as of November 2017. Swet Shop Boys also said that they would be doing solo projects and to look out for them in the near future.

Creeper

The British horror punk group were making waves in the scene. Creeper played Slam Dunk in 2017 on the main stage with PVRIS, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and Four Year Strong as well as Warped on the Full Sail Stage, touring in support of Eternity, In Your Arms. However, they confused their fans back in November of this year, saying that they were hanging it up after a show. Since then, they’ve remained quiet. No one knows if they broke up or just pulled a David Bowie.

Lil Peep

If you weren’t paying attention to Lil Peep in 2017, you missed your chance. The rapper died from a Xanax overdose in his tour bus while in Tuscon, Ariz., after a show. His popularity has since skyrocketed since his passing, having his mom sign away his posthumous material to Columbia Records (Bob Dylan, Hozier, Rag’n’Bone Man). The label released his sophomore album Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2 back in November, as well as a collaboration with fellow deceased rapper XXXTENTACION. Rest easy, Gus.

PWR BTTM

I’m sure you’ve all heard about PWR BTTM’s issue. Last May, one half of PWR BTTM, guitarist/vocalist Ben Hopkins was called out for apparently being a sexual predator. To read all the information about the controversy, look here. They were dropped by their label Polyvinyl (Antarctigo Vespucci, Deerhoof, Post Animal) and told anyone who bought their at-the-time new album Pageant would get refunded. They’ve been quiet ever since.

Judah & The Lion

After making it big with their hit “Take It All Back”, the hip-hop/folk trio have been pretty busy. The Nashville group dropped three songs in 2018, hyping up fans for their sophomore record. Due to the success with their breakout single, the band toured with twenty one pilots, Jimmy Eat World, and Colony House, appeared on late night TV shows like CONAN and The Late Late Show With James Corden, and played festivals like Voodoo 2018(21 Savage, Lettuce, Modest Mouse), Z 104.5 The Edge’s Birthday Bash with AWOLNATION and AJR, and Moon River Music Festival with The Avett Brothers, Trampled By Turtles, and Mavis Staples. Expect new music soon.

Grayscale

The Fearless Records (August Burns Red, The Plot In You, Varials) pop-punk group got busy in 2017 and 2018 due to their debut record Adornment. They appeared on the newest Punk Goes album Punk Goes Pop Vol. 7 covering Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself”, toured with Real Friends, As It Is, and will be heading out next March with State Champs, and finally played Warped the whole summer. No word yet if they’re recording their follow up to Adornment.

Younger Then

Of course I had to put a local band on the list. Since their appearance on my list last year, the group released their debut record Bad Life on StandBy Records (Chin Up, Kid, Hang Tight, Waco) and have done shows with Brick + Mortar, Wild Rivers, and Broken Social Scene. The band will be hitting the road next year in support of Bad Life.

Stacked Like Pancakes

Look at this picture above. Since early October, the band have lost everyone except vocalist Kellen McKay (the guy in the polka dot button up). However, that didn’t stop McKay from releasing their new EP Strange Creatures in October, as well as hiring more members. SLP have also changed their style from their signature ska punk tone to a mixture of twenty one pilots and Foo Fighters. Their Kickstarter funded new record will apparently come out in the spring.

Trash Boat

Yes, they’re named after an episode of Regular Show. The British pop-punk group dropped their second record Crown Shyness back in July on Hopeless Records (Between You & Me, Neck Deep, Vanish) and played all of Warped. They toured with As It Is back in November in their home country and will be touring with While She Sleeps in February. Trash Boat also played the main stage this year at Reading and Leeds with Kendrick Lamar, Sum 41, and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park.

Colours

The indie pop duo have been extremely quiet since I wrote about them last year. In October of 2017, they said they were working on a follow up to their debut Ivory, but no more news has been made by the group. Victory Records still says they’re active though.

AJR

New York City’s favorite sibling trio were busy in 2017 and 2018. Just this month, their album The Click was certified gold in the U.S., and they played with Robert DeLong on a somewhat sold out tour. The brothers even played numerous festivals throughout the summer, playing with bands like Vance Joy, Spoon, Death Cab For Cutie, Lil Wayne, and Foster The People. Their profile pictures and banners on their social medias have gone black, teasing for a new album that might come out in the new year.

blackbear

How cool is this? blackbear signed a $10 million deal with Interscope Records (6lack, DJ Snake, Juice Wld) back in June, thus giving the label the rights to not only his third album Digital Druglord but the upcoming follow up in 2019. To tide fans over, he released another album back in November of 2017 called Cybersex which has collaborations with people like Machine Gun Kelly, lil aaron, and RiFF RAFF. He then toured with Fall Out Boy last November with Jaden Smith. The new album ANONYMOUS comes out sometime next year.

Goodbye June

I honestly thought Goodbye June were going to blow up in 2017. I was wrong. And they didn’t blow up in 2018 either. But instead in 2018, they gave us a new EP called Secrets In The Sunset and toured with Greta Van Fleet, which is a pretty big deal itself. Maybe next year will be the year people know about Goodbye June.

Mascots

Fun fact: when I was working on my list back in 2017, I asked some people in the Defend Pop Punk Group on Facebook if they could give me some bands. Of course people were plugging their own groups so I took in two bands. One was Canada’s New Design, and the other was Mascots. Since the last time I looked at Mascots, the band had some member changes and dropped a new EP titled Butterfly Effect in November.

Lil Yatchy

I’ve since outgrew my appreciation of Lil Yatchy’s music, but damn isn’t he having so much fun. The young rapper dropped two albums this year with the second one just coming out in mid October, seven months after releasing Lil Boat 2. He’s done collaborations with artists like Quavo of Migos, Ugly God, Lil Pump, Cardi B, and pop group Ocean Park Standoff. And not only is he a rapper, he’s begun acting, appearing in the film Teen Titans Go! To The Movies as Green Lantern and making a cameo as a beatboxer in Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve.

Sorority Noise

They were riding high off of the success of 2017’s You’re Not As _____ As You Think. But that came to a screeching halt after vocalist Cameron Boucher was accused of sexual assault, causing Sorority Noise to cancel their tour with The Wonder Years and go on break. But just recently, the band seemed to have broken their silence with Boucher making a statement on Facebook. They might make a comeback, but will people quickly forgive him before it happens?

Dangerkids

Due to their popularity in Japan, rapper Tyler Smyth and vocalist Andy Bane of the Ohio rap rock band Dangerkids got to have a song appear in the video game Sonic Forces, writing the song “Infinite”. That’s pretty damn cool. Maybe that will give people a reason to like Dangerkids more.

Milestones

Just as soon as they were getting off the ground and some recognition in the music scene, England’s Milestones announced in 2018 that they would be calling it a day. During their short time as a band, the group released only one album and an EP, both released on Fearless Records.

Pinegrove

What do Pinegrove and Sorority Noise have in common? They both have members accused of sexual assault or coercion. Vocalist Evan Hall was accused and that put the band on hold in 2017. A year later, the band decided to start again, releasing a new album called Skylight in October which they dropped independently since leaving Run For Cover Records (Camp Cope, mewithoutYou, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal).

Boston Manor

When we last left off on Boston Manor, the group had only one album out. Fast forward to now and they dropped a second one called Welcome To The Neighbourhood in September. They ended up touring with Real Friends, Drug Church, and Lower Than Atlantis. Boston Manor will be busy next year, opening up for Good Charlotte in Europe and playing numerous American metal and rock festivals in the spring like Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple, and Download with acts like Tool, Bring Me The Horizon, and Slayer.

Knocked Loose

I know you’re antsy for new music from these guys, but you won’t have to wait for long soon. The band played some new songs on their tour with Every Time I Die a few weeks ago, so a new album should be out sometime in the not so distant future. Also since I last talked about them, Knocked Loose have become one of the biggest names in hardcore. Sick.

Made Violent

Buffalo’s Made Violent have been taking their sweet time throughout 2018, keeping somewhat of a low profile. They’ve done some one-off gigs with The Menzingers, Ugly Sun, and Bully, as well as touring with HUNNY. Back in November, the band posted a message saying, “I wonder what Made Violent has been up to…” Maybe we’re getting new music from them in the new year. Only one way to find out.