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.

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.

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.