The Witzard

Magnolia Park (CREDIT: Jonathan Weiner) Deeply rooted in Pop-punk sensibilities while staying true to their unique style, Orlando, Florida band Magnolia Park draw from an eclectic mix of influences to experiment with elements of Hip-Hop, Emo, and Alternative Rock. Just yesterday, they announced plans for two new companion EP's dropping next month— SoulEater & MoonEater —which, respectively, represent the lighter and darker sides of their multifaceted sound. Ahead of the releases, the band shares the MoonEater lead single and accompanying music video titled "Breathing" featuring Alt. rapper nothing,nowhere. (Dashboard Confessional, Fall Out Boy, Senses Fail.) In an impassioned performance video depicting Magnolia Park singer, Joshua Roberts, free-falling from the heavens, as he pushes his soaring vocals to the edge for a cathartic release of emotions. "Our music is always about creating empowerment out of negative feelings," the band comments. "In...

Jeremy Bolm's headshot and Balladeers, Redefined mustard with red splatter vinyl (CREDIT: Casey Lee / SOURCE: deathwish, Inc.) Painstakingly orchestrated over a two-and-a-half-year period by Jeremy Bolm (Touché Amoré, Hesitation Wounds, The First Ever Podcast,) Balladeers, Redefined showcases 31 Screamo/Screamo-adjacent bands both new and old hailing from all across the world. It saw a wide release just this past Friday on Bolm's own deathwish, Inc. imprint, Secret Voice Records now available on bone with splatter, mustard with red splatter, and Coke bottle green-colored vinyl, digital, T-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, and zip-up hoodie formats. We recently sent out a five-question fact-finding questionnaire. 14 of these bands/artists graciously got back to us for a partial Balladeers, Redefined track-by-(almost every)-track breakdown. Check it out below and go pick up a copy of Balladeers, Redefined on your preferred format of choice and with that said, "LET'S F***ING ...

FRND CRCL, L-R: Zac Johnson, Nick Johnson, and Aaron Smith (CREDIT: Jesse Joseph) Hailing from Vineland/Cedarville, New Jersey, FRND CRCL's members are, as frontman/guitarist Zac Johnson's Twitter handle proclaims, tried and true @SuburbanKing(s)_. I've known and have quite unique relationships with each of FRND CRCL's three current members: drummer Aaron Smith and I worked together at our local Shop Rite grocery store for at least 5-6 years and, then, for a couple more at the County Administration building until a couple months ago when my department moved out and into a different location. I went all through high school with newest member, bassist, and Zac's older brother, Nick, and we shared a mutual FR(IE)ND C(I)RCL(E). Now, I only recently met Zac at a FRND CRCL gig a couple months ago, but we've been messaging back-and-forth on social media for a year or so now. Also, I've driven by Zac & Nick's dad's Christmas tree farm in Hopewell/Uppe...

Kevin "Part Time Kevin" Day from Part Time PR often sends me press releases, which I've used for tons of coverage, as well as interviews, here on The Witzard and for an array of sites for which I contribute; some of those acts including Crossed Keys , Dirty Shrines , DIVIDED HEAVEN , Elway , and more. So, now, it's been a pretty cool, full-circle momemnt to be recieve press from/for and be able to cover one of Day's own bands. It's my pleasure to introduce Philadelphia's newest Punk band, ERRTH. Showcasing both current and former members of ASPIGA, Public Serpents, Reunions, and Seeing Snakes, ERRTH takes their love of bands from The East Bay & Chicago and adds their own Northeast attitude into the mix. ERRTH, actually, just played their first show as part of Crossed Keys' Believes In You record release show back in May. Their debut EP is made up of two blistering tracks that showcase two of the band's three song-writers. "Control,...

The Bollweevils (sometimes, known as Rat Patrol) are a Chicago area Punk band, who were originally active from 1989-96. At that point, The Bollweevils broke upp/went on hiatus from about seven years while frontman Daryl Wilson finished up medical school and became a doctor morphing into Dr. Daryl Wilson, M.D. The Bollweevils played their "last" show at The Fireside Bowl in November of 1996, but soon re-formed for then-one-off shows in both 2003 and 2006 before fully, properly re-forming in 2007. The Bollweevils had a bit of a rotating cast of members and players for a number of years during this phase of their career, but have now solidified their current line-up as Dr. Daryl Wilson, Ken Fitzner AKA Ken Weevil, Peter "Pete" Mittler, and Pete Mumford AKA Sensitive Pete. Around 2012, The Bollweevils started diligently working on their first album together since re-forming and being fully revilatized. So, some 11 years later, The Bollweevils released their first ...

Fred Mascherino & Frank Zummo (photographer unknown / SOURCE: Night Owl Public Relations) Distinguished song-writer and guitarist Fred Mascherino (ex-Taking Back Sunday, Say Anything , The Color Fred) and prominent drummer Frank Zummo (SUM 41, Street Drum Corps, Mötley Crüe) have teamed up for a song collaboration. Their mesmerizing Indie Rock anthem, "Be Here Now," sees a world-wide release today, via Mascherino's very own Heading East Records. "'Be Here Now" is about the challenge of staying in the present moment," explains Fred Mascherino. "Something that's hard to do with today's technology. Our phones remind us of what's coming up and we re-live the past in our constant posting. But to unplug and appreciate where you are right now, by giving your full attention to the person in front of you or by giving yourself time to relax and process life, can be a really powerful action." In late 2020, after a year of confined ...

DIVIDED HEAVEN in Baltimore, Maryland (photographer unknown / SOURCE: Facebook) We're one day away from the official start of summer, so let's kick things off with a cover of one of the greatest Descendents songs ever written. DIVIDED HEAVEN and German singer-songwriter Matze Rossi have just released a stripped down version of "Clean Sheets" that will leave you feeling a bit more tender. Rossi's raspy howl plays wonderfully with DIVIDED HEAVEN founder Jeff Berman's voice as they belt out a song that has become part of the pantheon of Punk music. Said cover really captures the spirit of singing your favorite songs with all of your friends. You know, the moment at a party or a show where everyone knows every word and can't help but sing at the top of their lungs. It's a special kind of moment reserved for a special kind of song and "Clean Sheets" is just that kind of song. Divided Heaven · Clean Sheets (feat. Matze Rossi) Just this past...