![\"The](\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/The-Fest-15-1000x659.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\nWe could be in Little Ybor enjoying Pre-Fest<\/b>. Instead we\u2019re in a downtown Gainesville dive bar getting wired with a fraternity and singing songs about Wolverhampton Wonderers.<\/p>\n
\nWe could be in Little Ybor enjoying Pre-Fest<\/b>. Instead we\u2019re in a downtown Gainesville dive bar getting wired with a fraternity and singing songs about Wolverhampton Wonderers.<\/p>\n
Spirits are high as it\u2019s the weekend of The Big Game, and some 300,000 people from Florida and Georgia will make the journey to Jacksonville for one of gridiron\u2019s most enduring rivalries. Nicknamed The World\u2019s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, it leaves Gainesville ripe for an invasion of 4,000 punks, in town to see some of the best bands around.<\/p>\n
Unsurprisingly, after an evening spent singing\/murdering Weezer and Celine Dion while downing numerous Long Island Ice Teas and calling Wolves\u2019 Kevin Muscat a wanker, Friday\u2019s hangover feels like a brain aneurism.<\/p>\n
But, by the time Chicago\u2019s The Island of Misfit Toys<\/b> (5\/5) hit the stage, lethargy has been replaced by excitement. And the Chicagoan heroes don\u2019t disappoint. A blur of limbs and vocal textures, they\u2019re far less twee and much punchier live than on record. The sound at Rockey\u2019s Piano Bar is fantastic too \u2013 a feature that continues throughout the weekend. Debuting a number of new songs \u2013 all of which sound hugely promising \u2013 the highlight of the all-too-brief set is an electrifying take on \u2018Bath\u2019<\/i> off last year\u2019s \u2018I Made You Something\u2019<\/i>, which switches tempos and styles with joyous recklessness.<\/p>\n
Buoyed by the exciting start, it\u2019s a quick hop to Bo Didley\u2019s Plaza, the outdoor main stage of the Fest<\/b>, to catch returning heroes Latterman<\/b> (4\/5). Unsurprisingly for a band considered Fest<\/b> royalty, their set is a riot of sing-along, fist-in-the-air anthems and the enormous crowd responds in kind. Drawing largely off \u2018No Matter Where We Go\u2026\u2019<\/i> tracks like \u2018Zombies Are Pissed\u2019<\/i> are huge, life-affirming moments.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Beaming, we return to Rockey\u2019s for indie-rockers Sinai Vessel<\/b> (5\/5). The North Carolina trio are gearing up to released their much-anticipated second album in January next year, and give excellent new single \u2018Dogs\u2019<\/i> an early airing. They\u2019re a mesmerising lot too; vocalist Caleb Cordes can switch through the gears at will, especially so on the emotionally draining \u2018Cats\u2019<\/i>, a song so powerful it\u2019ll give you chills.<\/p>\n
After such an intense performance, we head to Cowboys and Red City Radio<\/b> (4.5\/5) to decompress. Promising big dumb fun, the Oklahoma rockers are perfect for the Fest<\/b>, and easily fill a stage and venue as large as Cowboys with their crowd-pleasing punk rock anthems. \u2018Show Me\u2026\u2019<\/i>, a song so positively dumb (and dumbly positive) it leads to appropriate levels of pandemonium is undeniably great fun and testament to the strength of good songwriting and an affirmative positive mental attitude.<\/p>\n
The Civic Media Centre is a multi-purpose space a couple of blocks away from the main Fest<\/b> hubbub. It\u2019s worth the trek down there though to catch Already Heard<\/b> faves Brightr<\/b> (4.5\/5) though. Talking honestly and candidly about his struggles with his mental health, it\u2019s a powerful and sobering set from Laurie Cottingham, serving as a reflective pause amid the chaos of Fest<\/b>.<\/p>\n
And talking of chaos, Spraynard\u2019s Pat Graham<\/b> (4\/5), performing as a solo artist, is as loose and fun as you could imagine. Graham is an engaging singer, joking about when other people would do certain parts in songs when he\u2019s unable to replicate them live, yet still manages to deliver a set that is a ramshackle celebration of overcoming obstacles.<\/p>\n
Feeling refreshed, we return to Rockey\u2019s for Annabel<\/b> (5\/5). The Ohio indie-rockers enjoy some World Series-based banter with the crowd, and in particular Chicago\u2019s Lifted Bells, who played previously. It\u2019s all good-natured fun, serving to emphasize the close-knit family feeling of the DIY scene. It makes for a rousing, feel-good finale of the first day of the Fest<\/b> too, as they rip through songs off last year\u2019s excellent \u2018Having It All\u2019<\/i> and predecessor \u2018Youth in Youth\u2019<\/i>. Highlights are numerous \u2013 including a haunting take on the gorgeous \u2018Our Days Were Numbered\u2019<\/i> \u2013 yet it\u2019s the freewheeling chaos of closer \u2018Parade Rest\u2019<\/i> that leaves us walking home elated.<\/p>\nDay Two: Saturday 29th October<\/h2>\n
While Iron Chic<\/b> (4.5\/5) played a rammed \u2018secret show\u2019 at Loosey\u2019s the previous night, there really is no better way to start the day than with the Long Island punkers playing in the early afternoon sunlight at the Bo Diddley Plaza. They\u2019re on fire from the off too, slashing through \u2018Cutesy Monster Man\u2019<\/i> to a bouncing throng of heads and pointing fingers. In a touching moment they dedicate \u2018Every Town Has An Elm Street\u2019<\/i> to guitarist Rob McAllister, who passed away earlier this year, while the group\u2019s heartfelt yet existential jams, such as \u2018I Always Never Said That\u2019<\/i>, go down a storm.<\/p>\n
For the first time in the weekend we head to High Dive, grab ourselves some Fest<\/b> Punch (unbelievably strong, since you asked) and settle in for a run of bands. Reforming pop-punkers Digger<\/b> (4\/5) are first up, playing to an appreciative crowd desperate to hear some songs from the good ol\u2019 days. In fact, this is probably the best Digger have ever sounded, with Chris Benner and his Pennsylvanian charges blasting their way through a greatest hits set. Real oldies, like \u2018I Want My Hat Back\u2019<\/i> and the brilliantly infectious \u2018Geek Love\u2019<\/i>, still sound fresh, filled with verve and heart and just enough swagger to not be saccharine sweet.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a busy afternoon for iron Chic\u2019s Phil Douglas and Mattie Jo Canino, as here they are with Tender Defender<\/b> (4.5\/5), playing their second set in less than three hours. There\u2019s no sign of fatigue though as they bounce through cuts from their self-tiled mini EP with gusto. \u2018Hello Dirt\u2019<\/i> is a party from start to finish, while a raucous cover of Bruce Springsteen\u2019s \u2018Dancing in the Dark\u2019<\/i> is every bit as joyous as it promises.<\/p>\n
By the time Worriers<\/b> (4\/5) hit the stage, High Dive is beginning to feel somewhat stuffy as bodies cram in. That said, it doesn\u2019t deter the punters from enjoying themselves as Lauren Denitzio\u2019s socially conscious rockers leave a lasting impression thanks to some sharply-observed lyrics and infectious hooks. Focusing largely off last year\u2019s excellent \u2018Imaginary Life\u2019<\/i>, there\u2019s a fire to songs such as \u2018Yes All Cops\u2019<\/i> and \u2018They\/Them\/Their\u2019<\/i> that burns in a live setting, combining foot stomping melodies and a pointed message with deft aplomb.<\/p>\n
With a little downtime, we head to Durty Nelly\u2019s to catch scratchy indie-punks Nostradogmus<\/b> (4\/5), who mark themselves out as ones to watch with some devilishly infectious songs and lots of audience interaction, before heading to Cowboys to catch Slingshot Dakota<\/b> (4.5\/5). In what feels like a recurring theme of the day, Latterman\/Iron Chic\u2019s Mattie Jo Canino finds some time to get on stage, helping with backing vocals and ensuring there\u2019s a celebratory feel to their set, while a talk about acceptance and punk rock not simply being about guys with guitars is genuinely affecting, as is a swirling and clever take on Fugazi\u2019s \u2018Argument\u2019<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Cheap Girls<\/b> (4\/5) might not be the most exciting band to watch \u2013 and God, how much I\u2019d love them if there was just a hint of backing vocals to add texture to their sound \u2013 but Ian Graham can\u2019t half pen a great song, and this prowess is evident throughout the Michigan heroes\u2019 set. The stripped back \u2018Her and Cigarettes\u2019<\/i> is one mass sing along, for example, while the electrifying \u2018Knock Me Over\u2019<\/i> easily fills the cavernous Cowboys.<\/p>\n
By the time Prawn<\/b> (4\/5) hit the stage Cowboys is nicely busy, and the New Jersey indie rockers make the most of the excellent sound, allowing their rich textures to expand and swirl beautifully. They\u2019re a joy to watch too, especially on a big stage, all lurching limbs and angular moves. At times it looks like they\u2019re fighting with their instruments, but it makes for a visual spectacle to match their rawboned, off-kilter anthems.<\/p>\n
While Prawn<\/b> look like they could do themselves a mischief, it\u2019s a small wonder Dead Bars<\/b>\u2019 (5\/5) John Maiello hasn\u2019t done his vocal chords serious damage. A dervish of a man, he spits every word he sings, straining at the leash and veins popping until his face reddens. It\u2019s a schlep down to Palomino, but totally worth it to see the Seattle punks rip through the likes of \u2018No Tattoos\u2019<\/i> and \u2018Problems\u2019<\/i> like it could be the last time they ever play them. The punk upstarts are great fun, with their simplistic songs displaying hidden depths and plenty of heart. With a debut full-length finally coming out next year, now\u2019s the time to get on board with one of the most fun bands around.<\/p>\n
We quickly trek back to Cowboys to catch Signals Midwest<\/b> (4\/5), who keep the energy levels high, with vocalist Maxwell Stern a spectacle on stage. An exceptional songwriter, the likes of \u2018West Side Summer\u2019<\/i> come alive in the live arena, complete with a raucous response from a packed crowd.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s packed too for Pkew Pkew Pkew<\/b> (5\/5) over at the Market Street Pub; in fact, there\u2019s actually a sense of anticipation in the air as the Canadian hopefuls hit the stage. Drawing entirely from their acclaimed self-titled release of earlier this year, Pkew Pkew Pkew<\/b> play undeniably contagious \u2013 yet stupendously idiotic \u2013 punk rock, treading a fine-line between goofy feel-good punk and knockabout fratboy jock-rock. Yet there\u2019s a heart and pathos to songs such as \u2018Glory Days\u2019<\/i> and \u2018Before We Go Out Drinking\u2019<\/i> that elevates them far above their peers. Their 30-minute set is carnage from start to finish; beer \u2013 and crowd surfers \u2013 fly through the air with gusto, while a closing blast of \u2018Let\u2019s Order A Pizza\u2019<\/i> is an unhinged highlight.<\/p>\n
Fest<\/b> is as good as a hometown show for Orlando\u2019s You Blew It!<\/b> (4.5\/5), and even the enormous Cowboys feels suitably packed for the returning heroes. Ripping straight into \u2018Match & Tinder\u2019<\/i>, the place goes off, with bodies surging forward and climbing above the throng in an instant. Fan favourite \u2018Award of the Year Award\u2019<\/i> goes down a storm too, while new single \u2018Autotheology\u2019<\/i> points to a more considered and expansive direction for the indie-rockers.<\/p>\n
Having wowed us once already, we head to the Whiskey House to see if Sinai Vessel\u2019s Caleb Cordes<\/b> (4.5\/5) can repeat the trick at his solo show. In a more intimate setting, it\u2019s equal parts frightening and inspiring just how much emotion he can pack into a song, turning a staple of the great American songbook, Tom Petty\u2019s \u2018American Girl\u2019<\/i>, into a haunting tale of sorrow and regret. His own stuff\u2019s rather good too, and in this stripped back setting it allows the more sparse and literary \u2018Cuckold\u2019<\/i> to shine.<\/p>\nDay Three: Sunday 30th October<\/h2>\n
While we afford ourselves a later start, Jeff Rosenstock<\/b> (4\/5) is on hand to energise us with his high-octane set. Rosenstock<\/b> is a brilliant frontman, confident enough to change up the style of songs at will. \u2018Hey Allison\u2019<\/i> is played at breakneck speed and yanking on the leash to go for a walk around Bo Diddley Plaza, while \u2018Nausea\u2019<\/i> includes a trad-ska break that\u2019s as winsome as it is unexpected.<\/p>\n
Rosenstock<\/b>\u2019s winding down as we head over for Sports.<\/b> (4.5\/5) at Durty Nelly\u2019s, and it seems many are of the same thought as the little Irish bar is packed by the time the Boston indie\/punk\/emo\/math champs take the stage. For a three-piece, the sounds and textures thrown out by Sports.<\/b> are astonishing, with noodling riffs making way for pop-punk choruses and spiky punk hooks. They\u2019re great fun too, challenging the crowd to a game of Magic: The Gathering after the set.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a sizeable crowd at The Wooley for fellow Boston rockers Choke Up<\/b> (5\/5) \u2013 and they too are more than up to the task. Relying heavily on tracks from last year\u2019s outstanding \u2018Black Coffee, Bad Habits\u2019<\/i>, the indie-punks are a hugely entertaining watch, with all four members in on the vocal act, frequently stepping away from the mic and just bellowing lyrics to the crowd. They\u2019ve got the songs too; \u2018Crosses\u2019<\/i> is a riot while the more melodic \u20181301 Las Vegas Boulevard\u2019<\/i> is a grin-inducing sing-along anthem. They wrap things up with a fantastically raucous cover of the Weakerthans \u2018Aside\u2019<\/i> (I won\u2019t lie, I lost my shit\u2026) and a powerful take on their own \u2018Woke Up Drunk\u2019<\/i>, which sees all four members just shouting the refrain into the crowd. Fans of PUP won\u2019t want to sleep on these lads\u2026<\/p>\n
Having missed MakeWar<\/b> (4.5\/5) earlier in the weekend, we make amends by catching the hotly-tipped folk-punkers play a solo acoustic set at the Whiskey House. Dressed head-to-toe in black, and with his sunglasses on, Jose Prieto\u2019s an imposing chap, even when he\u2019s bathed in sunlight through the Whiskey House\u2019s ceiling high glass windows. Initially starting out in the acoustic act Sad & French, his set is culled primarily from their excellent self-titled record. Regaling us with tales of heartbreak and drink, there\u2019s an intimacy to songs such as \u2018Another Way To Let You Go\u2019<\/i> that belie Prieto\u2019s rough-edged vocals.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a heck of a year for Toronto\u2019s PUP<\/b> (4.5\/5), and their set at the Bo Diddley Plaza feels like the culmination of a lot of blood, sweat and tears. They\u2019re up for the challenge of a main stage appearance too, making for a chaotic early evening diversion. New songs such as \u2018Familiar Patterns\u2019<\/i> get greeted like long lost friends, while old favourites \u2018Reservoir\u2019<\/i> and \u2018Mabu\u2019<\/i> are pit-friendly anthems that get the frenzied response they deserve.<\/p>\n
Durty Nelly\u2019s is once again nicely busy, this time for Museum Mouth<\/b> (4.5\/5) who, despite joking they expected to play to five people max (or just one \u2013 Chris Farren), find themselves facing an expectant throng. When bands have a lead-singing drummer, it always makes for an interesting dynamic, yet in a place as cosy as Durty Nelly\u2019s, it works perfectly. With the lo-fi production removed, it\u2019s also remarkable just how clever Karl Kuehn\u2019s songwriting is, revealing the songs to be fluid and dexterous with plenty of peaks and troughs. Opener \u2018Alex Impulse\u2019<\/i> rattles along with a goofy charm, it\u2019s delicious guitar solo sashaying through the middle with carefree abandon, while the closing \u2018Lacquer\u2019<\/i> could fill venues 10 times the size of Durty Nelly\u2019s and still shake it to its foundations.<\/p>\n
Due to the overlap and walk between venues we only catch the end of Runaway Brother<\/b> (4\/5) but the sound in Rockey\u2019s is once again up to the mark, doing justice to the textured sounds of the Cleveland indie-rockers. Look Mexico<\/b> (4\/5) sound equally amazing; their mathy arrangements swirling around Rockey\u2019s and pulling in every direction. They\u2019re a draw too; while Rockey\u2019s has been busy for every band we\u2019ve seen there, it\u2019s heaving for the returning Tallahassee heroes.<\/p>\n
The outdoor lot at Boca Fiesta is also rammed for Chicago\u2019s Dowsing<\/b> (4.5\/5). Having delivered one of 2016\u2019s finest albums, \u2018Okay\u2019<\/i>, it feels like a real breakthrough for one of the biggest cult bands out there. They tear through \u2018Wasted on Hate\u2019<\/i>, Erik Hunter Czaja beaming from ear to ear as the crowd responds. Appropriately, there\u2019s a fiesta feel to their set, with cuts like \u2018Born to Soar\u2019<\/i> providing a suitably bouncy conclusion to our Fest<\/b> 2016 experience. Same time next year?<\/p>\n