Brett Johnson sits down with Travis Omilian of Banquets (Jersey City, NJ) to talk about “Goodbye Before You Go” — a stirring track from the band’s first album in over a decade, Petty Relics.

What started in 2010 as a group of friends making melodic punk with a wink (a band named after a beer, a debut 7" titled This Is Our Concern, Dude) has grown into something far deeper. Across Top Button, Bottom Shelf and their self-titled follow-up, Banquets built a reputation for tight arrangements, anthemic energy, and lyrical introspection that lingered longer than the last chord.

Now, after ten years of silence, Petty Relics marks not just a return, but a reckoning. “Goodbye Before You Go” is a standout — a meditation on love, loss, and letting go that captures the band’s matured voice. Travis opens up about writing from a place of deep personal meaning, about what it takes to reconnect with your sound after a decade, and why this particular goodbye needed a melody.

With lines like “Say I am better to have known” and “We won’t catch lightning like you again,” the song delivers both a farewell and a benediction — a moment of gratitude wrapped in grit. There’s a quiet ache beneath the melodic lift, a layered balance of hope, hurt, and reflection that few bands in this genre ever touch.

Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected. 

Keep up with Banquets at:

https://banquetshq.com
https://www.instagram.com/banquetshq
https://banquets.bandcamp.com/

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host, B-Side Breakdown

https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown
https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown

#GoodbyeBeforeYouGo #Banquets #TravisOmilian #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

Kind Skies is a great band from Lexington, KY. They do things their way, authentically and organically, and allow things to unfold as they do.

I caught up with Chris on the first segment of the episode then the rest of the band showed up for the second. It was great to chat with them and deep dive into their track "Unrest" that comes off their August 2025 release, "Echo".

Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected. 

Keep up with Kind Skies at:

https://kindskies.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kindskiesband

#Unrest #KindSkies #ChrisBoss #MitchSnyder #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

Finally got a chance to talk with ExactlyNo, one of my favorite bands from Minneapolis, MN about their single, “All I Need”. 

Known for their big, dynamic sound—explosive drums, guitars that double as riffs and atmosphere, and vocals that carry both raw edge and melodic intention—ExactlyNo push their sonic boundaries on this track.

“All I Need” was produced by Jeremy Tappero and mastered by Bruce Templeton at MicroPhonic Mastering.

In our conversation, we’ll explore how the song came together—from writing and arrangement choices to emotional themes. What drove the lyrics? How did the production serve the message? And where does “All I Need” sit in ExactlyNo’s evolving identity, especially as they edge toward their next full-length? Whether you’re into songwriting craft, rock production choices, or the stories behind new independent records, this one’s for you.

Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected. 

Keep up with ExactlyNo at:

https://exactlyno.bandcamp.com/
https://exactlyno.com/
https://www.instagram.com/exactlynoband

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#AllINeed #ExactlyNo #NickLarsen #TedAnderson #CardinalSunRecords #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

Take Two...

You'll hear us joke about it in the episode but this was my 2nd attempt at getting Aaron Stoquert from The Snorts on an episode. We pulled up this time around to talk about the song “Butterflies,” off of their 2024 release, "pitter patter", which I can't recommend enough from beginning to end.

If you’re into songs that sprint, sting, and stay with you after they’re over, this one’s a ride. Tune in to hear the full story behind “Butterflies.”

Keep up with The Snorts at:

https://thesnorts.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thesnorts/

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#Butterflies #TheSnorts #AaronStoquert #DCxPCLive #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

I was happy to get the chance to sit down with Zac from Minneapolis, MN based johnnyrook to talk about their song, "Missing You For Days".

johnnyrook has been a staple in the Minneapolis rock scene for decades now, and after a hiatus have come back strong with their new record, "The More Things Change" released this past July.

Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected. 

Keep up with johnnyrook at:

https://johnnyrook.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/johnnyrookmusic/

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#MissingYouForDays #jonhnyrook #ZacBoyd #CardinalSunRecords #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

Adios Fatso is a Massachusetts-based DIY punk project injecting dark humor and sharp social commentary into short, explosive songs.

I sat down with Sir-Ken Celli from the group and chatted about their jam, "WTF", which was mixed by Andrew Berlin (Descendents, Rise Against) and mastered by Jason Livermore (NOFX, Lagwagon) at the legendary Blasting Room.

It's a super fun song with a SLAMMING ending that, though I respect the artists penchant for brevity, I would love to loop in for about 3 more minutes.

Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected. 

Keep up with Adios Fatso at:

https://adiosfatso.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/adiosfatso/

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#MissingYouForDays #jonhnyrook #ZacBoyd #RadGirlfriendRecords #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

Skjolden is the first solo project from Carl Skildum of Inexorum, Majesties, and Antiverse. Located in Minneapolis and entirely self-directed, Skjolden crosses death metal and melodic black metal.

I've known Carl for a long time across multiple bands/projects, and I loved pulling with him on this episode to reconnect and learn what he's been working on.

On this episode, we focus on “While Dying”, one of the standout tracks from the album, "Insouciant Metaphysical Grandeur" released June 20, 2025 to critical acclaim.

Be sure to show your support on Bandcamp Fridays and connect with Carl and his other bands on Instagram on IG to stay connected. 

Keep up with Carl at:

https://skjolden.bandcamp.com/album/insouciant-metaphysical-grandeur/
https://www.instagram.com/cskildum/
https://www.instagram.com/majesties_melodicdeath/
https://www.instagram.com/antiversempls

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#WhileDying #Skjolden #CarlSkildum #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

504 Plan is a high school punk band from Washington, D.C., whose music is as urgent as it is unfiltered. Their debut vinyl, DCxPC Live & Dead Vol. 6, features the explosive single Call to Action and captures both their sweat-soaked live energy (recorded at DC9) and their studio polish (tracked at the legendary Inner Ear with Don Zientara).

In this episode, we sit down not with the band, but with Scott Pasch, founder of DCxPC Live Records, to talk about what drew him to 504 Plan, the ethos behind the label, and the importance of documenting live punk in the streaming age. Scott walks us through the recording process, and what it means to press something real for a new generation of angry, brilliant kids.

If you care about punk as a movement and not just a sound, this one’s for you.

504 Plan:

https://www.instagram.com/504plan.band/

DCxPC Live:

https://dcxpclive.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dcxpc_live
https://dcxpclive.com/

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#504Plan #CallToAction #DCxPCLive #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

Indoor Friends (Boston, MA) fuse confessional punk and melodic power-pop into something entirely their own, and nowhere is that more clear than in their latest single, psyayayduck

What starts as a lyrical spiral of emotional wreckage becomes a full-blown cathartic release—chaotic, catchy, and unexpectedly fun.

In this episode, the band breaks down the writing process behind psyayayduck and how they balance humor, heartbreak, and harmony in everything they do.

Indoor Friends:

https://indoorfriendsma.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/indoorfriendsma

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#IndoorFriends #Psyayayduck #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast

Forbidden Seas is a heavy post-rock band whose members hail from Chicago, Twin Cities, and Los Angeles. I was able to connect with Bill Collins to talk about this new group, their single, "Wolves, Sheep", and lots of other bits.

I've known BIll for a long time. This episode was a great opporunity for me to catch up with him on his music, family, and life overall.

Please look them up, follow them where you can, and support their craft whenever possible:

Forbidden Seas

https://linktr.ee/forbiddenseas
https://www.instagram.com/_forbiddenseas_/
https://www.tiktok.com/@_forbiddenseas_

Thank you for your continued support!

Brett Johnson
Host of B-Side Breakdown

https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

#ForbiddenSeas #WolvesSheep #BillCollins #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast