Having A Blast with Kyle Devlin

On today's edition of Flashback Fridays, I wanted to give a quick rundown of my favorite records of 2021.

However, because I'm crazy and I can very rarely narrow down my favorites for the year into a neat little ten best records list...

I've decided to split up my favorite records of the year into sub-categories. I'll be doing three "Best Of" episodes, and these will be the final three Flashback Fridays episodes until I decide to revisit the idea.

The categories on this episode that I'll cover are three different genres: Skate Punk, Pop Punk, and New-school Pop Punk.

I explain which records were my favorites for the year and which category they fall under.

Got some favorite records from the year that you think I may have missed? Hit me up and let me know!

On today's edition of Flashback Fridays, the 21st installment if my math is correct, I wanted to highlight a record from 2020.

Last year. A crazy year for so many. The pandemic year.

But there were some silver linings that came along with the year 2020, and one of them is the fact that a lot of fantastic music was released in the year 2020.

There were so many great releases from the year, that it honestly was difficult choosing an album to highlight. A good problem to have I suppose.

The album that I chose is an album by the band Be Well.

Be Well is an American hardcore punk band, formed in 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The group was formed by members of various bands including Bane, Only Crime, Darkest Hour, Fairweather, Ashes, Battery, Olympia, Beasts of No Nation, and Converge.[1] The group signed to Equal Vision Records in December 2019[2] and released its debut album, The Weight and the Cost, through the label in August 2020.

The singer is the legendary Brian McTernan. Brian is also a record producer. McTernan operates a studio called Salad Days in Baltimore, named after the Minor Threat song of the same name, and has produced albums for a number of notable artists, including Thrice, Circa Survive, Turnstile, and Hot Water Music.

The lyrics on this Be Well record are phenomenal. Raw, brutal, and honest. I love this record. I can't wait to hear their next record.

On today's episode, I'm extremely excited to be speaking with Warren Cooke. Original bassist of the band Yellowcard. One of the founding members, as well. He's currently in the band Flag on Fire from Jacksonville Florida.

I met Warren in 2001 when my band Gametime played with Yellowcard for the first time.

We became close friends and played countless shows with them around that time period.

One for the Kids is the first official full length from Yellowcard, and it's celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year. Warren and I talk about the 20 year re-release of One for the Kids. It's been remixed and remastered and its up for presale RIGHT NOW at lobsterrecords.com.

There are multiple limited vinyl variants, as well as bundles and other merchandise. We talk about the process of making it all come to fruition.

I had so much fun reconnecting with Warren, it had been almost 20 years since I last spoke with him.

I really appreciate his honesty and transparency with me in this conversation. I think fans of One for the Kids and the band are going to really enjoy this conversation.

www.lobsterrecords.com

One for the Kids is the third studio album by American rock band Yellowcard. It was released on April 3, 2001 on Lobster Records and is the first Yellowcard album to include Ryan Key as lead singer and guitarist. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Darian Rundall at Stall No. 2 in Redondo Beach, California. "Drifting" and "Rock Star Land" both originally appeared on the band's previous EP, Still Standing EP.

On June 15, 2000, Yellowcard signed to Lobster Records, and were aiming to release their next album in early 2001. The band moved from their native Florida to Thousand Oaks, California to record the album. Sessions where held at Stall No. 2 in Redondo Beach, California, with producer and engineer Darian Rundall. He mixed the recordings, before the album was mastered by Mark Chalecki at Capitol Records in Hollywood, California.

This week on Flashback Friday's, I'm highlighting a record from the year 2019. The band is called HUNNY, and their record is titled "Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes". I love this record.

Hunny (stylized as HUNNY) is an American rock band from Newbury Park, California, formed in 2014. The band consists of Jason Yarger, Jake Goldstein, Kevin Grimmett, and Joey Anderson.

Lead singer and guitarist Jason Yarger and bassist Gregory Horne had been friends since high school. After all the members had been in multiple bands around the local area (notably with other members of Bad Suns and The Neighbourhood), they decided to join forces and form Hunny in 2014. 

They released their first single "Honey Blonde". Their second single, "Cry For Me", was released in January 2015 and became a breakthrough hit, gaining over 1 million streams within a year. On 9 October 2015, they released their debut EP, Pain / Ache / Loving. In 2016, Hunny released the singles "Vowels (and The Importance of Being Me)"  and "Colder Parts". Guitarist Jake Munk left the band in December 2016. 

In May 2017, Hunny released their second EP Windows I. In early 2018, bassist Gregory Horne left the band. Hunny signed to Epitaph Records in July 2018, before releasing their third EP Windows II. In May 2019, Hunny released their first full-length album, Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Hunny worked with producer Carlos de la Garza on the album.

On today's episode, I'm extremely excited to be speaking with someone that I've wanted to have on the show since it began.

Today I'm talking to my buddy, Ross, otherwise known as DJ Rossstar.

DJ Rosstar has been interviewing bands well before podcasts were cool. He did a live show interviewing bands starting all the way back in 2002.

He's interviewed some of my favorite bands, some of your favorites as well: Fall Out Boy, Motion City Soundtrack, Less Than Jake, Sugarcult, The Get Up Kids, Saosin, Say Anything, and on and on and on.

Ross is also, what I would consider to be, a Green Day super fan. Today, we're breaking down their classic and monumental album "American Idiot".

We talk about Ross's experiences with the album, the shows he attended during that time, the insider info. He mentions some things that I was not aware of, and I consider myself a massive Green Day fan.

I really appreciate Ross's time, he had such thoughtful answers and this is such a fun conversation.

So, without further ado, please enjoy this American Idiot-filled conversation with DJ Rossstar.

On today's installment of "Flashback Friday's", I'm highlighting a record that came out in 2018. The band is called Settle Your Scores, and the album is titled "Better Luck Tomorrow".

These guys remind me of a poppier Four Year Strong.

About Settle Your Scores:

Formed in late 2014, Settle Your Scores has hit the ground running and shown no signs of slowing down. Releasing their first full-length album at the beginning of 2016, the Ohio natives quickly made a name for themselves, touring frequently across the US. Their second album is set to be released in early 2018.

Check them out!

From Hysteria Mag:

Dynamic, fun, sonically cutthroat and an all-round party banger—just a few words to describe Better Luck Tomorrow, the sensational new album from punk rock aficionados Settle Your Scores.

MORE: The Wonder Years: Around The World In 11 Bangers

It’s a throwback to the zesty vibes of the genre as they were in the noughties, with an ingenious element of industrial hardcore thrown in the mix. You wouldn’t have thought beatdowns and gang chorales could work in a punk setting, but it’s something Settle Your Scores does really, really well. Better Luck Tomorrow brings luck today for Settle Your Scores, who fix up to sound sharp.

Sick yet subtle industrial guitar runs are paired well with gritty vocals in standout track Zero Hour, elements of each genre stepping into the spotlight in turn. Screamo vox verses, punk-rock choruses–epic. Sure, the word punk is getting thrown around a lot here but Settle Your Scores, with their unified attitude, melodic fun and recalcitrant tone, should just have their image inserted into the English dictionary by way of definition of the word!

Better Luck Tomorrow is a lucky dip of sonic surprises with every track, never failing to bring the listener to attention. It’s an album of unconstitutional attitude and pestilent punk.

On today's episode, I'm speaking to my buddy Mark Van Sickle. Mark and I have known each other for a long time.

Mark was a DJ on the iconic alternative Kansas City station 965 The Buzz for 12 years. He was on many shows during his tenure at The Buzz. He also hosted the "Taking Back Sunday with Mark", an hour of emo music, on Sunday evenings from 7-8pm CST on 96.5 The Buzz.

We had a lot of fun catching up and discussing what Mark is up to now.

He's also hosting at this event:

Knuckle Breakers Productions, in association with Furnace Fest, presents Knuckle Breaker Bash - Midwest on Friday, December 10th at The Rino.

This is the first date in our series of multi-community regional events. Join us in Kansas City, MO for a weekend of music and fun!

An intimate night of Songs & Stories featuring Aaron Marsh from Copeland, Emery, Aaron Sprinkle and Chris Keene (Surrogate)

The fun doesn’t end after the show! Make it a late night, and stay for the after party and a chance to win a ticket to Furnace Fest 2022! Spend the weekend with fellow community members and hit the town on Saturday!

Mark is currently writing for Arrowhead Report: GM Report - Sports Illustrated Kansas City Chiefs News, Analysis and More

He's also currently participating in a podcast called "Roughing The Kicker": ‎Roughing the Kicker on Apple Podcasts

On today's quick episode, I wanted to mention that I'm on the Talking Records Podcast with Jed Dion.

We do a deep dive discussion on the album "Act Your Age" by the band Homegrown. I had so much fun talking with Jed and it would mean a lot to me if you took a listen. He's got a great show and I've been a fan for a long time.

Home Grown was a North American skapunk/pop punk band formed in 1994 in Orange County, California. They released three full-length albums and several EPs before disbanding in 2005. Their music is often characterized as pop punk, lyrically favoring humor and silly or satirical subjects.

The band signed to major label Outpost Recordings and released its second album, Act Your Age, in 1998. It increased their popularity and they toured extensively in support of it. The album had peaked at #24 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart in 1998. During this era of the band, the song "We are Dumb" appeared on the soundtracks of movies Half Baked and Homegrown. Cone left the band shortly after and was replaced by Justin Poyser. This line-up released EP Phone Home in 1999, which included the punk version of aqua’s barbie girl. Later that year they toured with the band Limbeck, with whom they recorded a split EP called Connection.

In March 2000, the band embarked on a US tour with Amazing Crowns, Limbeck, Pilfers, and the Gadjits. Around this time, the band released a split EP with Limback, through Utility Records. After returning home, they began writing material for their next album. Following this, the band were scheduled to go on a tour of the UK, which was ultimately cancelled.[4] Later in the year, Home Grown experienced significant line-up changes. Herco was forced to leave the group in order to undergo surgery and rehabilitation for a brain tumor. Poyser also left, leaving the band without a second guitar player. Lohrbach and Tran recruited Darren Reynolds from the band Longfellow as the new drummer, and spent some time searching for a suitable second guitarist. In addition, their label Outpost closed down and the band was without a recording contract. Eventually the band decided to continue as a trio without a second guitarist, and signed to the independent label Drive-Thru Records.

LET'S CONNECT:

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On today's edition of "Flashback Friday's", I highlight a record that came out in the year 2017. The record I have chosen for this week comes from The Movielife and it's called "Cities In Search of A Heart".

The Movielife is a Long Island punk rock band composed of vocalist Vinnie Caruana, guitarist Brandon Reilly, and drummer Brett Romnes. The band originally formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2003, but announced their official reunion in December 2014.

Caruana and Reilly re-connected as friends and shortly afterwards began talking about a potential the Movielife reunion. The band subsequently began rehearsing in December 2014, performing their first shows since 2011 in New York City at Irving Plaza in February 2015. 

Asked whether a new album would be released, Caruana said he would "never rule that out". The Movielife performed several additional shows in the US later in the year, including an appearance at Today's Mixtape Festival, as well as a tour of the UK in June. In March 2016, Caruana revealed that the band were in the process of writing new material. 

The following month, the band released "Future Feeling (Afraid of Drugs)" as a single. In 2017, the group performed at Slam Dunk Festival in the UK. All promotional materials posted to the band's Twitter after the 2016 Presidential election feature only Brett Romnes, Brandon and Vinnie, implying they are the only current members of the band. The band's fourth album, Cities in Search of a Heart was released in September 2017 through Rise Records. In May and June 2018, the band supported New Found Glory on their Sick Tour in the US.

LET'S CONNECT:

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Email: [email protected]

In this episode, I give a full list of why I think Travis Barker is the smartest man in the music industry right now.

Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975) is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the rock band Blink-182. He has also performed as a frequent collaborator with hip hop artists, is a member of the rap rock group Transplants, founded the rock bands +44 and Box Car Racer, and thereafter joined Antemasque and Goldfinger. Barker was a frequent collaborator with the late DJ AM, and together they formed TRV$DJAM. Due to his fame, Rolling Stone referred to him as "punk's first superstar drummer" as well as one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time.

Born in Fontana, California, Barker began drumming at an early age. He began playing for the Aquabats in 1996, but left to join Blink-182 in 1998, which encountered mainstream success with Enema of the State (1999). Barker established himself as a versatile drummer, producing and making guest appearances in music projects of numerous music genres including hip hop, alternative rock, pop and country. He also starred in an MTV reality series named Meet the Barkers. He was involved in a plane crash in 2008, but he recovered and released his debut solo album, Give the Drummer Some, in 2011. He has continued to work with rappers, releasing extended plays with Yelawolf and Asher Roth and Nottz, as well as with Blink-182 and the Transplants.

LET'S CONNECT:

Kyle's Instagram 

Kyle's Facebook 

Email: [email protected]