HardLore is joined by close friend of the show and vocalist of the first ever band on the HardLore Records roster: Mac Miller (real name) of COSMIC JOKE. Fresh off of their brand new 12" EP "Forced Perspective", we hear all about their goal as a band to carry the torch for the classic style of California Hardcore Punk made famous by their influences (Bad Religion, Adolescents, Circle Jerks, etc...) and the long road as lifelong touring musicians and crew that got them there. 

From growing up at the Cobalt Cafe, connecting the dots between Ska and Hardcore, doing Warped Tour with The Sheds, finally playing Sound & Fury, transitioning into being a career merch guy for bands like Wallows, Death Cab, Denzel Curry and MUCH, much more.

Pick up one of the last few copies of HardLore's exclusive color of Forced Perspective on our store while you still can: https://closedcasketactivities.com/products/cosmic-joke-forced-perspective

Edited by Steven Grise (@iamoneonenineseven) • Title sequence by Nicholas Marzluf (@marzluf)

HardLore: A Knotfest Series

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Cool links:

HardLore Official Website/HardLore Records store: https://hardlorepod.com

Get 15% off MADD VINTAGE with code HARDLORE15! https://maddvintage.com/

FOLLOW COSMIC JOKE: 

INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/cosmicjokela

TWITTER | https://twitter.com/cosmicjokela

FOLLOW MAC: 

INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/macxmiller

TWITTER | https://twitter.com/macxmiller

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INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/hardlorepod/

TWITTER | https://twitter.com/hardlorepod

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APPLE | https://apple.co/3IKBss2

FOLLOW COLIN:

INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/colinyovng/

FOLLOW BO:

INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/bosxe/

TWITTER | https://www.twitter.com/bosxe

#HARDLORE #HARDCORE

00:00:00 - Start

00:02:47 - Colin Meets Mac

00:08:22 - Cosmic Joke Self Titled

00:11:01 - Finally Playing Sound & Fury

00:13:42 - Forced Perspective

00:16:31 - Finding Punk, Hardcore, and Ska

00:22:01 - First Show Ever

00:23:20 - Young Morgan Miller

00:26:37 - Feeding the Band With $5

00:27:40 - Clean House

00:31:36 - First Tour

00:34:41 - First time attending Warped Tour

00:39:42 - PLAYING Warped Tour

00:50:09 - Mediaskare

00:53:40 - Top 4 Bald Guys

00:59:20 - Tony Hawk

01:03:17 - Attila Shirt...

01:05:40 - Highs and Lows of doing Merch

01:15:12 - Pardon This Interruption

01:16:01 - Worst venue In the Country

01:22:50 - Merch Cuts And How To Navigate Them

01:30:20 - Merch Pet Peeves

01:32:11 - Whats Hot? Whats Not?

01:36:15 - 2025/26 Plans for Cosmic Joke

01:41:27 - Top 4 HC records of All Time

01:42:07 - Top 4 Ska Records of All Time

01:44:43 - Who Do You Do?

01:45:42 - Ghosts?

01:52:10 - Patreon Q&A

01:56:15 - Favorite Punk Covers

01:58:06 - Bands He Works For?

02:02:35 - Favorite Bad Religion Track From Each Record

02:06:16 - Favorite T Shirt of All Time