Track Marks

Justin of Cheer Up Dusty joins Foose and Ducky to talk pop punk, Philly’s collaborative music scene, and the gateway moments that shaped his love of alternative music. From burned CDs and MySpace to dreams of Warped Tour.

Justin shares the story behind the band’s name, building the lineup, touring beyond home, and why connection matters more than impressing a crowd.

They also get into ska, sports rivalries, creative growing pains, and the vulnerability behind songs like “Everybody Hates Me” and “You’re on Mute.” Plus: new music, future plans, and a few Philadelphia-area bands worth adding to your playlist.

• 00:00 Punk Rock Mentality
• 00:32 Let's Get This Started
• 04:07 Introducing Cheer Up Dusty
• 06:22 Gateway Moments
• 09:25 Navigating the Philadelphia Scene
• 11:50 Expanding Beyond Philly
• 16:06 The Formation of Cheer Up Dusty
• 20:37 The Story Behind Their Ska Song
• 24:39 Production Evolution and Challenges
• 28:40 Navigating Imposter Syndrome
• 32:34 Playing for the Audience, Not the Ego
• 35:02 Sports Rivalries and Band Dynamics
• 38:53 Pop Punk Identity
• 44:14 Next Steps, Recommendations, and Essential Tracks

Crooked Teeth is building a version of alternative rock with no guardrails. Tyson reveals how a Green Day obsession, DIY touring, and a love of massive hooks turned a vision into a project that’s opening for The Matches and has played with bands like Motion City Soundtrack. He breaks down the influences behind Crooked Teeth, why he refuses to be boxed into pop punk, and how he balances melody, edge, and experimentation while keeping the songs true to his ethos.

Tyson also shares the stories behind Crooked Teeth’s cover EP, the reality of sustaining a DIY project while working a day job, and why the band’s sophomore record is taking shape with more intention. From Blink-182 and Set Your Goals to Olivia Rodrigo, Tim McGraw, and Tom Petty, we dive into all parts of the sonic landscape that sits behind Crooked Teeth's songwriting.

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:38 Meet Tyson from Crooked Teeth
• 04:11 Tyson's Alternative Awakening
• 12:26 Defining Alternative Music
• 18:33 The Current Landscape of Alternative Music
• 20:21 Musical Influences and Sound
• 24:40 The Art of Songwriting
• 27:01 Touring and Recording
• 29:39 The Journey from Fan to Performer
• 36:34 Reimagining Iconic Songs
• 42:03 Dream Collaborations and Influences
• 45:12 Upcoming Shows and Fan Experiences

Maggie and Alex of GLIMMERS join Foose and Ducky to talk about turning last-minute shows, independent touring, and creative chaos into momentum. They share how the band grew from their solo project, how they choose the opportunities worth saying yes to, and what it takes to keep moving when every show demands time, money, and energy.

The conversation covers GLIMMERS’ evolving heavy pop-rock sound, songwriting and production, building a bigger creative world around their music, and the scene influences that shaped them. From A Day to Remember and Sum 41 to My Chemical Romance and Paramore, it's all there. It’s an honest, funny look at building an independent band that embraces the chaos and makes it part of the art.

Key topics:

• How the band chose its name
• Deciding which shows, festivals, and tours are worth accepting
• Balancing perfectionism with releasing music
• Building the band’s next creative era
• Existing as solo acts vs. the band
• Independent touring, production, and growing a community
• Pop-punk and scene influences
• And whatever is happening in those Christmas pictures

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:19 Excitement for Upcoming Shows

04:38 Navigating the Chaos of Touring

11:22 Transitioning from Solo Acts to Band Collaboration

15:31 The Origin of the Name 'Glimmers'

18:45 Photoshoot Hijinks

23:55 Glimmers Gateways

30:38 Touring and Upcoming Projects

32:14 Evolving Sound and Creative Process

41:55 Defining Alternative Music Today

48:13 Dream Collaborations and Fan Experiences

53:03 Vocal Care and Pre-Show Rituals

01:06:04 Engaging with Fans and Community

01:07:55 Touring Life and Its Challenges

What Even is Alternative?

Track Marks digs into what “alternative” actually means now, from radio labels and genre buckets to DIY ethics, community, and whether success changes the meaning.

The conversation starts with Ducky and Foose unpacking the term for themselves, then brings in Drew from Felicity to explore how a band built on genre fluidity, trash rock, and fan-first values fits into the modern alt space.

We discuss how alternative moved from a radio category to a vibe, why emo and pop punk became generational markers, and what happens when bands grow from underground favorites into bigger names.

Felicity also shares how their sound developed across Mixtape Volume One and Volume Two, how Florida shaped their scene, and why they still care more about connection than fitting a label.

Key topics

- What “alternative” means today, and whether it’s still a genre or more of an attitude.

- How radio, streaming, and social platforms changed the way people discover alt music.

- Why genre labels like emo, pop punk, ska, and hardcore still matter to fans.

- Whether a band can get bigger without losing its alternative identity.

- How Felicity defines its sound through “trash rock” and genre fluidity.

- Why community, DIY ethics, and fan connection matter as much as the music itself.

- How the Florida scene shaped Felicity’s growth and creative direction.

- Why alt music keeps evolving, even when the label itself feels fuzzy.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

01:00 - Defining Alternative Music

17:15 - The Role of Labels and Self-Identification

26:51 - Is Alt Broken?

35:12 - Sound vs. Action

49:27 - Labels and Community: The Search for Identity

01:00:40 - FELICITY!!!

01:15:03 - Drew's Gateway Moment

01:20:38 - Future Directions and New Music

In our debut, Foose and Ducky break down "gateways," those key songs, albums, and moments that hook us into alternative, punk, emo, and other scenes. We share first mosh experiences, momentous albums, and finding that urge to dig deeper into a band or genre.

Eli and Justin from Baltimore Pop Punk band AITA join us to talk about their music, what hooked them into the scene, and life recording and on stage.

Whether you're an elder emo or just discovering the scene, hit play and step into the pit with us.

In this episode:

• The Gateway Effect: What gets people into alternative music.
• First Pit Stories: Anecdotes about how we got there.
• AITA Interview!: Origins, songwriting, performing, and what's next