Very fun episode for your humble hosts today as Blake and Mark welcome Mike Reed to the show. Mike has spent the last couple of years focused on his newest project, 84 Tigers, but this year we all get to the enjoy the return of Small Brown Bike to Fest. The Michigan band formed 30 years ago and this fall they are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their classic album "Dead Reckoning" which they will play in full at Fest this fall and then in other parts of the country later this fall and winter. Mike talks about coming up in small town Michigan, finding punk at a young age, making mixtapes, following zines and labels to find new music, ending up on No Idea and much more from the early years of SBB. We also talk about some memorable shows (a bowling alley show with Cursive?), what happened right before Fest 2, playing Fest with SBB, 84 Tigers, and more, as well as what it's been like getting the band back together in the wake of loss. You can catch Small Brown Bike playing "Dead Reckoning" in full at Vivid on Saturday night. It will be amazing.   **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics** **Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Hey, we did it, we made it August! If you squint, it's only two months until Fest and boy are we ready to go. Joining the show today are Mike Vizzi and Craig Shay from the NY band, Cold Wrecks. The band has been around for years now, but their new full length "You Can't Plan for This" is out on Friday! Mike and Craig talk about the beginning years for the band, how it all started with ska, their first few records, playing Fest, and we also talk plenty about the new album. You can buy the new record on Friday via Bandcamp on a Bandcamp Friday, everyone wins! Cold Wrecks is playing Friday at Heartwood. Check them out.   **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics** **Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

We continue to march on this summer as we inch closer to Fest 24. Joining the show today are DJ and Dan from Middle-Out. The Detroit band made their Fest debut last fall and will be back again this October for Fest 24. These guys are characters and have no shortage of stories about being a band, Fest, and more. We talk about how the guys got together, recording as a three-piece, touring as a four-piece, and the work they've done this point.  We also talk about their strong merch game, their even stronger and more prolific music video game, and what they've got cooking in terms of new music. You can see Middle-Out at Fest 24 this fall on Sunday at The Atlantic. We will be there with bells on.   **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics** **Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Greetings and welcome back to At Least There's Fest. On today's show we welcome Will Carter to the show. Will plays trombone and lends vocals and more (listen how) to the Nashville ska band, Stuck Lucky. The group has been around for over 20 years and is playing Fest for the FIRST time this year. If you want to hear about a band persevering and grinding to end up at Fest, this is a great episode for you.  Will talks about the early years of the band, reissuing their first full-length, touring, and the groups you-gotta-see-it-to-believe-it live show. You can catch Stuck Lucky on Sunday as part of the ska showcase at Heartwood.   **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics** **Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

With the immense fanfare of our 100th episode firmly in the rearview mirror, we are pleased to welcome 300 USD to the show today. The NYC-based band is relatively new on the scene but their Fest roots run deep (listen to find out how). The band has one EP out and is hard at work on a new record as you read this. We discuss the formation of the band, their previous bands, the fun in creating music videos, and how their past work has helped them in creating a new sound and a new band dynamic. You can catch 300 USD at Fest 24 on Friday at Bazar 47.   **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics** **Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

We did it! Welcome to episode 100 of At Least There's Fest! To mark the occasion Blake and Mark welcome Jose Prieto of MakeWar to the show. Jose was kind enough to put off watching the Knicks in the NBA Finals to chat with us and had plenty to share. We discuss the formation of MakeWar as a band out of what was a solor project and the early years of the band. From there he shares another Red Scare Industry story, their jump from Red Scare to Fat Wreck, and Jose even gives us his best impression of Fat Mike...you don't want to miss that. You can catch MakeWar on Friday at Vivid and you can see Jose solo on Sunday at Fest 24. **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics** **Check out Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville, FL**

Greetings and welcome back to ALTF! Joining the show for this one we have Steve and Mason from the Michigan band, Bike Tuff.  Bike Tuff has been around for over a decade now and were regulars at Fest about ten years ago. However, life happened and things slowed down for the band so they could handle life. Coming out the other side the band is back with some singles recently and they will make their triumphant return to Fest 24! Steve and Mason talk about how the band got together and a bit about their earlier recordings. They also tell us about some of those early days playing shows and what it was like to first play at Fest. They share a bit about future plans for the band and who they are excited to see at Fest this fall. The set times get released tomorrow, make sure to look for Bike Tuff and circle that set, it'll be a good one.   **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Hello and welcome back to At Least There's Fest. Joining Mark and Blake today are Sean, Chris, and Beau from the Jacksonville, FL band, Tides. The band has been around for just a few years, but the band members have been friends for decades and the stars finally aligned for them to all be in a band together. We talk about their formation, their writing process, we receive all kinds of sage medical advice/tips, and the band also shares some tips they received from Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music. They also talk about their new record "How to Survive A Fall" which comes out next month on ADD records. They talk about how the album came together, the lead singles from the record, and their music video for the track "Undertow". Tides has a massive split coming out featuring six bands that have ALL appeared on this podcast: Tides, Unseemlier, Dead Bars, The Carolyn, Back Teeth, and Her Head's On Fire. The massive split has the potential to be our favorite way to release music ever invented. You can catch Tides playing shows with You Vandal and Dikembe in the near future along with a host of other dates. If all else fails, you can always catch them this year at Fest 24.    **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Greeting and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest. Joining the show today are Matt Burns and Chris Pfister of the Orlando band, Debt Neglector. The band will be playing Fest for the 10th (!!!) time this fall and they released their terrific "Kinda Rips" full-length last spring. Matt and Chris share their collective musical past, the influences they pull from in the band, the importance of political punk, and how their message continues to evolves as their lives change. You can catch the band this fall at the Whatever, Dude pre-Fest shows in Orlando and Gainesville and then, obviously, again in Gainesville for Fest 24. **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**

Happy July! In addition to our weekly episodes on Monday we will now have episodes up every Thursday as well! That's two episodes a week until Fest to help you get ready for Fest 24. Joining the show for this episode is Joseph Grillo of Her Head's On Fire. The supergroup of sorts is back and playing Fest again this year on the heals of their new album, "Am I Not Your Girl?" which comes out on July 17 via Iodine Recordings. Mark and Blake talk to Joseph about how the group came together and where everyone has been before joining the band. Joseph does as a good a job as anyone else in summing up why community is such an important part of Fest AND our bigger scene as a whole. The band has been very active, releasing three full length records since 2022. Joseph talks about their writing/recording process as a band and how they are able to keep things moving like they do.  You can catch Her Head's On Fire in the UK this summer with Back Teeth as well as at Fest 24 in just a few short months.   **Itsa Coookie on Instagram** **Theme song "The Walk to Heartwood" by Jukebox Romantics**