At Least There’s Fest

80: Miranda Jayne (Fest Photo Team)

Here we are folks, it is Fest Lineup Week! On Friday we will find out a good chunk of the bands playing Fest 24.
Before we get there though we are pleased to welcome Miranda Jayne to the podcast. Miranda has been a member of the Fest Photo Team for the past decade.
We talk about getting into photography, the joy/danger/thrill of shooting hardcore shows, learning from those around you, developing your craft and much more.
In addition to talking about shooting Fest, we also discuss Miranda's "Florida Band" project. These short videos do an absolutely tremendous shop of profiling Florida bands and their stories. Fans of Fest will see a lot of familiar names, this project is worthy of your time.
You can check out the "Florida Band" series and all of Miranda's work here.
 
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79: Greg Barnett of The Menzingers

If you like hearing podcast hosts stumble through being starstruck then this is the episode for you! Joining Mark and Blake for this one is Greg Barnett of The Menzingers.
The Scranton, PA band has been active for over TWENTY years now which is just as wild to you as it is to Greg. We talk about the bands long history and how they keep churning out strong record after strong record.
We dig into the bands early years, moving from Scranton to Philly, touring constantly, band dynamics, signing to Epitaph, and what the future holds for the band. If you want to hear about NEW MENZINGERS MUSIC, you'll want to listen to this one.
Most importantly, we spend a LOT of time talking about Fest. The Menzingers are among the all-time leaders in most Fests played (trust me, I counted) and we play a fun game of lightening round questions, where Greg shares a ton of really good Fest stories. It's honestly, just the most fun.
The Menzingers are going to be busy in the coming months, so keep an eye on all of their socials for news on all that good stuff. 
 
***Check out Itsa Cookie Bakery on Instagram***

78: Tony Weinbender of The Fest

HUGE SHOW ALERT! Joining Mark and Blake for this one is Tony Weinbender, Fest found and godfather of ceremonies.
Tony shares his journey through music that led him to start Fest way back in 2002. We discuss how Fest went from humble beginnings the the monster festival it is each and every fall, all while staying fiercely independent and truly one of a kind.
We talk about what makes Fest unique and important for all of us and exactly how much work it takes to put this thing together. Unsurprisingly, Tony shows up as a humble force for good as he talks about how volunteers and a small staff make Fest so special for all of us.
If you're interested in the history, future, and ins and outs of Fest, then this a must listen. We are only a week and change away from the first lineup announcement. Time to get excited.

77: Michael J. Wolf of Wolf-Face

We're only three weeks and change from our first Fest lineup reveal! What better way to get fully jacked than by checking in with the world's most humble and gracious werewolf, Michael J Wolf.
Michael has been fronting the Florida punk band since it's inception 15 years ago and the band has been absolutely crushing it ever since. They do not hold back and have set their lasers on everyone from Jason Bateman and Lars Ulrich to Hollywood and the great entertainment establishment.
Wolf-Face has been a fixture at Fest for the last decade and their live show has reached a legendary status. If you are unfamiliar with the band and their story then this is the episode for you. Michael shares the humble beginnings of the band and how they've since gone on to dominate Fest and shares stages with the likes of Streetlight Manifesto and Explosions in the Sky.

76: Dead Bars and Back Teeth

We are out of control over here at ALTF as we welcome in not one, but TWO bands for this episode. We are joined today by Jon Oddo of Dead Bars and Lewis Bloor of Back Teeth. 
The bands are about to hit the road together in the UK for short tour across the country. We talk about how this tour came together, how drunken meet ups at Fest can lead to international travel plans, the magic of Fest, and much much more.
Back Teeth are supporting their EXCELLENT full length record, Ultimate Warrior. Dead Bars is coming off of a terrific 2025 release of their own in All Dead Bars Go to Heaven. However, they also just released a new single and video for their song "You Look Like a Smoker", it's another classic Dead Bars banger.
Check out both bands together if you are in the UK and look for them both as they continue the grind throughout 2026. They rule.

75: Uncle Peckerhead

ALERT ALERT! Very fun show today as we are joined by Matthew John Lawrence, David Littleton, and Jeff Riddle from the cult classic film, Uncle Peckerhead!
Mark and Blake dig into how the movie was written and created, how it was scored, the importance of making a real band make REAL music for the movie, the importance of getting the casting exactly right, and why have a "no assholes" rule is the key to success for just about everything.
The cast and crew of Uncle Peckerhead are celebrating the 5th anniversary of the film with three shows this weekend on the east coast, go check that out! There will a Q/A with the team, a showing of the flim, and a live show from ALTF legends, Five Hundred Bucks (DUH). These shows are going to be outstanding.
They're releasing some very cool merch for these events. Whenever it posts, you can find it here.

74: Christopher Chaisson of Hedge

Greetings and welcome back to another episode of At Least There's Fest! Joining us today is Christopher Chaisson of Hedge. The Worscester, MA band has a new EP out on March 27 via Best Brother Records, and Christopher is here to tell us all about it.
We discuss the history of the band, the importance of Dinosaur Jr, touring, writing new music and much more. We discuss what Fest was like over a decade ago when he played with a different band AND Mark and Blake even try to convince him to fill out a Fest application for Fest 24. Tune in to see if we made it happen.
You can check out Hedge over at Bandcamp and all of the other streaming spots. You can also pre-order the new record right on Bandcamp. You can catch Hedge out on the east coast this spring.

73: Couch Potato Massacre

Minneapolis-based band Couch Potato Massacre creates punk music inspired by movies, TV shows, and personal experiences. With over 100 songs in their catalog, Paul writes lyrics rapidly—often within 20 minutes—while the band performs high-energy shows.
They're currently getting set to record new songs and planning some shows for the summer. Their next album MIGHT feature an 1980s theme, and there could even be whispers of a concept album. The band has long attended Fest and they talk about past visits to Gainesville
In particular, Paul's Fest 23 was memorable despite a dog bite injury in August, including a surprise performance with Dollar Signs. The band balances their lighthearted project with Paul's involvement in two other bands exploring darker themes.
You can find their new single on Bandcamp and streaming platforms.

72: Borderlines

Welcome back to another episode of At Least Theres' Fest! Joining the show today are Andrew and Mikey from the Portland, Maine band, Borderlines.
Borderlines played Fest 11 and didn't play again until Fest 22, that's a lifetime in Fest years. The band talks about what they did in the 11 years between appearances and what it was like to be back.
The guys talk about their songwriting processes, what it's like to be a band in Maine, and what they've got in store for all of us in 2026. Check them out on Bandcamp.

71: Mynor Gonzalez of The Grool Brothers

Joining Mark and Blake on the podcast today is Mynor Gonzalez from the Chicago-area band, The Grool Brothers. 
The band played their first Fest the past fall and we look forward to seeing them at further Fests down the line. Forming a decade ago, the band was slowed by Covid like everyone else, but came back strong with their latest EP, "Ghost in the Radio Waves" in 2024. 
Mynor talks about the formation of the group, the changes over the years, and how their sound has evolved and continues to change. Look out for new music and shows from them this year. You can find all of their stuff over at Bandcamp.