The Fest must-sees round one: A Wilhelm Scream, Beach Slang, Save Ends

By Malcolm Lasky

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, folks. No, not Christmas. It’s the time of year leading up to what can only be described as the best punk party the world has ever known: The Fest. It’s a festival that takes place yearly around Halloween in the small town of Gainesville, FL. The Fest attracts punks from all over the world to gather in one place and enjoy three days (five, if you include the new official Pre-Fest that takes place in nearby Tampa) of non-stop drinking, friendship and, naturally, punk rock music.

So, with the Fest spirit in mind, here is round one (of three fucking rounds!) of Rice and Bread‘s must-see band picks for The Fest/Pre-Fest:

Dowsing
Chicago-based emo band Dowsing have only been around for four years, but have an impressive discography. They have two full-lengths, an EP, a compilation of demos and numerous splits with bands like Annabel and Captain, We’re Sinking. Admittedly, emo isn’t my go-to genre; a lot of emo bands come off as, for lack of a better term, whiny. With Dowsing it’s all very soft-spoken, and while the music is melancholic it still maintains a sort of sweetness that almost makes it come off as happy. After missing Dowsing multiple times, I have resolved to finally see them at Fest.
Pre-Fest set time: Wednesday, October 29, 5:20-5:50 pm @ Crowbar
Fest set time: Saturday, November 1, 10:50-11:20 pm @ Boca Fiesta

Sundials
Indie-rock act Sundials are one of the few bands on this list that I’ve actually seen before and I’m eager to see them again. They have a great, mid-tempo indie sound tempered with excellent pop sensibilities that make for very catchy tunes. Based in Richmond, VA, Sundials have been around for about five years now and have two full-lengths, a demo and a rarities compilation under their belts. Soon they’ll be releasing their new EP, Kick, via Topshelf Records.
Fest set time: Saturday, November 1, 11:10-11:40 pm @ High Dive

The Holy Mess
Philadelphia’s The Holy Mess have been gaining a lot of momentum recently. They’ve got two EPs and three LPs to their name with their most recent effort, Comfort in the Discord, being released in late July. This band’s live show is very entertaining, but does include a lot of between-song banter, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your opinions on banter. I always say that if I wanted them to be quiet and just play music, I could have stayed home and put on their records, but some people are turned off by it. But their stories are always a lot of fun, and they always seem to have a good time relaying them to their audience.
Ramblin’ Roadshow acoustic Fest set time: Friday, October 31, 5:10-5:40 pm @ Mother’s Pub
Fest set time: Friday, October 31, 7:50-8:30 pm @ Wooly

Gnarwolves
Gnarwolves’ sound isn’t that far removed from melodic hardcore giants A Wilhelm Scream, although the vocals come off rougher and more vicious. While AWS is fast and more technically proficient, Gnarwolves has a fatter, pushier sound that’s bound to spark up a feisty circle pit during their set at High Dive. The Brighton, England natives have three EPs to date (soon to be compiled on an album titled Chronicles of Gnarnia), as well as a recently released eponymous full-length.
Fest set time: Sunday, November 2, 6:10-6:40 pm @ High Dive

Bear Trade
Bear Trade is a gruff-punk band out of Northeastern England who sound a bit like Red City Radio, with a bit of River Jumpers tossed in. They released their debut album, entitled Blood and Sand, very recently and have an EP called Belief Is a Graveyard, both on Everything Sucks Records. They’ll be playing three times at Fest, giving you many opportunities to see them (although one is a Replacements cover set).
Pre-Fest set time: Wednesday, October 29, 9:20-9:50 pm @ New World Brewery
Fest cover set time (The Replacements): Friday, October 31, 1-1:30 am @ The Atlantic
Fest set time: Sunday, November 2, 4:40-5:10 pm @ Loosey’s

Beach Slang
Beach Slang is a trio out of the incredible punk and indie scene of Philadelphia, PA. James Alex is also a member of the band Weston, Ed McNulty is a member of Crybaby and JP Flexner is a member of Ex-Friends. They have an EP called Who Would Want Anything So Broken? and they recently released their second EP, Cheap Thrills on a Dead End Street. Beach Slang sound like what Japandroids might sound like if they’d been raised solely on the Replacements. These guys haven’t been around very long, but they’ve been getting a lot of recognition and there’s very good reason for it.
Fest set time: Saturday, November 1, 4:40-5:10 pm @ Loosey’s

Save Ends
Self-proclaimed “nerd” band, Boston MA’s Save Ends will be playing both Pre-Fest and Fest, giving lucky attendees of both a chance to see them twice. They are also one of the few bands doing a special Pre-Fest set, playing their EP Strength Vs. Will in its entirety. Save Ends have a great mid-tempo indie-rock sound accompanied by excellent dual vocals and peppered-in references to Battlestar Galactica and Dungeons & Dragons.
Pre-Fest set time: Thursday, October 30, 9:10-9:40 pm @ Tequilas
Fest set time: Saturday, November 1, 7-7:30 pm @ High Dive

Boys
Boys is a pop-punk band from Cincinnati, OH, featuring Maura Weaver (Mixtapes) on bass. With Mixtapes’ future uncertain, this may be Weaver’s full-time band when Mixtapes goes on hiatus after Fest. They are a brand spankin’ new band, with just a demo from last year to their name. It will be interesting to see what they can do as a live band.
Fest set time: Saturday, November 1, 6:30-7 pm @ Boca Fiesta
Boys’ Bandcamp

Rational Anthem
Rational Anthem are a punk band from Sarasota, FL. They’re headed up by Noelle Stolp on vocals and guitar, Chris Hembrough on bass and vocals and Pete Stolp on drums. Despite never having played Fest before, they played an unofficial Pre-Fest house show in Tampa last year. I count going to that house show as a quintessential Fest experience and one of my favorites. Rational Anthem have two 7″ vinyl EPs under their belts (including a split with Billy Raygun) and three LPs, one of which was released in June.
Pre-Fest set time: Wednesday, October 29, 6-6:30 pm @ New World Brewery
Fest set time: Saturday, November 1, 3-3:30 pm @ Durty Nelly’s

The Walking Targets
The Walking Targets are a pop-punk trio from Edinburgh, Scotland. They have been around since 2006, but recently have gotten bigger tours in the UK with bands like Murderburgers. I was immediately sucked in to the melancholic lyrics surrounded by very upbeat instrumentals. When they got announced for Fest, my jaw dropped; and as they’re from Scotland, most Fest-goers won’t have another chance to see them anytime soon. The Walking Targets play at the very end of Fest, but it will be a great way to say goodbye, and their song “Good Company” was practically made for a Fest-ending singalong.
Fest set time: Sunday, November 2, 10:30-11 pm @ Loosey’s

A Wilhelm Scream
Since being introduced to A Wilhelm Scream via a Strike Anywhere show in 2011, I’ve seen them 27 times, not including the two times in I’ll be seeing them in Florida this year (three if they do a mystery band set, fingers crossed). If that isn’t enough of an endorsement, I don’t know what is. Any time that technically proficient punk is brought up, these guys are at the top of the list, and that’s for good reason. Every member of the band is a virtuoso at their instrument. As a live band, they put on the most energetic, out of control show I’ve ever seen, and every member looks like there is nowhere else they’d rather be. On top of that, their Pre-Fest set is an all-Twitter request set, which should make for an interesting night. Not to be missed.
Pre-Fest set time (Twitter request set): Wednesday, October 29, 11:20 pm-midnight @ Orpheum
Fest set time: Saturday, November 1, 10:40-11:20 pm @ 8 Seconds

The Fest takes place in Gainesville, Florida on October 31-November 2.

Pre-Fest takes place in Tampa, Florida on October 29-30.