Celebration Summer
I reviewed the debut Celebration Summer a few years ago. I liked it, but it didn't really dig its hooks into me. Then, later that year I saw the band and they captured my interest a little bit more. Fast-forward a couple more years and, well, I'm really into their latest EP, A Little Less Numb.
While a few rare bands start out at full-strength, growth is a natural part of any band. SPB catch up with Celebration Summer about how the band has changed, why DC is so great, and about their plans for FEST 23 too.
Scene Point Blank: What's the first thing you think of when I say the word "Fest"?
Chris: In the words of Dillinger Four: Summer in October! A healthy mixture of all the energy, positivity, and angst that comes with warm air, loud music, and great people.
Greg: Sweaty sing-alongs, running into old friends, making new friends, and trying to figure out if you have time to grab a slice before the next band you have to see. I also think of sore feet. It's a long three days if you do it right. Don't forget those orthotic insoles, folks!
Scene Point Blank: How many Fests have you played now? Have you attended more than that?
Chris: This will be my first one! Nearly half a life of dreaming of going to Fest (let alone playing it!?) has finally paid off!
Greg: I've been coming to Fest since FEST 17. This is Celebration Summer's "hat trick" Fest, our 3rd, and we are so extremely grateful for the opportunity to be back! Each year we've played has been an incredible experience.
We even recorded our last one (FEST 21) at Loosey's for a split 12" with Fest favorites Wolf-Face for DCxPC Live, which comes out at FEST 23!
Scene Point Blank: Tell us about Celebration Summer. What’s your “elevator pitch” for the band?
Chris: We all bring certain musical tastes to the table that make things a tug of war between hardcore, “orgcore,” pop-punk, and some sprinklings of indie/emo, so let’s keep things simple by saying “melodic punk.” And then hopefully things will click with folks within the first 30 seconds of hearing us.
Greg: We’re four guys from DC playing melodic punk, but with our own spin. We started out with a heavy dose of inspiration coming from bands like Leatherface, Husker Du, Hot Water Music, as well as a bunch of Dischord stuff... but I think we've really come into our own sound. You can hear that in the progression from our first EP to the stuff we're writing now. Think big hooks, a little grit, and relatable lyrics you want to sing along with.
Scene Point Blank: Do you remember when you all met each other?
Chris: Time is hell on the brain, but I think I met Greg through a local musicians Facebook group pre-COVID when he had an itch to play bass in a band. We’d trade messages back and forth on different musical topics, and once Celebration Summer started, we’d keep in touch just to bullshit about upcoming shows and cat memes. I got to meet Nate and Dan through the shows they played with their previous drummer Glenn. I was a big fan of their music, so we all kind of got along through the “great set bro!” style conversations that happen at shows. And then when I hopped behind the drum kit, I was perfectly at home with their friendly goofiness. I think I still have the cool, ribbed guitar pick Dan gave me at one of their earlier shows…
If people walk away feeling seen or less alone, then we’ve done our job.
Greg: I've known Dan since I first moved to DC from San Diego back in late 2001. We used to hang out all the time, but then I moved away in 2005 for flight school (I was in the Navy at the time). I moved back to the DC area in January 2013 (again, from San Diego), where Dan and I reconnected. When I decided to start looking for bandmates in 2018, I posted an ad on Craigslist, and met Glenn (our former drummer). He and Dan were in a previous band together, so having that mutual connection made him an easy addition. The three of us started jamming a bit and auditioned a few singers until we met Nate. He was the missing puzzle piece that really captured what we were trying to do.
Chris was a local scene guy who I met through a Facebook group, I think. It's weird, I can't exactly place where I first met him... I feel like he's just "been around" local shows and other events in the area. Needless to say, once Glenn decided to "retire" from the band after FEST 21, Chris came over to our practice space and really wowed the shit out of us. The dude is a beast behind the kit. He even learned every song we'd ever recorded before showing up!
Scene Point Blank: Your last release was an EP (A Little Less Numb). What are you working on now?
Chris: We’re working on an album that’s going to be really, really good. Possibly even great. A solid 5-out-of-7 style release that hopefully showcases all of our musical influences in an incredibly cohesive package. It’s got a little bit of everything subgenre-wise and I really hope that translates through on our final recordings. Plus, I'll be on it, so...
Greg: We have a bunch of killer songs we've been working on. Some we've had in our back pocket for a few years now, and some super brand new ones that are getting the finishing touches and arrangements. We've been "about to record" our next full-length LP for what seems like forever, as we are the consummate procrastinators. We promise, it's in the works and will be rad... whenever we get our shit together.
Scene Point Blank: Personally, the whole EP hit me as a statement about finding comfort in music/art/community during trying times. That’s my take. Is there a mood you strive for in your music?
Chris: I’ve always followed the belief that music is made for your community and that amplifying lyricism through its coinciding music is how you make something memorable. Growing up, some of my favorite songs involved friends singing about local experiences to a basement or garage of 20 or 30 people. And there’s a ton of power and comfort in having those 20 or 30 people sing along word-for-word and find their own connection to those lyrics, especially when there wasn’t a recording of that song to memorize. That may not translate to a million streams or a thousand record sales, but it gives the people in that moment a lifetime of memories to power them through the hard times.
Greg: We definitely lean into that balance of urgency and hope... like, "Yeah, things can be tough, but music and community can pull you through." If people walk away feeling seen or less alone, then we’ve done our job.
Scene Point Blank: From a personal standpoint, I appreciate the length of the 7” (4 songs, 15 minutes). It feels like a package and not just a couple of songs thrown together, unlike many singles and EPs. That said, it seems like one-offs and short records are more common than ever in the digital landscape. What’s your preferred way to listen to music at home?
Chris: I used to be super into vinyl, so the LP album format really finds itself into my modern listening in my car, on Bandcamp, etc. Albums were made with a certain flow, lyricism, and production for a reason, and I think it’s a bit of a disservice to default to shuffling the songs on an LP or EP before giving it several uninterrupted listens.
Greg: Personally, I tend to lean more towards full-length vinyl. I like putting a record on, flipping it over, and really living in it for 40 minutes. It’s an experience you just don’t get with the shorter format stuff or scrolling through songs on Spotify. Also, I like to put on records when I am doing other things, and 7"s tend to keep me somewhat tethered to my record player.
Scene Point Blank: For FEST 22 I interviewed J. Robbins. What is it like being part of a music scene with such a deep history?
Chris: It’s great to know that musical idols from your youth are normal folks who live within a few miles of you. And all the local bands formed and inspired by other local bands create an ecosystem that tells folks that it’s OK to just express yourself -- there’s no intention of getting famous. Everyone who regularly attends or plays shows will find themselves in a photo of a scene-specific book or in a video of a scene-specific documentary one day, and that is honestly such a fantastic feeling to me.
Greg: It’s humbling and inspiring. Although I grew up in Southern California and was very involved in the local Orange County and San Diego scenes of the '90s and '00s, I always felt a very odd and unique connection to the DC and Dischord scene. Growing up on these records and then suddenly J. Robbins is recording your band or you’re sharing a bill with bands you idolized. It makes you want to work harder and do right by the scene. I tried my best to show my love for the DC scene with the comp I put out last year called Yesterday and Today: DC Does Dischord. It is 27 bands from our area covering the Dischord classics and deep cuts. I am super proud of that project.
Scene Point Blank: Gainesville has its own legacy in the punk scene, albeit quite different from DC. What was it like to visit the city the first time?
Chris: I’ll letcha know in October!
Greg: It felt like punk summer camp. The whole city kind of transforms into Festland and you immediately feel welcomed. Totally different vibe from DC, but the same sense of community.
Scene Point Blank: Can you share any special plans you have for FEST 23 as a band this year?
Chris: It’s honestly just going to be great to hang out with Greg, Nate, and Dan without having to worry about our jobs or other random distractions. It’s a cherry-on-top moment in where our journey has taken us so far with this band and with our friendships.
Greg: We are super psyched to do a Minor Threat cover set this year. Don't worry, it won't be a straight edge gig... the Malort and PBRs will flow like wine!
Scene Point Blank: What bands/artists are you excited to see at FEST 23?
Chris: SO MANY. I can’t wait to revisit memories from larger bands I’ve seen before such as The Get Up Kids, Dillinger Four, Dead to Me, and The World Is..., but I also can’t wait to catch up with friends’ bands like American Television, New Junk City, Samuel S.C., and Errth. And of course, there’s always the go-to festival equivalent of a bar crawl where I’ll randomly walk in on the set to a band I’ve never heard before, that I’ll love immediately, and that I’ll spend a paycheck’s worth on merch.
Greg: I’m always psyched for bands I know, have played with, or have seen before. Stoked for D4, Banner Pilot, DTM, Tiltwheel, Iron Chic, Bane, The Casket Lottery (but bummed Stacy isn't with them), Tim Barry (Avail is actually originally from Reston, VA -- where I live... -- before they moved to Richmond), Signals Midwest, SPELLS, AmTV, Wolf-Face, Oh The Humanity!, Timeshares, Tired Radio, Errthg, NJC, Neckscars, Jon Snodgrass, Chinese Telephones, The Eradicator, City Mouse, 7 Seconds, Dead Bars, and others. We played in DC recently with Swing Kids for Positive Force's 40th Anniversary of Revolution Summer. I hadn't seen them in years... they are still insanely intense and amazing.
I'm EXTRA excited for Horace Pinker getting back together. Also, super stoked for bands I've never had the chance to see live like Shelter, Greg Norton, Dikembe (I seriously always miss their Fest sets, and they had to cancel their DC show this year!), North Lincoln, Hospital Job, Bear Away, Holy Mess, Cadillac Blindside, and Back Teeth. Hot damn! There are just too many to list all of them. Fest is cool because you get the legends and the up-and-comers all mixed together. But also not cool because there are going to be a LOT of overlaps which means I'll be missing a lot of bands I really want to check out and support. Ok, now my anxiety is peaking... Must. Find. My. Ativan...
Scene Point Blank: Who is one "under-the-radar" artist people should check out?
Chris: American Television for sure. Steve and Brian have put so much time and effort into not only making fantastic music, but also making our local scene the best it can possibly be. I fully see them having their Kill Lincoln moment and getting pretty dang big in a pretty short timeframe.
Greg: I'll give you two, because, well, fuck your rules. Tired Radio and Errth. They are both friggin' incredible bands and dudes. They are really going to make their mark on this scene. Apparently, Errth decided to form their band at a Celebration Summer show in Philly when we toured with Tired Radio, Goddamnit, and Pilot to Gunner.
Scene Point Blank: What's your favorite non Fest-sponsored thing to do in Gainesville (food/destination/etc)?
Chris: Y’all got a Waffle House?
Greg: Eat. Just eat. Gainesville knows how to feed punks.
Scene Point Blank: Anything you want to add?
Chris: This really is a dream come true. I can’t wait to take in the fun, energy, lore, and memories of Gainesville in a tidy, chaotic weekend package. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of new folks to call friends when it’s all through.
Greg: Just that we’re grateful to be back at Fest, grateful for everyone who checks out our band, and if you see us wandering around, say hi.
