The Bollweevils
The Bollweevils have been playing high energy pop-punk since long before it was cool, forming back in 1989. It's hard to describe the positive vibes that flow through the whole venue as the band takes the floor -- it's best to catch it yourself.
At Fest they will have a reliable crew of hometown Chicago fans singing along to every word, of course, but we caught up with singer Daryl Wilson, MD to chat about what makes a Fest set unique -- even if the faces in the front row look the same. The answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the same answer as what makes punk rock so special in the first place: the community behind it.
Scene Point Blank: I saw that you were in the studio recently. What's new with The Bollweevils in 2026 as we head into FEST 24? Is there a full-length in the works?
Daryl Wilson, MD: We have been putting together some demos for about 10 songs recently. We set up some equipment in our practice space and started the work on the next batch of Bollweevils releases. Ken has been really in a creative flow as of late and it's great to see. I can say that we definitely have a concept for this next batch of songs and they are primarily based on our present political environment, among other topics.
Scene Point Blank: How many Fests have you played?
Daryl Wilson, MD: Not enough of 'em! It's been 4 or 5, I think. This is always one of the best times of the year to play and experience music.
Scene Point Blank: One of the great things about Fest is how you can pop in for a guest appearance with friends. Are you working on any cameos or surprises this year? (I feel like I see you chumming with SPELLS
every time I'm there.)
Daryl Wilson, MD: Many times the pop-in guest things happen spontaneously. It's a last minute ask or the moment takes you and the sing-along happens.
SPELLS are our good friends and one of my favorite bands to see live. They bring so much energy and fun to everything they do. They are a band that epitomizes what a live show is supposed to be like. I wouldn't call it a guest appearance or even a very big surprise, but I do play in a band with Rob from SPELLS called Pressure Set and along with Dom from Bear Away and Chuck from SPELLS standing in for our bass player Simon (of Sludgeworth, Methadones, and Violets). We will be doing a set at Fest on Saturday. I would suggest being at that show for all kinds of special surprises besides Pressure Set.
Scene Point Blank: Do you have a favorite moment along these lines from past Fests -- either performing or as a spectator?
Daryl Wilson, MD: There are so many things that happen at Fest that just seem magical. One of the best moments for me as a performer was when Milo from Descendents came to watch our set and chatted with me right after. He is one of my idols and, to top that, the next day Stephen and Karl came to see us at High Dive. Karl bought a hoodie and was seen sporting our merch. That is bucket list stuff. Now all I need to do is support them at a show, and I can truly say I have reached the promised land.
Scene Point Blank: Do you check out comedy or wrestling? Would you ever do either?
Daryl Wilson, MD: We always catch a comedy set or two while we are at Fest. Having a bunch of talented friends that are comedians is great, and to see them up there doing their amazing work is the best.
Although in private I think I am funny, and we all know band folks aspire to be comedians, I am probably not ready to make that jump to do a comedy set. They are professionals.
As far as wrestling goes, I haven't witnessed a match, which I should probably make the effort to catch one this year. Those athletes are elite, and if I tried anything in that realm it would have to be a manager, like Bobby The Brain or something like that.
Scene Point Blank: What bands are you looking forward to most at FEST 24?
Daryl Wilson, MD: The line up for Fest every year is mind-blowing. There are so many bands I am excited to see or just catch up with while we are there. Lucky for us, we are playing with a bunch that I want to see.
Pulley, A Wilhelm Scream, Toys That Kill, The Raging Nathans, MakeWar, The Copyrights, World's Scariest Police Chases, Deadbars, Gameface, SPELLS, PUP, Bouncing Souls, Small Brown Bike, Samiam, Canadian Rifle, Five Hundred Bucks, Her Head's on Fire, Tides, Tightwire, man the list goes on and on.
Scene Point Blank: What is your decision-making method for choosing a band when you have a schedule conflict (e.g. 2 bands playing at the same time)?
Daryl Wilson, MD: This is always the toughest thing at Fest. When conflicts come up, which they always do, sometimes I try and catch part of a set for each band depending on the distance between the venues. If it's an impossible split, then it comes down to the closest venue to the next show I am going to catch. On some occasions this is the time when I don't see either band and discover something I didn't have on my radar by hitting a venue and watching whoever is playing. Sometimes on the way to a venue I will get sidetracked by someone telling me to check something out and I will take them up on that advice.
Scene Point Blank: I feel like there is a Chicago Crowd you can feel in the audience at select Fest sets. Why do Chicagoans travel so well together?
Daryl Wilson, MD: It's all about our Midwest sensibility. We always try and support our own when we are out and about. Something about living here that, no matter where you go, you bring that Chicago/Midwest vibe with you. Chicago likes to show up and show out.
Scene Point Blank: We talked about being in the studio earlier. How do you decide when it's time to record these days, especially as EPs and singles become more dominant and your own time is limited?
Daryl Wilson, MD: That is just the thing. As our time gets more and more limited, the urgency to make something becomes more prominent.
It was 2023 when Essential came out and, as I said, Ken has been on a creative tear. We keep bantering back and forth about how to release these songs. We definitely need to get a few out as singles to keep us on the front of mind. We have been playing some of the songs out live and they have gone over quite well. As with anything we do, we have to make sure we are happy with what we are making before it gets released to your ears. With the creative juice flowing, it was definitely time to get this in the works.
Scene Point Blank: I'm going to be lazy and not look up a year but... it's been a long time since you released a full-length. How do you personally listen to music: singles vs EPs vs LPs and does that affect your own creative process?
Daryl Wilson, MD: Seeing so many of our peers releasing great music is really motivating. I listen to music primarily via streaming as I am driving or working out. So as bands release new music I will hear the single, EP, or LP as it comes out. I was just listening to the new Sweet Teeth release the other day. I would say that the music doesn't influence what I write, but it does motivate me to want to add more of our music to the mix of releases out there.
Scene Point Blank: I think you've been on the floor during most of the set every time I've seen you (I missed you at the larger setting w/ barrier of Surly Field earlier this year in Minneapolis). How do you approach this when you play a new or unfamiliar venue? Is it luck that I always see this, or does it happen more often than not...pending venue liability policies or whatever?
Daryl Wilson, MD: There are liability policies? Haha. Well, I like to be in the crowd.
It's about making a show memorable. It's about connecting with the people that came to see you. Punk rock/hardcore shows are one of the few places where the shared experience of the show is an intimate connection between artists and show goer. There should be no barrier between the artists and crowd. We should all be there having the best time of our lives. All of our songs are to be sung along with and experienced as a collective group. Crowd participation is a great fuel for the fun of a show. As much as I love playing a show, I love going to a show and being in the crowd. That makes a show a show. I try and do that at every show we play.
Scene Point Blank: What about touring. How feasible is it with your current situations?
Daryl Wilson, MD: Touring is pretty difficult with our schedules. Mine is the worst with my day job. Ken is pretty busy as well with his teaching. We can work it to make some short runs of shows as weekend warriors and, if the right thing came along, we would make it work.
Scene Point Blank: How do you prepare for Fest? Do you practice or tour to/from Gainesville?
Daryl Wilson, MD: Fest is usually a fly in and do a couple days and fly back. It would be great to get a few pre-Fest sets done one year, but so far our schedules have been the limiting factor. We try and do rehearsals every Wednesday depending on our work schedules.
Scene Point Blank: Do you approach a Fest set differently than other festivals?
Daryl Wilson, MD: We really try and play songs that will get the crowd participating from the jump. This year we may have something special planned. I do keep in mind Fest may be the only time someone gets to see us play, so there is a bit of an incentive to make the set memorable.
Scene Point Blank: I asked this of Copyrights, so I should ask you too so we can start some turf wars. Who are your favorite Illinois bands right now? Are any at FEST 24?
Daryl Wilson, MD: Favorite Illinois bands right now?
Sincere Engineer, Canadian Rifle, Sludgeworth, The Effigies, Won't Stay Dead, BoyBrain, Devon Kay and The Solutions, The Copyrights, Naked Raygun, Pegboy, Pussy. A few of these bands are playing Fest.
Scene Point Blank: While we all love Fest, name 1-3 things that would make it even better.
Daryl Wilson, MD: Things that would make Fest better:
1. Bring back Fest Punch. Maybe I missed it somewhere since High Dive closed, I really don't drink much anymore but I would consider sharing a few drinks with folks if this drink came back.
2. Official Fest kids. My kids haven't had the pleasure of experiencing Fest and it may make it more reasonable for my wife to bring the kids if there were some Fest kids events? I am probably just talking crazy. My kids barely like my band now ,anyway.
3. Fest bus. Hear me out. Late night getting back to some of the hotels can be a bear getting a rideshare or cab. Fest Shuttle gets groups of folks and gets you around. On the shuttle bus there is Fest Punch served. There would be a pickup spot near Bo Diddley, you show your wrist band and once the bus is full it heads out to the hotels. There would have to be a few busses. This is probably a bad idea when I think about it more. Idea 3B, Fest sporting events like softball or, better yet, kickball. Red Scare does soccer. Let's get more games going.
