When two bands come together on a split release, it’s more than just sharing music on vinyl. It’s a conversation in sound. Pulley and Fire Sale recently teamed up for a split 7" through Negative Progression Records that showcases both of their unique voices while still feeling like a cohesive whole. It’s a reminder of the collaborative spirit that’s always been at the heart of punk rock. With the release out now, I had the chance to connect with Tyler Rebbe of Pulley and Brad Edwards of Fire Sale to ask a handful of questions about their songs, the process behind the record, and even about each other’s bands. In keeping with the “split personality” theme, I asked them to reflect not only on their own work but also on what it means to share a record with another band in 2025.
This split isn’t just two songs by each band slapped on wax, but a reminder of why splits matter. Pulley brings the scars and wisdom, Fire Sale brings the fresh cuts and urgency, and together it’s like flipping between two pages of the same diary. It’s messy, loud, and full of heart. Exactly how punk should be. If this split is a conversation, then this record is both bands yelling across the room, grinning the whole time.
Scene Point Blank: For those who may not be familiar with your band, can you each give a quick rundown of where your band is right now musically, and what led up to this split?
Tyler / Pulley: Our band is in a good place right now. We have always been a band based on friendships and having fun. Our first record came out almost 30 years ago, and we are proud of the fact that we have continued to play shows, travel around the world, and create new music ever since then.
Regarding the split, it was pretty simple. We were approached about it and said yes. Soon after that we were in the recording studio cranking out the two songs.
Brad / Fire Sale: We like to think we fall into the skatepunk genre but, in reality, I don't feel like we have one specific type of sound. We range from fast, shredding punk to a very melodic mid-tempo style and kind of everything in between. We focus a ton on creating songs that are catchy and fun to sing along with.
For all of us in the band, Pulley has always been one of our favorites. Our bass player, Matt Riddle, was the original bassist for them on their first record, so that makes this split a pretty cool collaboration.
Scene Point Blank: What was the songwriting/recording process like for your contribution to the split? Any surprises or challenges along the way?
Tyler / Pulley: We usually have a few bits and pieces of songs, or song ideas laying around, so we chose a couple and got to work finishing them. For this release, we worked with an engineer named Jon Graber, who we knew from his time working for NOFX. There weren’t really any challenges along the way. Everything went smoothly and we had a good time recording, even though it was very brief.
Brad / Fire Sale: So for us, the entire process can be challenging at times. We all live in different states, just about as far apart as you can get. Matt Morris and I live in Texas, Riddle is in California, Swinney is in Indiana and Pedro is in Virgina. So quite literally North, South, East, and West. We have a Soundcloud with a ton of demos and ideas and, depending on what our goal is for a particular release, we'll select the ones that best fit the theme and finish those off. Riddle and Swinney do the bulk of the initial songwriting independently, then the rest of us come in and put our own spin on our parts. Pedro is a lyrical genius and will throw his vocals on to finish it up. We all record our parts in our own home studios, then they get mixed and mastered at the Blasting Room.
We tend to think more about playing what is best for the song to make it memorable and catchy rather than playing 100mph or shredding complex riffs.
Scene Point Blank: Both of your bands have similar but distinct sounds. How do you balance staying true to your roots while also pushing forward creatively?
Tyler / Pulley: I think our band is always going to sound like Pulley, just because the template has been well established over the last 3 decades. Every new song we put out will always push forward a bit, because I think we’ve become better songwriters over the years. We tend to think more about playing what is best for the song to make it memorable and catchy rather than playing 100mph or shredding complex riffs.
Brad / Fire Sale: All of us come from the '90s skatepunk era, which had a massive influence on our overall style. But then you get someone like Swinney that is a music theory guru, and he pushes what could easily just be a basic 4-chord riff into something that is palm-muting jazz chords. Many times, the guitar parts are written where we are each playing something totally different but still revolving around the same key so when we are playing them together it just kind of...works. Then Riddle will be grooving on something totally different and, again, it all just works. "An Archaic Construct" from this new split is a great example of this. It's like 3 completely different parts playing over a drum beat that shouldn't work with the rest of the music, yet it somehow all clicks in just right. I do think this gives our music a unique sound in that sense.
Scene Point Blank: The idea of a split can feel like a literal "split personality" by having two different perspectives on one record. How do you feel your songs complement or contrast with the other band’s contributions?
Tyler / Pulley: We are obviously different guys from across the country from them. I don’t know most of them personally, but maybe that will change if we end up playing a show together one of these days. I do feel our bands fit pretty well together. Their sound harkens back to the heyday of the '90s, but more refined and mature, even though they are technically a newer band.
Brad / Fire Sale: Man, the Pulley songs on this split are so good. Both songs are very moving in their own right. Lyrically they are very mature and relatable as we are all getting older. Our songs on the split tend to delve into a bit darker place, speaking on intrusive thoughts and conformity. This helps add to the theme of the split personality as well.
Scene Point Blank: What’s your favorite song on the split? Either your own or the other band’s? Why does it stand out to you?
Tyler / Pulley: I am proud of our song “Write a Note” and its heartfelt lyrics about one of our band members' mother passing away.
Brad / Fire Sale: “Write A Note If You Leave” is incredible. It's on the verge of a tearjerker for me lyrically, but yet it still has such a positive sound while dealing with the topic of losing someone close to you.
Scene Point Blank: Beyond this record, what’s your favorite track from the other band’s catalog?
Tyler / Pulley: I like their song “A Fool’s Errand.” There’s a killer bassline in it from their bass player, my old friend, Matt Riddle.
Brad / Fire Sale: I definitely have heavy nostalgia for the first record, Esteem-Driven Engine. Every song on there brings me back to my high school days. I don't even know if I could pick just one. I will say that opening riff on “Cashed In” will always be one of my favorites ever and it sets the theme for the band's entire catalogue.
I think this split is a great callback to the era that we grew up in, where bands often worked together to make things happen.
Scene Point Blank: Did working together in this way spark any new appreciation for each other as artists? And is there a possible joint tour in the future?
Tyler / Pulley: I hadn’t listened to Fire Sale before we did this split. Now that I have, I think they are a great band. As far as touring together, our band doesn’t really tour these days. I guess there’s always a possibility of some weekend shows somewhere that we could do.
Brad / Fire Sale: I've been a fan of Pulley for almost 30 years now and have always appreciated how they continued putting out new music over the years and always stayed true to who they are. I have to admit though, as a long time fan, it's absolutely surreal to share a record with them. Huge thanks to Seth and crew at Negative Progression Records for making it happen. As far as touring, there have been some ideas thrown around for sure, but nothing that is firm enough to even hint at at the moment. I know we would love to support them if the logistics all came together though!
Scene Point Blank: Punk rock has always thrived on collaboration and community. What does it mean to each of you to put out a split in 2025, when music consumption is often so digital and single-driven?
Tyler / Pulley: It’s just cool that we can still do this and have an audience that sticks with us through thick and thin.
Brad / Fire Sale:Singles do kind of rule the world right now. I think this split is a great callback to the era that we grew up in, where bands often worked together to make things happen. We definitely want to thank Pulley for doing this with us. Splits and comps were such a huge part of discovering new music before and it seems like a lot of that is gone now with everything so single driven.
Scene Point Blank: What’s next for your band? Any tours planned, more recordings, side projects?
Tyler / Pulley: We’ll just keep doing what we’ve done all these years: Make new music every so often and play shows in cool places to people that show up and sing along.
Brad / Fire Sale: We just finished up our last show for the year at Music4Cancer in Canada, so now it's time to go back into writing mode. We can officially announce that we will be releasing our first full-length record next year! We are really hoping to get back to Europe and Canada again for the festivals in 2026, as well as some short regional stints here in the States. There is also potential for an Australian run as well.
