Punchline, The Driveways, and Hit the Lights

In an ideal world Punchline could serve as a much needed wake-up call to many an aging punk rocker. Whether they’re playing pop-punk, as with the Pennsylvania veterans themselves do, or any other form of music involving the DIY philosophy, over driven power chords and a give ‘em hell attitude. See since forming in 1998 Punchline are one of the longest constantly serving punk bands of the modern era still regularly releasing records without splitting and reforming, and the great thing about them is that they manage to keep a regularly dignified presence without forsaking their punk roots. The best way of seeing this is in their live show, which combines the very best of both worlds by being expertly performed and rehearsed to a T, but also coming with the kind of chemistry that only sixteen years’ worth of experience can bring to any band, whether they’re a punk band or not. However they’re music always had a classier edge than the vast majority of their Fuelled By Raman label mates. While they might wear their influences, from classic emo bands like Sunny Day Real Estate to Replacements-esque college rock, on their sleeves they never sound like anything less than themselves. Punchline are one of the true unsung heroes of pop-punk, and as much as other bands could learn from them, it’s more important to go and see them as soon as possible.

Punk has resonated in America through the ages since its explosion in the 80s. California accepted it with open arms, it also spread to other States and other decades and was manipulated with genres including pop, rock and electro. One band keeping the formula completely pure is Ohio outfit Hit the Lights. Since breaking onto the scene in 2003 with one huge sound, the band have been climbing up lineups and packing out larger and larger venues ever since. Beginning as something of a cult flavour, they now have a universal pull to fans of classic punk.

Their authentic sounds and raucous live shows leave the crowds consistently wanting more and more as they tear apart riffs and basement anthems up onstage night after night with a relentless amount of energy. It all looks completely chaotic when the five musicians come together and even though the guitars sound fractured and the drums as though they could break apart at any moment, this pivoting on the point of disaster is part of what makes a Hit the Lights show so brilliant. As the whole room is united in a singalong to 'Bodybag' the appeal is more than clear.