Guest “Best of 2025”: Suburban Downgrade

---

Curious what notable personalities in the scene think was great this year? So is TGEFM! So we reached out to some of our favorite luminaries ranging from musicians, label personnel, and more for their “Best of 2025” lists. Now, listen: TGEFM is not a taskmistress. Contributors can write these out however they want. So if it doesn’t actually look or read like a list… and sometimes it really is just a list with no other observations! Who cares?

Suburban Downgrade are the kind of band that feels born out of parking lots, late nights and the shared exhaustion that only Camp Punksylvania can produce. A trio of Camp Punksylvania veterans, they come from that familiar mix of chaos, camaraderie and DIY survival where friendships are forged somewhere between sets and sleep deprivation. Guitarist/vocalist Zach Spotts’ best of isn’t about chasing trends or pretending 2025 was neat and tidy, it’s a snapshot of what stuck with them when the dust settled.

---

First and foremost, thank you again for including our goofy out of breath band in your wonderful webzine. We always look forward to your write ups on the events of Camp (Punksylvania), really keeping the good spirits alive before and after the killer weekends each year!

I would say this year had a god bit of positives as well as some hardships. Rather than in list form for favorites, making them seem some being favored over others, I’d just like to note the positives.

As always, Camp is a very anticipated time for us, and it always stays to the hype. Even this year, while fighting a horrid double eye infection due to a freak sunblock spray accident, leading me to be zonked by benadryl out of my mind… was still one of the better parts of the year.

We had a great time heading out to Detroit, playing for the first time under the booking of PICK IT UP MEDIA at the hands of Chris and Sara Van Assche. Amazing hosts, and nice enough to let me hijack their hot tub… Much appreciated! We got to hang with our good pals in Hans Gruber and the Diehards. That same show, we got to meet and hang out with BOOF, who I have been dying to see live, especially after hearing how much ass So Long and Thanks for the Trauma kicked. Amazing album, amazing live set, amazing people. Also on the bill was The No-Ways and Moronic Device, both out of Detroit, which was a great treat to get a taste of some of the local Detroit scene that I was not even familiar with before.

Another top show experience this year, was fairly recently out at Union Vapors in Dickson City, for a “Not Birthday” show that our good friend Mat Samsak threw, and he really knocked this line up out if the park. Spew, who we haven’t scene in years, was a happy reunion, our good friends Owned By Assholes, and The Squanches on the bill as well, had this place on fire. There was an energy that night that seemed special. I don’t know. We react to the mood we are playing to, and I can honestly say, the mood in that place I believe led us to play one of the best sets we have maybe ever played. 

Some albums/EPs this year that I have really really dug in no particular order:

Owned By Assholes – War Machines and Amphetamines

…Holy shit, I think I’ve been just as excited to hear this album as they were. It’s damn near flawless. Kyle is an amazing songwriter and composer, and the talents of everyone in that band, Andrew, Josh, Chris, they all shine through on this album. Amazing fucking record!

The Karens – I Wanna Refund

Swams vocals… nastier, more pissed and snottier than before, with more whit and grit in her songwriting, it gets stronger with each release. Bean’s playing and back up vocals on point, Joe’s more added leads are a great touch on an already awesome sounding record. Chud’s drumming really gives them an extra heavy hit that makes this album sound huge.

The Chemical Imbalance – All That You Love is All That You Own

If Dillinger Escape Plan had a one night stand with Every Time I Die, and gave birth to Against All Authority, this would be the outcome (which is perfect, because those are some of the 3 greatest bands of all time in my opinion)
The EP doesn’t stop, it is relentless. Stretch before you listen to this, maybe wear a mouth guard. It’s going to kick your ass.

As mentioned earlier,

BOOF – So Long and Thanks for the Trauma

Rae delivers in such a manic and beautiful way, its addictive. The drums are intimidating, the guitars and bass are thick. I had to listen to this album three days in a row, because I couldn’t get enough. Fuck, I really hope we run into BOOF, again… 🥺

Meanderthal along this No Limitations are constantly releasing rad shit. Also eager to hear more of what those boys are up to!

Those are music picks of groups I am lucky enough to say that I know or have had the pleasure of playing with. I’m also REAL stoked on Blood For Blood getting back together. 

We finally got back in to work on our new EP with Bob and Twitch of Meanderthal, and No Limitations, and that is always a treat… I assure y’all, a new EP will be put sometime before 2037. It’s coming! We’ve been busy and life has been…. real interesting. 

I myself this year, also got to go out to Jersey with Swam of The Karens and put down bass for their upcoming album. Getting to work with Swam, Joe, and Dr. Chud was a really cool experience. Honestly, very easy homies to work with in the rehearsal and studio process!

Checking out and working in Fox Studios in Jersey was also super cool. 

The lowest points were counter reacted with positives. Lowest being the little heart scare I had in February, leading us to have to halt on the EP process, and having to back out of some very anticipated shows. Some of which I had a hand in setting up, which sucked plenty of eggs to miss. But, some of those shows, including Detroit, were made up a few months down the road, and they kicked ass! We still got work in on the ep, just later than expected…

But shit worked out.

I really thought about throwing in the towel after that. Since I had the heart attack while I was playing, it still fucks with my head every time I play… Every. Time.

I hope that feeling goes away, but we will see…

Without the band, my amazing girlfriend Kristi, and my wonderful kids, my friends,, and parents, I don’t know if I woulda jumped back to it just a couple months later… That following Camp, I was met with a lot of warmth from people, with words and hugs of confidence, telling me that “I got this” …Thank you all for that, and it really meant the world to me.

Some things can still be ok if you just let ’em be that way. Take a minute, and appreciate later when ya can, while ya can, however ya can. 

We’ve recently started playing at new venue this year that just turned a year old in State College, about 40 minutes from us called Manny’s Performance Center. We’ve gotten to play there 3 times already, and we plan to do a lot more. I can feel it becoming a 2nd home for us, which I am very very happy about. The owner Cory is super down to earth, and easy to work with, and his staff are great. What was once a “bro bar” called The Saloon turned to an all ages performance spot, with a bar that serves up local beverages, it gives a very homey atmosphere that covers all genres. Really cool place, that I hope everyone in Pennsylvania and a far will make a stop on their shows rout. You won’t be disappointed! Even weekday shows have had turn outs We’ve been more than happy with. Extremely thankful for such a cool spot close to home.

I’m sure I’m forgetting plenty, but here were some of my moments of reflection, I guess.

Thanks again, Ed, and the TGEFM crew! We’ll see ya soon!