Pack your bags, grab your bug spray, throw back a shot of Malort and follow the inflatable hot dog as Riot Squad Media is returning to Northeast Pennsylvania to take over the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, PA with the 5th year of Camp Punksylvania! The 3-day festival with multiple stages and amazing national and local acts like Dillinger Four, The Lawrence Arms, The Vandals and Bridge City Sinners, will take place from 20 June until 22 June. Tickets are available here. TGEFM had the opportunity to speak with Get Dead to discuss this year’s festival for the latest installment of this year’s Camp-centric interview series: Happy Campers. Check it out below and I’ll see you at the campfire!
What does Get Dead have in store for us beyond Camp Punksylvania?
WE ARE WORKING ON A NEW GET DEAD FULL LENGTH THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE DONE BY OCTOBER. I SAY OCTOBER BUT IF YOU GOT A COUPLE GRAINS OF SALT LAYING AROUND , NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO SNORT A GRAIN. OR TWO .
This will be Get Dead’s second performance at Camp if I’m not mistaken. Sam also performed here last year with Codefendants.. What makes you want to come back and perform at Camp again? How has it felt being able to watch this thing grow from the inside?
THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THE FESTIVAL ON ARE WHAT SOLD US TO BE APART OF THE FIRST YEAR AND THE EVENT WAS SO MUCH FUN THAT OF COURSE WE WANTED TO COME BACK. ALSO, ANY CHANCE YOU GET TO PERFORM MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER FEELING IT GROW ON THE INSIDE FEELS FANTASTIC . ALWAYS IMPRESSIVE WHEN IT JUST KEEPS GROWING AND GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER UNTIL IT EXPLODES ALL OVER THE SCENE . WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MESS.
The Camp Punksylvania socials recently posted about the inclusivity and diversity of the team and lineup. From an artist’s perspective, how does the diversity of the lineup and the volunteers improve Camp for the artists and the attendees?
VOLUNTEER DIVERSITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE BEDROCK OF GET DEAD. WHEN WE STARTED THIS GROUP BACK IN 2008 IT WAS ALL DUE TO A CHANCE MEETING WHERE WE ALL MET EACH OTHER AT THE VOLUNTEER DIVERSITY SUMMIT 08′ IN SWITZERLAND. WE CONNECTED OVER OUR SHARED PASSION TO ONCE AND FOR ALL FINALLY GET SOME DIVERSITY IN THE MARGINALIZED PUNK ROCK FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY. PUNK ROCK HAS ALWAYS HAD SUCH A PROBLEM WITH NON INCLUSION SO WHAT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO SEE THAT PUNKSYLVANIA IS SPEAR HEADING SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT FRANKLY LITERALLY 99.9 PERCENT OF PEOPLE ON EARTH HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT .
In this age of social media, members of the Q-Tang Klan have been emboldened to aggressively spew their ignorance with arrogance and anonymity, spreading misinformation at every turn. Where would you direct our readers to stay informed without having to wade through the bullshit from the traitors shouting from their bully pulpits?
YEAH I FEEL YOU ON THAT MEDIA ASPECT OF THINGS . I THINK EVERYONE IS OVER ONE SIDED OPINION BASED JOURNALISM THAT IS ONLY A VEHICLE FOR ONE SIDES OPINION. FUCK THE LEFT FUCK THE RIGHT AS THEY SAY. IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT REAL SHIT GO TO : CRIMEWAVE.TV OR INDECLINE
In a world where students are being detained for exercising their First Amendment rights in a student newspaper, its not far-fetched to assume artists could find themselves under fire for their lyrics. With the current political climate, are you finding it more challenging or invigorating to approach the causes you support musically?
I DOUBLE DOG DARE THEM TO LOCK ME UP OVER SOME LYRICS . THEY BETTER PACK A LUNCH CAUSE SCOTTY AND KYLE ARENT HAVING THAT MESS.
How do you think musicians can or should traverse such rocky ground right now?
GO HARD IN THE PAINT .GO HARD WITH SOME PAINT . DOUBLE DOWN ON NOT TOLERATING BULLSHIT AROUND YOU AND GET BUSY DOING SOMETHING OTHER THAN POINTING FINGERS .
What steps, if any do you take to keep your personal life separated from your musical career?
THERES NO SEPARATION IF YOUR PUSHING REAL SHIT . SOME G’s DONT CLOCK OUT .
Have you found yourself in any uncomfortable situations with listeners who wanted to use their “trust me, bro” sources to minimize your music and lyrics?
NOPE . WE TRUST ONLY IN OURSELVES AND DONT TOLERATE DUMBSHIT.
We’ve all got a few, what is your biggest regret? A gig you turned down, advice you didn’t take, what one thing do you wish you handled differently as a musician?
WE REGRET EVER WORKING WITH ADRA THAT BOOKED SHOWS AT THE PARKSIDE IN SF BACK WHEN WE STARTED . WE ALSO REGRET EVER HELPING SBAEM GET HIS FOOT IN THE DOOR JUST FOR HIM TO FUCK OVER BANDS THAT PAY HIS BILLS .
What do you want the campers to say about your set (counselors, performances and activities) when they write home from camp this year?
GET DEAD MAKES ME WANT TO BE BETTER .
Many of the Camp Punx artists have not been afraid to get political and in the interest of bluntness, this timeline is kinda way fucked. With all the shit going on, many of us need the community that comes from these small acts of rad at Camp. How do you hope the festival and your performance benefits the scene and community?
PEOPLE FOCUS ON EACHOTHER FOR OUR 30 MINUTE TOME SLOT AND REMEMBER THERE ARE NO TEAMS . THERE IS ONLY US .
Post-show singalongs… What song are you performing around the campfire this year?
GLEN CAMPBELLS “GENTLE ON MY MIND”
Camp Punksylvania is a smorgasbord of fantastic acts. Which bands are you most excited to see this year?
THE GOLFCARTS THEY RIP.
Was there anything I missed that you’d like to share or dive deeper into with our readers?
SEE YA ROUND
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/