Draw the circle. Stoke the fire. Don’t ignore the noises coming from the woods. Camp Punksylvania returns to Gilbert, PA from 19–21 June as Riot Squad Media prepares to unleash Camp Punksylvania 6(66), the sixth annual gathering of punks, ska kids, weirdos and wandering spirits at the West End Fairgrounds.
This year’s gathering embraces a darker ritualistic theme, with four stages echoing through the woods like incantations in the night as bands from across the scene descend upon the campground for one of punk’s most unique summer traditions.
TGEFM once again returns to the woods for another year of Happy Campers, and this time around we spoke with the incomparable Sammy Kay about the rituals of live performance, the strange magic that keeps Camp Punksylvania growing, the state of the scene and what exactly they hope to summon beneath the trees this June. From horror movie survival scenarios to campfire songs for the end times, nothing was left outside the circle. Feed the fire, keep your flashlight close and step carefully into the coven…err..umm… I mean conversation below.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! You are gearing up for Camp Punksylvania in the coming months, For anyone discovering you for the first time… what should our readers know about you? What song in your set feels the most like an invocation… the one that pulls everyone fully into your world?
No problem dude! It’s been a minute since we got to chat! Man, I guess readers need to know that I’m old, tired, and stupid enough to keep it moving. If this festival was the Traveling Wilburys, I’m feeling like Roy Orbison. I genuinely have no idea what I play until I play the first note when it comes to solo, I like the read the room… but lately, probably h”ow fast to run” off (July)1960. It seems like it throws it all in the ring, ready to do whatever it is to survive.
Every ritual needs an outcome… when the dust settles this year, what do you want campers to be saying about your set when they “write home”?
That I actually played! I have yet to sing a note solo at camp.
Everyone talks about “the scene”… what’s something the scene gets right right now, and what’s something you hope improves?
Lately I’ve been in my own world, so I really don’t know what the scene is looking like, or what scene we’re referring to, but my kid showed me 3 hardcore bands from the school they go to and that to me, is the coolest thing ever.
If your set is a ritual… what are you trying to summon… and what are you trying to burn to the ground?
Just trying to keep the hoping machine running my friend.
Playing Camp both solo this year and with The Kilograms last year. How different is the emotional energy between standing up there with a full band versus just you, a guitar and whatever demons decide to tag along?
This is the biggest mindfuck. They are two completely different worlds, two different sets of warm ups, and two different sets of rituals to make me not be an anxious wreck.
The emotional energy is the same, all I wanna do is give a good show, tell the right stories, and do the damn thing. I mean, at the end of the day the goal is to not look like a complete dipshit, and to try not to eat my socks.
You’ve talked a lot about kindness from strangers being one of the defining experiences of your life on the road. Has there been one moment recently that restored your faith in people a little bit?
Italy. 2014( could be 13). Me and the boys (Craig dad, Joey, Tim and Chris) were ripping on a tour from hell. Our driver was this dude, we called him Freddy Van Halen.
We pulled up into this town on a flatbed truck. The van had broke down I think 6 times at that point, which was super frustrating. We lost so much money and missed half the shows at that point.
So we are grabbing our shit and trying to sort a hotel or a squat or something while Freddy got the van back to his place in Belgium to fix it, and this old man stops us, talked to Freddy, and we’re told to go with him, thinking Freddy knew him.
We roll into this little apartment, and we come to realize this guy just saw us on the street and wanted to help. In our broken conversion, we realized his kid was in a bunch of bands, and just wanted to help.
We sat, played some cards and he made us the best plate of carbonara that I ever had.
Whenever I see Chris, we seem to always go to Alessandro, and wondering about the old man.
Eternally grateful for that one.
This isn’t your first time performing at Camp Punksylvania. What makes you want to come back and perform for the cult? How has it felt being able to watch this thing grow from the inside?
Technically I’ve never played. I had to cancel day of 2 years ago, solo got canned last year due to rain. KGS got in a set last year, but I’ve never been able to play a solo set.
It is pretty magical though. That crew has been magical and we’ve gotten to work with Laura on so many shows with the KGS. It’s a wonderful thing to watch good folks dumb ideas grow to be something tangible.
Camp 6(66) turns into a full-on horror movie… who becomes the final survivor, and who gets picked off immediately?
I’m out. Take me first. I’m a baby. I don’t watch horror movies.
Now if we’re talking a Scooby doo mystery, I got you.
Campfire set… middle of the woods… things are getting strange… what song are you playing when it all turns a little unhinged?
Kumbaya. Open up the pit motherfuckers.
The recent situation surrounding Punk in the Park sparked a lot of conversation… from cancellations to artists choosing different paths. How did you interpret that moment, and what does it reveal about the state of the scene?
Most of us have known about Cameron and his political views for a long time, like years and years. I’m glad bands came to their senses post the general population of the scenes realization of it, but before that…
I get he pays well. I get we’re in the world of late stage capitalism. I use Spotify, I go to Walmart, you drink Starbucks and eat Chick-fil-A. We all are in bed with livenation in some form, fuck. We all buy gasoline.
There’s so many Strummer isms to say here, but this is the one that comes to mind. “There’s a time to dance to techno, and a time not to”
The lineup this year feels like a carefully assembled coven… which acts are you most excited to witness summon their energy live?
I just wanna see the dude from law and order scream about killing cops.
What lies ahead for you after Camp Punksylvania 2026… what’s the next chapter you’re writing?
The future huh?
I don’t wanna look back, and I sure do wanna keep pushing forward. I still have something to say, but I’m unsure what that is.
Currently, I don’t give a shit anymore. Not one shit about what people think or care about what I’m doing, which ultimately makes me far more dangerous than before.
Before we close the circle… is there anything we haven’t summoned that you’d like to bring into the conversation?
Major league II doesn’t get the credit it deserves, Stratocasters are lame. Cory Branan fucking rules.
The last organ in your body that dies is your eyes. They dialate.
The Replacements reissue box sets are better than the original records.
I think “piano man” by Billy Joel is set in a gay bar and Billy Joel is the only straight person in the room.
Bon Jovi should have been made a salutation but it didn’t take, similar to fetch in mean girls.
I got bit by a dog a few days ago and now I have matching scars with Jesus.
The Flatliners‘s new record is so fucking good.
I’ve always wondered what my record civil/war would sound if it was a big rock and roll record.
My thoughts on Bob Dylan are starting to change and he doesn’t suck, he’s just okay.
We need to keep the hoping machine running at all costs.
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/