On their half of the new split with Wolf-Face, Celebration Summer captures a band at a uniquely powerful moment… their final FEST set with original drummer Glenn, a room packed with sweaty faces, smiles and a crowd that gave as much energy as it took. For a band rooted in connection and conviction, FEST’s communal chaos felt like the perfect place to freeze a moment in time, and with DCxPC’s help that moment now lives on vinyl. Their live tracks serve as an honest snapshot of who they were right then: loud, direct, emotional, and fully locked in with a community that refuses to stand still. Today, TGEFM is joined by Greg Raelson to discuss their part of the split and the community affair known as punk rock.
Thank you both so much for agreeing to this interview! First off, how does it feel to have your FEST performances immortalized on vinyl, especially in such a limited 200-copy release?
“It feels me feel kinda funny, like when we used to climb the rope in gym class.” Seriously though, it feels really great. FEST is an incredible event to play, and Loosey’s is one of my favorite venues, so having that performance pressed to vinyl is really special. It’s cool to know that moment is captured forever, especially since it was such a fun set as well as an emotional one. It was our first drummer Glenn’s last set with us before hanging up the drumsticks.
FEST is legendary for its energy and community… What makes playing there different from any other live setting?
FEST just has a different kind of energy. Everyone there is excited to be part of it, not just watching bands but really in it. The crowd gives back so much, and it makes you play harder. It feels more like a shared experience than a regular show in my opinion.
The split format feels like a great pairing of two totally different punk worlds; heartfelt and feral. How did the idea for this release come together?
The split came together really simply, actually. We’ve known Scott from DCxPC for a while, and he had approached us regarding doing a live album for the label. We were super interested, but wondered if it may be more fun pairing with another band for a split live release. Scott was enthusiastic about the idea so we pitched calling up Wolf-Face as we were big fans and thought that even though we are somewhat different sounds, the Fest connection makes it an extra fun combo. I’m pretty sure they had no idea who we were or what they were getting themselves into and just accidentally signed on to do it. Ha. Suckers. Always read the fine print. I heard one of them is a lawyer when there’s no full moon. You’d think he’d know better? Now they’re stuck with us. Joke’s on them.
DCxPC has a real knack for capturing the underground scene at its most alive, and Scott is an absolutely delightful human being. What’s it like working with them on this project?
Working with DCxPC has been awesome. Scott really cares about punk and puts his heart into every release. He’s easy to work with, super organized, and just a genuinely good dude.
Between the grit of Celebration Summer’s political edge and Wolf-Face’s humor-fueled chaos, you’re covering a lot of emotional ground. How do you both view punk’s role right now; rebellion, release, community, or something else?
Punk can mean a lot of things, but for me it’s mostly about connection. It’s people coming together and being themselves. Sometimes we feel the need to express ourselves about things that are political, sometimes our message is very personal, but it’s always real. With everything going on in the world right now, especially here in the US, I think punk’s role is the same as it’s always been. It’s about questioning things, standing up for what you believe in, and not just accepting the way things are. Punk’s a spirit as much as it is a sound, and that’s what keeps it relevant.
FEST crowds are famously wild. Any standout memories, onstage or off, from the nights these tracks were recorded?
I remember how wild the crowd was. People were singing along and moving the whole time. You could tell everyone was just happy to be there. That’s the kind of thing you can’t fake.
CELEBRATION SUMMER: “Fraud” carries a powerful message; believe survivors. How does your band balance personal conviction with writing songs that still hit emotionally and musically?
“Fraud” came from a serious place. We all write songs together but Nate is the principal lyricist, so he’d be the best to talk about where he gets his lyrical inspiration. What I love about Fraud is that it is direct and honest. The “believe survivors” message matters, and we wanted it to come through in a way that our listeners could really rally around to call out abusers and hold them accountable.
With both of your sets now pressed to vinyl, do you see it as a snapshot of where the bands are creatively or more like a chapter in a longer evolution?
It feels like a snapshot. You can hear the energy of where we were at that point as a band. We’ve grown a bit since then, but I like that it captures that moment exactly as it was.
If your live shows could be summarized in one visceral image (e.g., “a fist in the air, a shadow on the wall”), what would that be?
Wow. That’s a great question and a first for us. Hmm. Maybe “sweaty faces and smiles”? When it’s going right, it’s loud and messy and fun. There’s this sense that everyone’s part of it, not just watching. That’s what a good show feels like to me.
With the two of you representing such different corners of the punk map (DC and Florida) what do you think keeps the DIY punk community so interconnected across geography and style?
Punk’s always been about community. Even though we’re from different places, the same mindset connects everyone. People help each other out and support what they love. That’s what keeps it alive.
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
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/