So, I say this every year, rankings are subjective and who cares what I like best, but I am going to deviate from that slightly this year. Every year I say I am going to make notes as the year goes along for things I really enjoyed instead of whipping this together on New Year’s Eve before I pop the Cook’s champagne. I opened up my notes from the past year to see I only entered one thing. That is not to say there was only one thing I really enjoyed this past year, but one thing was stronger than the rest to make me remember to jot it down. That one thing was:
Winona Fighter My Apologies To The Chef
This album came out way back in February and I listen to these songs regularly. They still feel so exciting and I never get tired of them. No song from this record ever gets skipped when they come up on shuffle, not one song is a flip-side track. If you have somehow missed mine and Bad Dad’s admiration of this LP on TGEFM and have yet to check it out, stop right now and hit the link below.
Almost Punk Enough
We started a Podcast! We did it! Something that has been in our chats for the last few years has finally come to life. We only cranked out 11 episodes, maybe 12 if I get the next one edited soon enough, but you have to start somewhere. Live interviews were on my wish list as I feel they offer so much more than written interviews. Plus, you can listen to them while working, working out, driving to a gig, flying to a fest, snowboarding, putting a puzzle together, taking a dump, taking out the trash, you get the picture. The downside as I found out is how hard it is to coordinate the hosts and guests when they are on three different time zones and have completely different schedules. Add in tour dates, live shows, studio time, and it becomes a monumental task. More than half of the interviews I had planned never came to fruition. I am very grateful for the ones that did happen and I am on a mission to get many more done next year. Winona Fighter is on the top of that list, and I just finished another good one today that will be out soon. Thanks to everyone that has checked them out and supported them. We are working on making them more consistent and hopefully better. And I have to give a shout out to my own 10-year-old daughter, who recorded a quick intro for our next few podcast episodes featuring her on guitar and vocals.
Click here to listen to the Almost Punk Enough Podcast
Fishbone
I am a big Fishbone fan and this year I got to interview Angelo Moore and Chris Dowd of Fishbone on the Almost Punk Enough podcast, see them play live, and they put out a new album, all in the same year! I am still on a high from getting to interview them on the pod and I only wish, that their audio was better, and it wasn’t one of my first few podcast interviews, as my interview hosting skills were (and still are) a little rough. Their new LP Stockholm Syndrome is the album both Angelo and Chris said they are the proudest of. It is a complex record with a little bit of everything you have come to expect from the ska-punk legends. We break down many of the songs in the podcast so if you haven’t already listened to it, check out episode five.
Live shows
I got to see one of my favorite punk bands of all time The Descendents which I have seen live a few times before. As I expected they did not disappoint and are still great to see live. What I did not expect was how great opening act Teen Mortgage was. They bring a huge sound with only two band members. If you have the chance to see them live, I highly recommend it. I already mentioned I saw Fishbone live, and they killed it. This was a stacked ska-punk bill with Less Than Jake, The Suicide Machines, and Bite Me Bambi, and none of them let me down. On the punk adjacent side, I saw Weird Al Yankovic who also played Riot Fest. I mostly went as my daughter became a fan of Weird Al after he lent his accordion talent in The Linda Lindas song “Yo Me Estreso”. It was a very cool experience.
Live Review: The Descendents – Summer Tour 2025 – at The Underground
Live review: Less Than Jake, Fishbone, The Suicide Machines, and Bite Me Bambi – at The Ritz
Live Review: “Weird Al” Yankovic – Bigger & Weirder Tour – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
Other notable releases from 2025
Bad Cop Bad Cop – Lighten Up
With Jennie Cotterill’s departure I was a bit worried the three part harmonies I love about this band may change things, and it did. That turns out was not bad thing and this record, although a little different at times, still shines.
Blanket of M – Finger Forest EP
I said in my Drive By Review this is Turbonegro meets Discharge with a little The Misfits sprinkled in and I don’t feel I need to say more.
Catbite – Doom Garden
This release is more than ska-punk (even though they added some horns) and the band has branched out with some tracks having a post-punk tone.
Kilograms – Beliefs & Thieves
Such a fun album. Laid back at times, upbeat at other times, keyboard heavy and fast tempo at the right times.
Laura Jane Grace / Catbite – Operation Ivy Live at the Empty Bottle
I am a big Op Ivy fan and love most of the covers and tributes out there, but this might top the cake. It might even be the best cover album ever, and it was recorded at a live show!
Suzie True – How I Learned to Love What’s Gone
I feel like the band has grown musically and this album is proof but still doesn’t take things too seriously.
World Of Chaos – Erased from Existence
These teenage kids will blow the patches off your vest.
Outside of punk and ska music, I have become more of a Lady Gaga and Olivia Rodrigo fan, partially due to having a 10-year-old daughter. I have also become a little bit obsessed with guitar effects pedals, also due to the same daughter who plays guitar. (If anyone has a Less Than Jake Oneder pedal they want to sell cheap, please let me know) Huge thanks to everyone that supports TGEFM, anyone who reads this, listened to our podcast, helped us set up interviews and show reviews, artists that let us interview them, and everyone on the team that contributes to TGEFM, we do this all for the love of the music.
Likes fine beer and tacos. He has been a DJ, sound mixer for commercials and television, and currently designs motorcycle parts. He also has a habit of creating pastiche style cover songs and changing the chorus to incorporate “Jeff” or “Sorley.” (sigh… it’s true – Jeff)
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