This Was The Scene Podcast

The The Bombpops are a San Diego punk band known for blending fast, melodic riffs with emotionally honest lyrics. Fronted by Jen Razavi and Poli van Dam, their dual vocals give their songs a raw, conversational energy. They gained recognition through releases on Fat Wreck Chords, the iconic label founded by Fat Mike of NOFX. Their music often explores themes like relationships, anxiety, and personal g...

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Matt Allison is a Chicago-based music producer known for capturing the raw, unpolished energy of punk, emo, and indie bands without sanding off their personality. Working out of his Atlas Studios, he's helped shape records for bands like Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms, and The Menzingers, giving them that punchy, lived-in sound that feels lik...

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Student Rick was an emo band from South Bend, Indiana. They gained recognition for their song "Falling for You," featured on Soundtrack for a Generation and included in the video games Aggressive Inline and Amped 2. The song was often misattributed online to bands like Taking Back Sunday and Simple Plan during the file-sharing era. Formed ...

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Formed in late 90s Northern California, Tsunami Bomb stood out immediately, blending sharp lyrics, melodic hooks, keyboards as a true lead instrument, and dual female vocals into a sound that mixed punk urgency with pop instincts and a darker edge. Early releases like The Invasion from Within! and constant touring built a...

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Junction 18 toured relentlessly across the U.S. and Canada alongside bands like New Found Glory, Midtown, Hot Rod Circuit, and Simple Plan, carving out a loyal following in the early 2000s scene. After appearing on the Vans Warped Tour, they signed with Fearless Records and released their debut album This Vicious Cycle in 2000, followed by additional releases includin...

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Circa Survive was an American rock band formed in Philadelphia in 2004 by vocalist Anthony Green and guitarist Colin Frangicetto, later joined by Brendan Ekstrom, Nick Beard, and Steve Clifford. Green was previously the frontman of Saosin, bringing a distinct voice that became central to Circa Survive's identity. The band released their debut Juturna in...

Over It were a pop-punk outfit that emerged in 1998 from Alexandria, Virginia and later planted roots in Orange County, California. With high-energy hooks and relentless touring through the early 2000s, they carved out a place for themselves on the independent scene with albums like The Ready Series, Timing Is Everything, Silverstrand, and their major-label release Step Outside Yourself. Along the way they hit the Van...

Grade were a key part of Victory Records' late-90s surge, blending hardcore intensity with emotional depth and forward-leaning songwriting. Their music felt restless and urgent, pushing beyond genre lines without losing the raw energy that defined the scene. Releases like Under the Radar and Headfirst Straight to Hell helped bridge hardcore, post-hardcore, and early emo influences at a pivotal moment....

Avery is a pop-punk band that started in the NJ music scene in 1999. What started as just Nina on bass and Janet singing while playing drums, evolved over the years, with Jess coming on as guitarist, Janet moving up to vocals and keys, and Mike joining on drums. Over the next 10+ years, Avery played hundreds of shows including multiple festivals, toured nationally, and released two records. Avery song...

Chooch were a 5 piece power punk group from Pittsburgh. Debut ep recorded in 1997, group disbanded a couple years later with a brief reunion in 2002

• Alice Cooper
• Having 2 bass players
• The Electric Banana
• Pollen
• The Rockin A Tard Place Compilation
• My Pal Trigger
• The Ke...

Rye Coalition came out of Jersey City in the early nineties and quickly built a reputation as one of the most fearless and inventive bands in the post-hardcore world. They toured with heavyweights like Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy, earned praise from outlets including Spin, Pitchfork, and The Village Voice, and worked with legendary producers Steve Al...

Sleepytime Trio formed in 1995 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, originally as a side project of Maximillian Colby. Known for their volatile, emotional sound and chaotic live shows, they quickly became a defining force in the late 90s post-hardcore scene, sharing stages with bands like Hot Water Music, Frodus, and Shotmaker. After a hiatus in 1998, members went on to form acts like Engine Down, Rah Bras, and...

Park was an emo/indie rock band from Springfield, Illinois, active primarily in the late '90s and 2000s. Known for their heartfelt lyrics, melodic guitar work, and driving rhythms, they gained a loyal underground following with albums like No Signal and It Won't Snow Where You're Going. Though they disbanded in 2007, their music remains a staple of the Midwest emo scene and continues to influence new ...

Hamilton St Cafe & Stage in Bound Brook, NJ was a beloved hybrid venue that blended a cozy café atmosphere with an intimate stage for live music. Throughout the early 2000s, it became a cultural hub for local and touring punk, indie, and alternative acts, fostering a tight-knit community. Though it closed in 2007 after severe flooding, it's still remembered fondly as a cornerstone of the NJ music scen...

From Indian Lakes is an American indie rock band formed in 2009. The band's sound generally incorporates elements of pop, acoustic, emo, shoegaze, and rock creating a distinctive blend that has earned them a dedicated following. They recently released their album "HEAD VOID" and continue to tour, representing a mature evolution of Vannucchi's songwriting that began in California's mountain communities...

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White Kaps were a Southern California punk band known for their surf-punk energy, goofy humor, and rowdy live shows. They released several records through Fearless Records in the mid-'90s, standing out with songs that mixed skate culture, beach vibes, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. While never a mainstream name, they ...

Hunter Gatherer carved out a niche in Athens between approximately 1997 and 2004, folding into the post‑hardcore and emocore wave that was surging at that time. Their music drew equally from punk's intensity and emo's emotive melodies—yet with a poppier, hook-oriented bent, making their sound more accessible than one might expect from that blend. Despite a relatively brief run ...

As Tall As Lions was an atmospheric indie rock band from Long Island, blending ethereal soundscapes with soulful vocals and intricate musicianship. Known for their emotionally rich lyrics and dynamic live performances, the band gained a devoted following with albums like You Can't Take It With You. Though they disbanded in 2010, their music continues to resonate with fans who crave depth and beauty in...

Houseboy was a Chicago-based pop‑punk/emo outfit that emerged in the mid‑1990s, co-founded by Brett Friesen (drums) and Ace Cowden (vocals/guitar) along with Daniel Garcia and Thom Lemke discogs.com +7 last.fm +7 skatepunkers.fandom.com +7 . Known for their high‑energy live shows—often opening for acts like Guttermouth, Samiam, and Face to Face—the band released a handful of catchy DIY recordings incl...