One thing Republican presidencies offer us is amazing punk rock releases from bands new and old. One band formed during the heart of the Trump presidency is Northern Virginia’s Celebration Summer. Formed in 2019, this political punk band has already accomplished so much already. One accomplishment is recording a full-length that is being released this Fall on A-F Records. Getting added to that label is testament to how good they are. Even though they’ve only been together for a short time, it doesn’t sound like it. Musically, they offer up pounding, melodic punk rock. Their sound is accompanied by gruff vocals that sing poignant lyrics touching on today’s political and social issues.
Even though the new album doesn’t come out until Fall, Celebration Summer has allowed us to premiere their next single from that album. The song, “Fraud,” comes out this Friday, but keep reading for a first listen. To celebrate the occasion, Bass Player Greg Raelson also took some time to answer a few questions. Below, I invite you to hear the latest song from your favorite new punk band.
Celebration Summer is a relatively new band. What brought you all together?
In late 2019, I posted online looking for band members to start a band influenced by some of my favorite ’90s punk-era bands like Leatherface, Tiltwheel, etc. I just thought it would be really fun to do something that sounded different than a lot of the stuff around our area, and I’ve always loved that kind of gruffy, anthemic, sing-along type of music. Our drummer, Glenn, was the first to reach out and we met for a beer. It turned out he played in a band years prior with a mutual friend, Dan, who joined us on guitar. The three of us jammed a bit and met a few potential singer/guitarists, but as soon as Nate showed up, we all just clicked. We knew we found our band!
Basically forming right before COVID must have made things a bit more challenging for you. How did you cope with the trials and tribulations of being a new band, but also having to navigate a pandemic at the same time?
Nobody could have anticipated the effect COVID would have on society, art, social life, and everything else. Certainly, the massive politicization of the pandemic by the GOP and the Trump administration’s complete and total failure of leadership and disregard of scientific and medical experts, exponentially increased the length of time it has taken to combat the virus and get back to some semblance of normalcy.
Tons of venues have had to close for good (we put out a digital compilation of cover songs by a bunch of rad bands on our Bandcamp to help raise money for NIVA) and it’s been really tough across the board for bands these last few years. Like many other bands, we really were in a state of limbo for a while, trying to figure out new ways to write and create while we weren’t able to be together. Once we were all vaccinated, we made the decision to start practicing again in masks and played a few “live-stream” shows. Once things began to open up more, we made decisions on which shows we felt comfortable playing. It’s been a tough last few years, but we endure!
You released an EP during the pandemic and now you’re on A-F Records. What’s the story behind getting signed there?
We recorded seven songs during the pandemic and released five as the Against the Gun EP (originally digitally with UK’s Little Rocket Records, then pressed on wax with Shield Recordings in the Netherlands). The other two songs will be on our upcoming LP on A-F (in the US) and Shield (in UK/EU). We were looking for a US-based label for ease of logistics and had some decent interest, but when Chris Stowe got back to us saying he and Anti-Flag’s Chris #2 listened to our stuff and liked what they heard, we were over the moon because we knew we found a label that shared our ideals and values along with being the namesake of one of our favorite bands. How could we say no?
How surreal is it being on Anti-Flag’s label?
It’s still just sinking in. We are really lucky and humbled to be a part of the A-F family. There are so many killer bands on the label. I often have this Wayne’s World moment of “we’re not worthy!” We will be opening up for Anti-Flag along with Suicide Machines and Catbite in DC in September, and I think that’s going to be super special.
You got added to Fest this year. What’s it mean to you to play such an iconic festival?
I’ve been to Fest a few years now as an attendee, and have had a bunch of friends’ bands play, so when we got word we were offered a spot I was super stoked. It’s seriously such a fun weekend and we are super hyped to play… but also just to be there with such an incredible lineup. It’s unreal! Are we dreaming?
You’ve got a new single coming out this week. Tell me more about it and what can expect when folks listen to it.
Our second single is called “Fraud” and it’s from our upcoming record Patience in Presence. “Fraud” is one of our faster, more aggressive, hooky songs and we had a good time writing the music for it. Nate does a really good job capturing our band’s outlook on powerful people, money, corruption and equality in his lyricism for this one. I think the lyrics speak for themselves.
The DC Hardcore and Punk scene is rich with history. Which of those bands inspire you the most?
We get inspiration from so many scenes and eras. Our band’s name Celebration Summer is an amalgamation of the Husker Du song “Celebrated Summer” and DC hardcore’s significant social and activist “Revolution Summer” of 1985 where bands like Rites of Spring, Embrace, Gray Matter, Beefeater, etc. came to prominence. I don’t know if we have a “sound” that is reminiscent of any of the classic DC bands but we certainly share much of the politics and that shapes a lot of our songwriting.
The new album comes out this fall. Outside of Fest, what are your plans to support it this fall?
Our DC show September 30 with Anti-Flag is likely going to be our unofficial “record release show” but we’re hoping to get a few weeks on the road later in the season for more East Coast dates. We really want to get up to New York, Pittsburgh, and Boston before it gets too cold!
For the uninitiated, if I like “X” I will like Celebration Summer?
The “For Fans Of” question is always a tough one. I definitely feel like we have our own sound, per se, and our writing is always evolving with new stuff delving into some other influences too (post-punk etc). If I had to answer, I think fans of Leatherface, Hot Water Music, Dag Nasty, Jawbreaker, Samiam, etc. may dig us. And fans of David Lynch films. We’re weirdos.
Any last words?
Come up and say hi to us at a show! We love meeting people!