This is the attempt at the ‘adult’ (I use the term extremely loosely) punk band. Not like porno punk or anything (well, not too much), just kinda grown up.
Sam Johnson, guitar god, singing sensation, lives in a barn house with a bunch of animals (i.e. 1 bulldog, 3 cats, 3 horses, 1 pretty girl). Oh yeah, he has spent years on the road learning the what’s what of being an international touring machine with his band New Mexican Disaster Squad. Sam is also a professional slacker. Thats right, screen printer. That’s where all those radical D.I.Y. VIRGINS shirts come from, so whether you like it or not, he man-handled all of ‘em. This aging punk wants to get back in the van, despite the fact he probably should have grown out of it a long time ago. Now instead of having a degree or any type formal certification whatsoever (other than the rules of the road), Sam now tirelessly slaves away crafting punk anthems and working in a hot, shitty warehouse for you. Bryon Lippincot is now currently enabling Sam to do so.
Eric Pitman, drumming dynamo, baby-faced sex-crazed wild man, also at your service. One of Sam’s coworkers at the screen print shop of horrors and not to mention old buddies, is a studious intellectual on one side but when night falls, Mr. Hyde rears his ornery head. It was kind of understood that Eric would end up as the drummer for VIRGINS. Shit, if he doesn’t take out his aggression on those skins, he just might murder somebody. And he’ll like it. And he might do it again. Pitman is a punk institution in Orlando and if you don’t know him by now, you probably don’t matter. This boy wonder is a volatile icon to perversion, perfected. A man devoted to food, drums, awesome-ness, and partying. And food. He should be the President.
Speaking of institutions, Phil Longo is fucking nuts!!! This bass-booming, smooth talking, Italian stallion might just be your new best friend. Master of disguise, bartender extraordinaire, Longo has already earned his place in Florida underground history (we used to call it ‘underground’ music) playing in countless hardcore, post-hardcore, and post-post-hardcore bands. As Sam was mooching some free drinks one night at a prestigious local rock club, Phil asked Sambo if he wanted to do a RITES OF SPRING tribute band. Sam said no, and then drunkenly forced Phil to listen to the first VIRGINS demos. All said, Phil has what it takes when he walks on stage in front of two-dozen people to look his best, play his best, and be his best.
Three brothers in rock ‘n’ roll, broke as shit, desperate as hell, punk as fuck. Perhaps just like you?
Since the start of my webzine a few years ago I've come across a lot of awesome new music, but few bands has gotten my full attention as fast as the Norman, Oklahoma punk quartet Over Stars & Gutters. I got the band's self-released debut album "Consider This Your Curse" in the mail just before it came out and as soon as I heard the first chorus of opening track "Written In Green Ink", I was hooked. Sincere, rough-around-the-edges pop punk with a lot of heart is what this band is all about.
Often gathering comparisons to Hot Water Music, Lawrence Arms, Jawbreaker, and Dillinger Four, the band is not trying to reinvent the wheel, but they are passionate to continue in the footsteps of those who were not afraid to live life how they saw fit. Started in the summer of 2007, the "Consider This Your Curse" lineup did not come together until early 2009, but since then the guys have been going strong. They've already self-released their debut that was recorded in Tulsa, Oklahoma by Stephen Egerton (The Descendents/All), toured the Midwest, and have no plans of slowing down.
Over Stars & Gutters write and play the music they love and that's exactly how it should be. I'm proud as hell to be releasing music by a band as fantastic as this.
Conceived in 2004 when Laura stopped screening Bill's calls and enlisted in the New Dress after the first honest spin of a song about misplaced love and broken ribs... Across the river she moved, where she and Bill started writing songs inspired by their common interest in woah-oh-oh's, ah-ah-ahs and general concern-for-the-state-of-things. We are just Laura and Bill, nerves and positivity.
"You could probably call this folk punk but what it comes down to is simply two voices and a guitar in the purest traditions of folk and rock'n'roll." - Exclaim! Magazine
"...The New Dress seems to strike a happy medium between accessible pop punk and the loose ramshackle folk whose spirit and technique they capture [...] They certainly have adopted some of (Billy) Bragg's phrasing and simplicity, but more importantly, they have captured his ability to write very human social commentary." - Rock and Roll and Meandering Nonsense
"In a sea of commercial "punk" music as fashion and consumable entertainment, this is the real thing." - Paul Silver, Jersey Beat
"Yes they make a fantastic, teeth rattling, sing along hard core/pop punk hybrid, but they also designed their latest album around a valentine to the Communist Party (the vinyl record is designed as a red heart). Now that takes guts!" - Examiner.Com
