Mercy Music

There was a time when punk rock was dismissed as a fleeting fad, lumped in with disco and TV bands. But acts like The Ramones, The Clash, and later Green Day proved otherwise, cementing punk as a powerful voice of youth. Today, Mercy Music carries that torch. Led by guitarist and vocalist Brendan Scholz, the Las Vegas trio â€" rounded out by bassist Jarred Cooper and drummer Ryan Seaman â€" channels the spirit of punk's early days with raw emotion and finely crafted songs that resonate beyond fast guitars and angst.

For Scholz, punk was never about image - it was survival. He picked up a guitar at nine years old and found an outlet for the intensity of life's highs and lows. Mercy Music's latest album, What You Stand To Lose, produced by Descendents drummer Bill Stevenson, distills Scholz's knack for crafting melodic anthems wrapped in emotional honesty. With Cooper and Seaman's tight musicianship backing him, Scholz creates music that feels urgent and profoundly human, songs that cut through the noise of an increasingly cynical industry.

The heart of Mercy Music lies in the genuine connection they seek with listeners who feel like outsiders. "We've never really fit into one box," Scholz explains. Their music offers a lifeline for anyone needing a reminder that they aren't alone. Whether it's the desperate hope of "Believe In We" or the aching sorrow of "Waiting To Begin," Mercy Music's songs are unflinchingly real â€" never sanitized, always sincere.

Scholz has never let go of the drive to create despite setbacks and personal hardships. His partnership with Cooper, dating back nearly 25 years, anchors the band's foundation. Their friendship - part brotherhood, part marriage - has endured the darkest moments, allowing their music to be built on trust, openness, and resilience. Cooper says, "Brendan goes to dark places, and I'm there to help him find the light."

Mercy Music will spend most of 2024 on the road, delivering cathartic, no-frills rock shows that remind you what punk means: connection, catharsis, and survival through sound. Scholz says it best: "We're not reinventing the wheel. But I don't think a band is doing exactly what we do. And honestly? That's enough for me."

Pretty Deadly

Pretty Deadly is a Dallas, Oregon-based punk rock trio born from a one-off studio jam that turned into something too fun to walk away from. Formed in early 2025, the band features Blaine (guitar/vocals), Travis (bass/vocals), and Zach (drums)-three longtime players with over three decades in the punk scene under their belts.

Pretty Deadly isn't here to reinvent the wheel. They're here to keep it loud, fast, and honest. Rooted in the golden age of '90s and early 2000s punk-from SoCal skate punk to the grittier corners of Pacific Northwest alt-rock-their sound blends melody and grit, simplicity and sneer. There are no rules, just whatever hits in the moment. Sometimes that means channeling sad or pissed-off lyrics through a pop melody played at breakneck speed. Sometimes it leans darker and heavier. But it always stays true to the core: no stress, no filler, just three friends making noise they love.

Less is more. No bullshit. That's Pretty Deadly.

Lunch

Four guys from Santa Rosa, CA that were in other bands but wanted to start a new band: LUNCH.