Young Livers: Boxcar Diaries
Words: James Ferreira
Photo: Aaron Kahn

Since the mid to late 90s Gainesville, Florida has been revered internationally for having one of the world’s best punk scenes having launched Less Than Jake, Hot Water Music, and more recently Against Me! to superstardom amongst the mainstream music loving populous. As with most dynamics, Gainesville’s punk scene is in constant flux, many bands appear and disappear before having a chance to leave their mark. The Young Livers have recently begun to stir this stiff drink with their own brand of indie thrash punk. Made up of band members from Glass & Ashes, Fiya and a revolving door of others, their infectious high-energy live shows are causing quite the commotion around these parts.  With the critically acclaimed release of their first full length album (The New Drop Era) on both No Idea and Kiss of Death Records, the guys are set to hit the road for a few months venturing up the East Coast and through the Midwest before returning home.

“Touring is the pinnacle of the band experience. The writing and recording process and playing shows around Gainesville and Florida is always fun, our friends are great. But touring is a whole different experience; it really challenges you as a band and as individuals. To go through all the good and the bad shit the road has in store all at once, with no break, keeping it together while remembering to have fun and give the people you meet and play for the best show you can. We're going up through the Midwest, the Northeast, and back down the East Coast, which is good for us because we get to play with a lot of friends, but we're also hitting a few new spots, which feels great to see new faces and play for new crowds,” drummer Chris Jordan said about their upcoming tour.  

The aforementioned notoriety of the Gainesville punk scene has led to some criticism for a lack of originality.

“I'm sure some people have preconceived ideas of what a Gainesville band will sound like, or act like. ‘Do they have beards? Do they have dreadlocks? Do they love PBR?’ Just like having the No Idea name on your record, being from Gainesville will make people curious since so much great music has come from what really is just a small college town. With The Fest getting bigger and more popular every year, though, it looks like Gainesville will remain on the map as a music Mecca for a long time to come,”
Chris told us.

“Gainesville is a great home base. It's vibrant; new local businesses are thriving; active bands keep popping up. It's a great place to get stimulated. It's nice to be far from home and have people come out and see us just because they heard a Gainesville band was playing. Florida, in general, is one of my favorite places. There's a wildness in the air that I've come to embrace. It will always be my home.  Phil Longo (the Country Slashers) from Orlando hangs the Florida state flag over his cabinet when he plays. I'm thinking about getting one for myself,” guitar player Dave Hall said when asked about his feelings on being a punk band based in Gainesville.

The price of fame is felt hard in the heart of Florida’s punk scene. The huge success that has been afforded some of the afore-mentioned acts has led to widespread cries of “sellout” and accusations of false devotion to ideology of what being punk truly means.

“We've built this band from the ground up, and who knows how far it will take us. We just want to keep playing, writing, and touring as long as it's fun. Everybody's got an opinion on what a 'punk' or 'underground' band should and shouldn't do, and I really don't care to air mine or speak on behalf of my band, but I personally think the three bands you mentioned have earned the success they've achieved, so yeah, it's encouraging,” Chris told us when asked his feelings on the success of some of Gainesville’s favorite sons.

Young Livers will be hitting the road for a few months at the end of February, but don’t forget to wish them a fond farewell at The Atlantic in Gainesville on February 19th, and pick up a copy of The New Drop Era if you haven’t already.

myspace.com/younglivers