What will the neighbors think?
After a bit of recent onstage drama Trey Oswald is out as the vocalist of Reagan Youth — “Please go get help that you so desperately need,” the “members” section of the band’s Facebook page not-so-subtly reads — and former Dead Kennedy’s frontman/punk rock documentarian Jeff Penalty is in.
“There’s a moment shared by all punks — the moment when you first open your eyes and see just how fucked up the world really is,” Penalty tells Decibel. “It births an anger inside you, and punk music is the only thing that keeps that fire from burning you down. No band better captures the spirit of that discontented awakening better than Reagan Youth. Their storied past and their impact on the hardcore punk scene are humbling, and I’m honored and excited to be joining them. I never thought I’d join one infamous punk band, let alone two. Life is really fucking weird sometimes. But in an awesome way.”
“I’d rather be right than safe! That’s why we’ve brought Jeff and Rick on board, not because it’s the safe thing to do but because it’s the right thing to do,” Reagan Youth cofounder, guitarist, and all around badass adds. “The safe thing would have been for me and [Reagan Youth bassist] Tibbie X to fold it up, but I’m not going to do that.”
And…the hits keep coming: Drummer Stig Whisper has been replaced by former Dr. Know skin whaler Rick Contreras.
“I’m ecstatic to be joining the legacy that is Reagan Youth,” Contreras says. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Dave’s message and it’s great to be a part of it. Paul’s doing some amazing things with the band and Tibbie’s given it a new lease on life. Working alongside everybody has me excited and looking forward to what’s in store for this upcoming tour.”
“It’s like my entire record collection came to life, got all scrambled up and all the band members got reassigned, in a really great way,” Tibbie X, who also fronts the churning cauldron of sex and punk known as GASH, says. “On top of it all I get to be in the band with members of Dead Kennedy’s, Reagan Youth and Dr. Know. Amazing.”
Photo by Scott Cole.
April tour dates:
4/14. Santa Maria – O’Sullivan’s
4/15. Paso Robles – Mannys
4/16. Fresno – Audie’s olympic
4/17. San Fran – Parkside
4/18. Sonoma – 755 After Dark
4/19. Sacramento – Blue lamp
