CONVALESCENTS

http://www.dangerdog.com/2012-music-reviews/convalescents-armageddon.php - Danger Dog (Craig Hartranft)

http://paperdragonink.com/?p=8585 - Paper Dragon

http://paperdragonink.com/?p=8585 - Paper Dragon

http://paperdragonink.com/?p=8585 - Paper Dragon

The Convalescents

There's whole crapload of reasons to live in SoCal. We've got the beaches, the waves, the girls, and then again we've also got the traffic, the smog and a crackpot state government hellbent on running everyone out of this State for good. But on the plus side, we also have had some pretty influential punk bands start out here - NOFX, Green Day, the Offspring to name a few. We're lucky that way - with a lot of the record labels here, we generally get to see "them" before they become "them" if you get my drift..

Well, it seems like Fort Collins, Colorado might have something to say about that now...

The full length debut release from Colorado based The Convalescents entitled ARMEGEDDON throw it down with all their might, and leave a damn big dent. With production by Bill Stevenson (drummer for The Descendants), there is serious NOFX / DropKick Murphy's sound (without the bagpipes of course) - a huge sound in fact, much bigger than you'd expect from a debut drop. The incredibly crisp vocals layered into the final mix are quite the strength of the tracks, delivering on point lyrics. Dylan Busby, the blunt and charismatic frontman for the pop punk powerhouse made no bones about how these tracks came about, especially the final track, Queen of Misfortune. Pure and simple he says, it was a helluva month - starting with injuries to his dog, a $250 vet bill and a car wreck with seemingly no path back to normal.

The rest of the ten tracks build upon a lot of personal trials and tribulations that Busby has gone thru - these tracks are his "personal pulls" of shit that has happened to him - things that suck, things out of control. And really, those are the songs that reach out and get people's attention. When a band can relate to the what's going on in a fan's life as correctly as Busby has with his lyrics, the end result is a song that gets hummed out loud when your not plug'd into in your iPhone and jamming it. Most of these release was originally intended for another Busby project, DB and The Catastrophe. As that entity, the band did a three year stint, garnering a following and gigging everywhere from SXSW, CMJ and some gigs in Canada at The Bovine Sex Club. They released an EP entitled Don't Look Back. After some personnel changes, Busby invited long time friends Eric Lehman and drummer Ben Duncan to join in the effort. The guitar lick that are so incredibly slick were added in when Busby approached Priegel at a bonfire hosted by Busby to add his talents. Months in the making and in the mix, voila ! The Convalescents were born in January 2012. Yes, that January 2012.

I've always had a soft spot for this type of sound from punk bands - it's has all the soul and intensity and honestly that so many indie, pop punk and rock bands don't have. Even the guitar notes trailed out The Real Me just wrap with a sonic truthfulness that you know, even from the first listen, you know deep down that it' exactly how that note had to be laid in. From the first round licks in the title track ringing out like a bell, Armegeddon takes over - Busby lamenting on free will and the lose of mans ability to roam. With no let up, the release slides into "Lucky", the track with the most Dropkick influenced licks in it. It's got a nicely repeated backbone to it, brief and just enough to give the rest of the song it's bones. It's so nice to hear lyrics that FIT the rest of the music being dished out. Preigel's guitar sings out it's own vocals and the whole damn song, hell the whole damn release, works because it's so well balanced, with clear lyrics driving the charge.

Well done boys...come out West and show all the pretenders to the throne how it's done up there in snowy Ft. Collins - some locals down here can learn a thing or two from y'all. - http://www.lifeabove11.com/

Convalescents
Convalescents avoided Arison Cain's fate as their fans filtered in during the sound check. The solid turnout energized the band to hit the anthemic sound of their recordings. Recently, I've reviewed Convalescents' new album, Armageddon as well as their earlier incarnation as DB and the Catastrophe (review). The band matched the pace of the new album as they filled their set with material from both eras and challenged us all to keep up.

As on the record, frontman Dylan Busby's vocals often reached for a Billie Joe Armstrong feel, matched by the Green Day drive of the guitars. Leaning out at the audience, his vocals and guitar thrash anchored the band's sound. Lead guitarist Gideon Priegel laid down solid riffs; each one seemed carefully worked out to keep the songs zipping by. The guitars and vocals were muddy in the mix at Moe's, but Convalescents' playing proved to be every bit as tight as their recording.

As fine as Busby and Priegel were, the band's rhythm section was the real secret weapon.

Bassist Eric Lehman defined in-the-pocket playing. His melodic bass fills often added power to the chord changes. When he got to show off a little bit, like his John Entwistle style runs at the start of Broken, it was a treat.

But I was most impressed with drummer Ben Duncan. It's easy to overlook drummers in the back of the stage. As a guitarist, I often take drumming a little bit for granted. But no one could ignore Duncan. Technically, he was one of the fastest drummers I've heard. His kick work sounded like a double bass pedal and he could throw in double time fills or even rolls where a fast drummer would use a single strike. His technique stayed fully in service to the songs, though. The speedy fills and rolls stayed within the core rhythm, giving the drums a busy drive without falling into "drum solo mode" and obscuring the basic beat. Normally, I think "less is more", but now I know that more can be so much more.

The Convalescents' set was focused on the quality of their playing and their work showed. Without slipping into shoegazer introspection, their most joyous moments came when they knew they were nailing the song.

- Jester Jay

Colorado punk rockers Convalescents amp things up successfully in uniquely-penned 10-tracks.

The band name and the seemingly juxtaposition of the album title had this writer/listener intrigued from the start. Certain words just feel aristocratic as does 'convalesce' (who here has not heard Nikki Newman on The Young and The Restless use this word as she pours herself another fresh glass of lemonade from the drink cart in her front room?) And, besides the blockbuster movie starring Ben Affleck with the horribly addictive Aerosmith song on the soundtrack, when one thinks of 'armageddon' doomsday seems a few sins away.

Now that that is out of the way-- the music! Here's a quick glimpse of the 10-tracks from Convalescents' Armageddon.

Scratch Scratch: What first comes to mind is the opening sequence of King of The HIll. The blistering percussion and the caffeine overdrive guitars rush the listener into this punk-fueld head bang. The lyrics and vocals are like early Green Day, but could also pass for something more like Against Me!.

This is a great song to come out of the shoot.

Armageddon (tittle track): The crunchy guitar riffs and vocal tempo in this track are combustable. This is a killer song and the way they vocalize the word 'arm-a-ged-don' is fresh and so punk. What is interesting in this track is the orchestration feels frenzied the vocals are debonaire.

Lucky: Like a lot of punk songs, the orchestration and backing sounds sound very full - but by the third song, they kind of sound the same. Convalescents teeter totter a bit on this - but they redeem their sound with slight, but noticeably welcomed riffs in 'Lucky.' This song has the same commanding lyrics that are not just singing words, but legitimately sharing experiences with the listener.

Scoundrel: This song is really the standout thus far - and has this heavy, crunchy guitar riff change into this more pop-sounding elated guitar tango alongside the always hyper drums. At one point the lyrics talk about 'not being ignored' and this is sage advice to listeners - don't ignore this track.

She's a Gun: Catchy and a bit hilarious, right after the first stanza in "She's a Gun' the bass work plunges into this quirky, groove. It's tight.

Love Pirate: The listener feels a bit comfortable in the sound and the vocal range at this point in the album - and the lyrics really keep things fresh. The story being told in this one is something the listener can easily relate too, and Convalescents keep it upbeat and tight.

The Real Me, Stay Pure and Hindsight leave no down time for the listener. LIke the previous tracks, the lyrics are smart and original. And, in the final track, the listener thinks they have a moment to stop jumping when "Queen of Misfortune" starts, only to find out this is another amp'd up radio-ready track.
Overall CD Review is A

Overall, Armageddon, gets a solid A review. This writer/listener wanted to give it that bonus, but it would have been nice to have a bit more variety in guitar riffs and vocal range. A lot of the songs sound alike on this album - which is not the worst thing considering all the songs are solid works. For listeners that enjoy punk, but are not quite ready for Black Flag, The Cramps, Iggy Pop or The Misfits, this is a great band to get to know. - Melissa Kucirek - Suite 101

The type of punk rock that the CONVALESCENTS play is insane; the energy brought to listeners with the opening strains of Scratch Scratch is reminiscent of 1039-era Green Day and Bad Religion. The tightness of the band is made more visible through a solid overall production. This production ensures that each part of the band is able to shine, be it vocals, drums, or guitars.

The band is able to look back at the late-nineties punk movement and provide it with a vibrancy and a vitality that is unparalleled; with each sub-three minute track, I feel that the CONVALESCENTS are able to possess that much more energy and momentum for the latter registers of the album. Scoundrel begins in a more nuanced way than others of its ilk; I like how the band is able to showcase their ability of musicians even as the Welt-esque melodies belt listeners.

Where a number of bands begin to peter out at the end of their albums, I feel that the CONVALESCENTS are able to keep listeners’ attentions throughout. The close scattershot that comprise each of the 10 tracks on Armageddon will create a legion of fans; I feel that the band has a collection of hits on their hands. Listeners should find out whether the CONVALESCENTS are coming to your neck of the woods; I believe that the energy and fury brought here would even be more in your face and stark given a live format. Regardless, Armageddon is the best punk title that we have reviewed this year; it’s nice to see that some bands still give a damn. Pick up a copy of Armageddon from the band.

Top Tracks: Scratch Scratch, She’s A Gun

Rating: 8.4/10

Read more: http://neufutur.com/?p=28239#ixzz1vuHtD68J
- James McQuiston - Neufutur

The band CONVALESCENTS consists of front man Dylan Busby, bassist Eric Lehman, drummer Ben Duncan and guitarist Gideon Priegel. They have all been friends since middle school which is revealed in how they work together on their first full length CD, “Armageddon”. These guys are focused and on a mission and are pumping out some hard core rockers.

First of all, I have to commend the drummer. We all know drummers are the backbone of a band, they keep that driving force and everyone all together. Sometimes they do not always get the props they deserve. Well, this guy goes beyond the call of duty and creates a powerful atmosphere that can be felt in the very core of your being. Beat after beat he awakens something inside that you never knew even existed.

Ok, now they have my attention. This CD is a slice of life. Each song tells stories about a day in the life of your average 20 something trying to cope with every day struggles. It has this cool angst vibe that gets your adrenaline pumping. Sometimes the best medicine is empowerment and this music is an excellent catalyst for those emotions.

Hats off to these guys. Talent is a huge part of what makes them a great team. The other part is keeping it real and doing what they love. Being in a band is like being in a relationship and they always work best when everyone is working together. “Armageddon” is a nice body of work displaying poised vision. - Rebecca Hosking - Skope Entertainment INC

Artist: Convalescents
Album: Armageddon
Label: Independent Artist
Website: http://www.facebook.com/CONVALESCENTSMUSIC
Genre: Punk
Sounds Like: Weezer, Social Distortion Green Day, The White Stripes
Technical Grade: 9/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 8/10
Commercial Value: 9/10
Overall Talent Level: 7/10
Songwriting Skills: 7/10
Performance Skill: 10/10
Best Songs: Lucky, Scratch Scratch, Armageddon
Weakness: Over the Top Vocal Intensity, Repetitive Catalogue, Marketability
CD Review: Colorado based pop-funk band “Convalescents” releases their latest CD entailed Armageddon in 2012. The band consists of front man Dylan Busby, bassist Eric Lehman and drummer Ben Duncan (who are joined in the current lineup by guitarist Gideon Priegel). CD was produced and engineered by Bill Stevenson, drummer for legendary punk band The Descendents who has also skinned for Black Flag and helmed projects for everyone from fellow punk rockers NOFX to hard rockers Puddle of Mudd.

The CD explodes in your face with “Scratch Scratch” a grinding guitar groove meshed against driving rock rhythm, emotionally charged vocal delivery and well placed harmonies from lead singer Busby and company. Track 2 “Armageddon” serves up another solid low end groove, with melodic musical flow coupled with hooky harmonies and impressive vocal accents from Busby. Track 3 my personal favorite “Lucky” packs a powerful punch with its thought provoking lyrical content, pulsating rock groove meshed with an infectious rock melody that flows and ebbs its way through to emotional fruition. As the CD unfolds I can hear many musical influences reminiscent of Green Day, Weezer, and even Social Distortion and Rancid. Right from the start you will notice Busby and company feel quite comfortable just letting it all hang out musically, not holding anything back. The overall musical vibe has a nice, raw punk indie feel to it. The guitar playing is rock solid across the board as he dishes out impressive guitar licks, rock solid rhythm guitar playing and a few mesmerizing solos. Busby’s got solid vocal timber and is full of passion and recklessness abandon. The musicianship from all the other members in the band has everything you would expect from a standard 4 piece punk-rock band. The songs themselves are consistent musical experiences, each one possessing unique personality, flair and signature groove. From rocking “Scoundrel” to melodic “She’s a Gun” to thought provoking “Love Pirate” this CD has something for just about everyone. The CD ends with Track 10 “Quenn of Misfortune” the perfect finale statement for a CD of this caliber.

Some of the vocal intensity is a bit over the top. If could say anything to “Convalescents” right now - it would be for Busby to step back from the mic a bit on some of the slower/o parts, find that emotional pocket and ride down the intensity a bit. I really like the voice, the passion and the raw intensity, but Busby comes on way to strong across the board. Overall this catalogue is guilty of being a bit repetitive as well - song for song. I fully realize this is a subjective art form but many of the above issues effect the CD’s overall marketability.

In close Armageddon by “Convalescents”is an action packed production from start to finish. It’s strong suit – its raw feel almost as if you were watching a band play live in the studio. If these guys have a slam dunk live presentation then that would be a deadly combination no doubt. The songs are extremely melodic, passionate and powerful – and will no doubt get your adrenalin pumping. Almost as if you were heading head first into - well the end of the world. - Cyrus Rhodes - Muse's Muse

Dylan Busby's DB and the Catastrophe has reformed as Convalescents after a topsy turvy year of line up changes. The name change signals clarity of vision rather than a major shift in direction. Where DB and the Catastrophe's Don't Look Back (review) allowed for distractions like ska horns and virtuoso bass lines, Convalescents keep the focus on the high energy pop punk foundation they've always had.

Armageddon keeps a relentless pace from start to finish. Not to deny Convalescents' originality and impressive execution, this could be considered the best Green Day album in years. If not quite another American Idiot, it is on par with 21st Century Breakdown. Before anyone takes that comparison as a dig, consider how many bands have aspired to Green Day's mantle and fallen pathetically short. It's not that Convalescents are aping Green Day (no more than Johnny Winter ripped off Muddy Waters). Instead, they're taking the inspiration and injecting their own energy and personality.

The opening tune, Scratch Scratch, set the tone right from the start. The lyrics offer the kind of socio-political commentary that latter period Green Day has settled into:

The press has taken over now
Their words of wisdom are mass controlling
They say the world's gone to hell
Panic surges, the neighborhood burns down

Busby's vocals aim for Billie Joe Armstrong and nail it. The wall of guitars chop through the tune at a breakneck pace, but there's still some room for some subtle walk-up fills here and there. The drumming is particularly impressive during the bridge as Ben Duncan lays down some thunderous low end rolls.

Armageddon does a good job of stirring the musical pot. The tracks flow together well, but Convalescents change up their progressions, giving each song a unique feel. Where Scratch Scratch runs at a steady frantic rate, Stay Pure crams a double-timed, Kinks-style set of chords to a thrash beat. Chunked palm mutes and speedy drum fills anchor the whipsaw feel of the song. True to the punk standard set by the Ramones and the Minutemen, the songs are short. This lets the band swing for the fences, packing each tune with sparks and thunder.

Punk is all about attitude, but too many bands seem to use punk as an excuse for sloppy playing. Convalescents capture the intensity and expressive emotion, but the clean production and spot on playing make Armageddon a great album. - Jester Jay

With a new year comes a new start for the band formally known as DB AND THE CATASTROPHE. They have spent a good chunk of this winter on their new album ARMAGEDDON, have done a tour through the southwest and into Cali to play with THE ATARIS, and a new identity as the band is now called "CONVALESCENTS". DYLAN BUSBY the founder of the group explains the fresh start: "We have three new members within one year, we have a kick ass record done with Bill Stevenson that the three us (BEN DUNCAN on drums and ERIC LEHMAN on bass and backing vocals) worked really hard on. Then we added GIDEON PRIEGEL on guitar and he brings our live show out of this world. This change is something we can stand behind as an entire group, making this no longer a guy with a bunch of people of stage, this makes us a band, one mass idea that we all believe in and work for." The band had a solid 2011 playing SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, NORTH BY NORTHEAST, and CMJ among other successful venue gigs but 2012 is looking like it will be an even stronger year as this band matures and steps out into the limelight they have been preparing for. ARMAGEDDON is a strong piece of work not to go unnoticed by even the most seasoned punk fan. Say hello world, CONVALESCENTS are here and there's no stopping them. - Brian Lush - ROCKWiRED

It's been quite some time since I considered myself a fan of punk music. A transitional phase in my early teens had me actively seeking material from bands like Green Day, The Offspring and NOFX. I wouldn't say I've come a far way since; while I don't seek it out anymore, I'm certainly not opposed to the more upbeat, pop-centric blend of punk that was incredibly prevalant for a good part of the 1990's. Recently brought to my attention, in the way many bands are to assorted critics worldwide, are the CONVALESCENTS, a foursome hailing from Colorado whose aim is to preserve that vibrant and fundamentally entertaining sound from the past. Armageddon is representative of the best qualities of quality pop-punk; catchy, lyrically fulfilling, endlessly energenic. While some tracks take their time more than others, you won't find any breaks in the action ala some other bands of their ilk; Armageddon is a rollercoaster of an album.

From the first musical cartwheels of "Scratch Scratch" to the final breath of "Queen of Misfortune", Armageddon goes by so fast that it demands repeated listens. And you wouldn't want to listen again and again if it sucked, right? Right. Nothing on Armageddon sucks, everything stands out as warranted, well-written and welcoming. The entire 25 minutes, every last one of the 10 tracks, is totally memorable in pieces or as a whole. Frontman Dylan Busby has a name that I have a hard time not imagining being household at some point in his life; a voice that fits this style better than perhaps any other I've heard in the past and songwriting that stands comparison with any other band of their ilk that I've come across. And while the entire band meshes together beautifully, drummer Ben Duncan's stamina and enthusiasm behind the kit are, like most great punk music, both essential and very up-front in the sound picture. Ben has a certain creaitivty that allows for bigger, more diverse fills and grooves than you might expect.

It was immediate to me, in less than 30 seconds on my first listen, exactly what the CONVALESCENTS were all about. Close to a dozen listens later and I'm feeling like I never left my old, somewhat disguised love affair with pop-punk behind. Armageddon feels like both a blast from the past and a logical next-step for the genre; it doesn't exactly re-invent it, but it should serve to rejuvinate a criminally underappreciated genre. Fans of said genre, do not under any circumstances let Armageddon pass you by. Even if I don't review another punk album this year, I feel safe in saying this one is going to be amongst the very best you hear. - Kevin Sellers - Music Emissions

A review of DB and the Catastrophe - The Angry Martian Chronicles

A review of DB and the Catastrophe - Jester Jay

A review of DB and the Catastrophe - Jester Jay

Get ready for a full-frontal “assault” – enormously fabulous Post-Punk tracks fronted by savagely marvelous lead vocals. These guys have learned a few things since their first self-titled EP, which was, BTW, for those keeping track, enormous and fabulous. (This one = gigantic, enormous, fabulous.) It wasn’t a HUGE surprise that they topped it – some said they hadn’t yet found their own sound – but even then they were definitely on to something BIG, so now I guess they’ve proved that they could go further, faster (it has been just over a year and a half), and they proved they could be more polished than other local types, getting regular nods from radio. They – they being Dylan Busby (guitar, lead vocals); Tyler McGoffin (backup vocals, guitar, trumpet); Ricky Brown (bass); and Diego Valenzuela (drums) – have a sound that is Post-Punk meets Pop – with no shortage of vigor – and with a nice undercurrent of Ska (love the horn, boys) meets just a tinge of Brit Pop. This four-song EP includes the single “Assault,” which carried them to the Top 12 of 93.3 KTCL’s illustrious Hometown for the Holidays (and that gave me a lead-in to this review.) The only regret here is that there are only four songs, and that if you loop the CD you tend to see the four tracks as one single that last four tracks. But what a great single it is. They just have a great sound. - Colorado Music Buzz

Worse Case Scenario
Worst case scenario for a rock band: drummer breaks his foot and can’t play. DB and the Catastrophe faced this scenario Wednesday night, August 18th. Being the consummate professionals they are, they took on the challenge of rocking Herman’s Hideaway without their talented drummer.
DB and the Catastrophe shines under pressure
To meet the challenge, Tyler pulled out the acoustical guitar, Ricky kicked up the bass, and Dylan led the assault with his distinctive voice. Can a band rock without a drummer? Wednesday’s performance proved they totally can.
DB and the Catastrophe performed songs from their new EP Don’t Look Back, including the aptly named song “Assault”. They mixed it up with several popular songs from their first album, Fade Out, and a cover of “The Sweater Song” by Weezer. It was truly a one of a kind performance, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
Part of the appeal of a live performance is the chemistry a band has with the audience. DB and the Catastrophe deliver an entertaining performance every time. Don’t miss the chance to see this gifted, upbeat band live on stage.
Interested in keeping up with concert dates and the latest news? Click here. - Culture Mob

Local Fort Collins punk band DB and the Catastrophe brought the ’90s punk sound of bands like NOFX and Green Day to Denver today with a free in-store show at Independent Records on Colfax.
The band set up in the back of the store and rocked the place for a solid half hour or so. They sounded great live and their original songs were pretty good. They also performed two solid covers (Don’t Stop Believing by Journey and The Idiots Are Taking Over by NOFX). There was about 20-30 people there, most of them just regular customers enjoying a Saturday afternoon at the record store, but there were several people who had came out to support the band.
I picked up a copy of their E.P. Don’t Look Back and it rocked! Especially for only a couple of bucks. This is definitely a band that has earned their place alongside local punk acts like Reno Divorce and Synthetic Elements.
The bands next show is in their hometown of Fort Collins at Hodi’s Half Note. Check out the band’s Myspace page for their music and upcoming shows and also be sure to check out Independent Records at beindependent.com. - Culture Mob

We are loving this next band, DB and the Catastrophe, so much that we have two---count them---two versions for our readers to read spotlights that easily showcase the love, passion, and heart that each member puts into their music. In each of the spotlights, we asked several questions so that we could get to know more about this terrific band and what makes them tick. Here is what developed from our online conversation.

Isaac: I just listened to one of your songs from your CD. What was the inspiration for making your new album?

DB and the C: We have been writing some great new music that we want to get out there after having our first single “Assault” hit the radio. We want to show the industry that we aren't just going to die out we still got a lot to show the industry.

Isaac: Who were your influences?

DB and the C: We always get this question and it's really a diverse answer cause of all of our personal influences. Our influences are: A.F.I., Against Me, Anti Flag, Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Bayside, Blink-182, A Day to Remember, Green Day, Less Than Jake, Lucky Boys Confusion, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, My Chemical Romance, NOFX, The Offspring, Operation Ivy, Pennywise, Reel Big Fish, Silverstain, Single File, Social Distortion, Sublime, and Sum 41.

Isaac: What do you consider to have been the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career to date?

DB and the C: Our high points definitely include making it into the Top 12 of 93.3 KTCL's Hometown for the Holidays, playing the Hard Rock Cafe a couple of times, and getting accepted into the local industry of Denver.

Isaac: Brief history about your background plus the style of music you play.

DB and the C: We all went to the same high school and played in different bands. After leaving high school and starting this project, we started to piece together the band from friends we knew that played. Our music style is still and probably always will be slightly changing and maturing to bring the best out in us. All of our different style get thrown into this huge pot and makes a brand new unique sound.

Isaac: How easy is it to gets gigs for you as an artist? What is the live music scene like in your area?

DB and the C: At first, it was the hardest thing to get a gig. I think we booked our first gig after trying to get one for three months or so. After that, it was still a little rough but became way easier. The scene in Colorado is amazing; great bands that help out and a supportive and involved community.

Isaac: What do you think of the state of Indie music at the moment? Do you listen to radio much at all? Has the Internet helped music grow or hindered it in your opinion?

DB and the C: The independent side of the industry is in this weird fragile state. It is growing and is wide open for new bands to get in and do what they love, but at the same time with the economic down period it is also unstable. We do listen to the radio, especially local music shows and late at night when they show new music. The Internet is an awesome tool for small independent bands. We have some fans that found us in Australia... AUSTRALIA!! Without the Internet that wouldn't be possible. At the same time, the Internet has definitely made the talent pool over saturated.

Isaac: What CD's do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?

DB and the C: We have our first album Fade-Out for sale on our website and at our shows. We also have a couple of tracks on tons of digital stores. We are hoping to come out with our new EP by the end of this month so keep updated through our MySpace or website.

Isaac: Where can fans access your music, videos, blogs, and anything else about you online?

DB and the C: Let’s see we have our website and mailing list, but we are also on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, iLike, and many more.

Isaac: Message to your fans?

DB and the C: Thanks to every one for supporting us! We really couldn't be doing some of the things without all of you! And if you don't know us, check us out, we are sure you'll find something you'll like.
- Juniors Cove

Click the link to watch our TV performance. - The Deuce

Click the link to Listen to our interview/performance on 99.5 The Mountain. - 99.5 The Mountain

It has been exactly one year since guitarist Dylan Busby became DB and the Catastrophe. While Busby was in the process of assembling a backup band for a solo project, he says, "I realized I surrounded myself with people whom I have tons of fun with and feed off of while making music, and that is when we decided to just turn it into a band."

Since that time, the Ft. Collins-based band has been hard at work, doing live shows and promotion. Their hard work paid off when they were voted one of the Top 12 bands in Channel 93.3's Hometown for the Holidays contest. Citing many diverse influences from The Clash to Mighty Mighty Bosstones to Johnny Cash, DB and the Catastrophe have the range to appeal to many people with a sound that draws from punk, ska and modern rock. Their high-energy approach often gets described as "infectious" and "fun."

DB describes the band's current successes as a result of "great opportunities and tons of work." He gives the fans much of the credit for the level of exposure the band has had. "If you can reach some one and get them to talk about you to their friends, you just pulled in ten more people," he says.

DB and the Catastrophe gets to celebrate one year together with a concert tonight, January 8, at the Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. in Denver. Also appearing are the A-OKs, No Bueno, and Left Lane Ends. Tickets are $8. Show starts at 7:30 P.M. - examiner.com

Last year I attended the Ska is Dead tour, and I have to wonder: If an entire tour is dedicated to a music genre being dead, have the times changed that much where fun dance music is no longer considered valid, and brass instruments are no longer considered sexy? I sure hope not, and one band out of Fort Collins, Colorado, is working on proving that.

DB and the Catastrophe was started by frontman Dylan Busby as a solo project. Bass player Ricky Brown, guitarist and trumpet player Tyler McGoffin, and drummer Diego Valenzuala were later added to complete this foursome. While the group has not done shows for more than a year, they have captured some attention: They were finalists in Fort Collins Music Association’s Battle of the Bands in July of this year, and they made KTCL’s Top 10 in Hometown for the Holidays.

Being no stranger to the music world, it is easy to see why Busby grabbed attention fairly quickly. “I interned at Summit Studios for seven months,” explains Busby. “I stayed another five after the internship ended.” Summit Studios is a new recording studio out of Parker, Colo. This is also where the full-length album entitled Fade Out was recorded, and then mixed at Blasting Room Studios.

“Fade Out” is definitely a first release: It shows the potential of greatness that could lie within the band, once they define their sound. One of the singles, “Knock Out,” is a great high-energy tune, fast guitar rhymes, classic trumpet, and vocals with the deep, raspy sound that remind me of no one other than Tim Armstrong. A second track, “Love Pirate,” is catchy, and got stuck in my head after one listen. However, there are others that just haven’t found their sound yet. For instance, the album’s song, “Take me Away,” is catchy, but sounds too similar to Blink 182’s “Damnit,” if a trumpet was added, to be given any sort of credibility. The newest song, “Assault,” was recorded and mixed at Blasting Room Studios with Jason Livermore to send in for Hometown for the Holidays, and it’s fantastic. It’s upbeat, well written, and Busby’s voice has the deep-sounding sex appeal that made me fall in love with Social Distortion years back. However, with the trumpet being unused in the song, the fun-loving Ska sound seemed to be lost, and the sound within the band seems to be undetermined. I’m not questioning whether DB and the Catastrophes have talent: They most obviously do. However, I’m not sure they know what to do with it yet. As a newer band, they will have time to figure that out, and frontman Busby explains there is nothing he wants more. “This is the career pathway. This is all I know how to do.”
- Colorado Music Buzz

This is going to sound like such a weak, weak cliché, but I swear this is the best way to put this: The first track of this self-titled EP is appropriately titled – the CD knocked me out. (Eek. That was bad, huh? Sorry.) Really though, as far as
Post-Punk Punk goes, this is the stuff of dreams. And while “Knocked Out” knocks out folks like me, Dylan Busby and his buddies – he enlisted Tyler McGoffin, Ricky Brown and Diego Valenzuala – will also have mass appeal with lovers of Ska and the whole Alt-whatever (fill in the blank) mob. DB and the Catastrophe offers up four very energetic and well-produced singles – and big brownie points for the fabulously hip and earth-friendly packaging. (Note to other artists: If you’re going to go hard copy, please, please, please: enough with the jewel cases. A sleeve with some cool artwork – like what DB and the Catastrophe having going on – is just so much more now.
- Colorado Music Buzz

New to the Fort Collins music scene is punk rock band DB and the Catastrophe. Having officially formed at the beginning of the year, the foursome already have begun making a name for themselves with their pop-punk-ska combination.
“We would say it is comparable to the early 1990s pop-punk, and we also throw in some horns and play some ska,” said frontman Dylan Busby.

Having met during their high school days, Busby (DB), guitarist Tyler McGoffin (McG) and bassist Ricky Brown would play together during and after school. After adding drummer Tim O’Conner to the mix this past year, the group was complete, and DB and the Catastrophe was born.

But getting into the Fort Collins music scene wasn’t easy.

“We have been working on getting into the scene up here since January and July was when we finally got in,” said Busby.

After being invited to perform at Fort Collins Music Association’s Battle of the Bands at the Aggie Theatre this year, the group was quickly asked to fill an opening spot at the music venue.

“After playing, the owner of the Aggie called me up to his office and said he really enjoyed us and told me to come back the next day to talk about shows. … The next day he hops on the phone and calls the guys for Strung Out and we got on that bill,” said Busby. “Right after that we kind of had a small boom ourselves. People started noticing us right away, we started booking more gigs and people started responding to e-mails.”

Drawing from influences such as Operation Ivy, Social Distortion, Green Day, Reel Big Fish, NOFX, Rise Against, Goldfinger and Pennywise, DB and the Catastrophe have a way of standing out with their one-up on traditional punk rock.

“We believe we are different because we have the edge on doing this — playing punk rock very well. We want to put on a show, not just stand on stage and play some music. … We want to perform a show for the fans,” explained Busby. “We also all have the ‘oomph’ to get things done; we chase down the next step for the band at a full sprint.”

Busby adds that the band’s favorite thing to do is perform on stage, where the guys can forget about the world and just play for their fans.

“You feel like you’ve had a great performance when you have pleased the crowd and got them to move around a little.”

Currently the band is working on demos to put on MySpace, Facebook and the band’s Web site to allow fans to vote for what they like or dislike.

“Be sure to look out for that and be a part of our music,” Busby says. - Reporter-Herald