For local punk rock fans, the future isn’t canceled and good things are around the corner.
Recently announced on the NEPA Stage, the first-ever Good Things Are Happening Fest at Scranton Iron Furnaces will be presented by Captain, We’re Sinking, who reunite for their first show in nearly five years on Saturday August 6th.
“We are playing our first show in what seems like an eternity. We are going to play a bit of everything,” they shared on their new twitter account.
“We just had our first group training in 5-6 years and I have to say we haven’t missed a beat. Felt like old times. 100 degrees in a Philly basement.
Formed in 2006, they have released three full albums – 2007’s ‘The Animals Are Out’, 2013’s ‘The Future Is Cancelled’ and 2017’s ‘The King of No Man’ – as well as several EPs and splits that have collected. in an eponymous compilation. They signed to independent Boston label Run for Cover Records, which helped them achieve international fame with their last two albums, and the quartet – vocalist/guitarist Bob Barnett, vocalist/guitarist Leo Vergnetti, bassist Zack Charette and drummer Bill Orender – was able to tour the country sporadically.
Following their performance at the 2017 NEPA Holiday Show with fellow Scranton bands The Menzingers and Tigers Jaw, Captain announced in early 2018 that they were going their separate ways after 12 years.
Although often compared to The Menzingers and Tigers Jaw, especially because Barnett’s brother Greg is a Menzinger, they made Scranton punk rock ring with personal, relatable songs that told detailed stories with all the angst and passion that comes with growing up and dealing with tough times and even worse relationships. The band’s breakup was much friendlier than depicted in their music, so the door always seemed open for more live appearances at the very least.
James Barrett, singer-songwriter and native of Clarks Summit, who organized Good Things Are Happening Fest, repeatedly knocked on that door until he was finally answered.
“I’ve been bugging Bob for about a year to get Captain to replay a show. Last fall, we actually planned to get them back together for a show in April, but when the COVID cases started to spike in the winter, we decided to postpone until the time was right. Once I had the idea to organize this festival, I knew that we needed big names and I said to myself: “Who better than the best in Scranton? I reached out to Bob and got the idea floating around and he got the rest of the band in. I think they deserve the headliner, and I’m so excited to see them live again,” Barrett said.
“I think they’re an amazing band and they have a history of giving some of the coolest gigs I’ve ever been to. They always have such a dedicated fanbase, and even the funny teasing of the series on their social media are an example of that. I hope it’s as cool for them to play the series as it is for me to watch it again with all my friends.
They’re set to front a diverse rock lineup that includes Bethlehem-heavy pop duo Slingshot Dakota, Massachusetts alt-rock trio Valleyheart, punk band Pay for Pain (former members of Tigers Jaw), Philadelphia indie rockers The Tisburys , Modern Ties, Worries, Bren, Campanula, Glass Mask and Barrett’s indie rock band who released their latest album last year.
Music runs from noon to 10:30 p.m. Tickets, which cost $25, are on sale now through Prekindle.
As a solo artist, Barrett opened for Captain a few years ago as part of the annual Holiday Show at the Scranton Cultural Center, but booking them was more of a personal decision.
“Growing up as a budding musician in Scranton had a lot of perks. One of them is that most of my favorite bands are all local. It’s frankly crazy. The Menzingers; Tiger Jaw; Captain , we sink; Three Man Cannon; Petal; Wicca Phase Springs Eternal; Title fight – the list goes on. Having all these artists in our area when I was younger was such a cool thing for me because it made me gave hope that bands could be successful in Scranton. Flash forward to today and I still listen to all of those bands on a regular basis. But with Captain, it feels a little bit closer to home,” explained the 25 year old player.
“I remember being in 10th grade listening to ‘The Future Is Cancelled’ over and over. I got my license that year and I think ‘Beer Can’ was the first song I drove on; somehow I remember. This album brings back such good memories of my youth, it’s hilarious because it’s so emo. I love it. But about a year later, I saw that Bob replaced as a teacher in the same room that I used to spend the whole period in the study room listening to his music. It upset me. We had played together at the Electric City Music Conference a few months before, but I hadn’t had a chance to talk to him. I remember I approached him and talked to him and that’s when I realized I needed to relax because he’s just a normal nice person writing some of my favorite songs. I think I’ve gotten better at talking to him now that I’m not 17 – I hope so, at least.
Bob Barnett released his first solo album, “Little Wounds”, in 2014, and followed it up with an EP titled “Showing Teeth” in 2015 and a live solo album, “Live from The Star & Garter”, after touring United Kingdom. with his brother in 2016.
With folk and country influences, his next album, 2018’s “Steady Ache,” deviated a bit from his previous work as Barnett took on banjo in addition to guitar and vocals. His latest record, “Darkness, Only Darkness,” described as “10 songs about two people, a prison, and the National Razor,” was released May 6.
See the NEPA Scene review and photos from the 2017 NEPA Holiday Show here, read a 2013 interview with Barnett here, and listen to Barnett talk about his musical debut, why the difficult recording of “The Future Is Cancelled” almost ended the band and what saved them, the history and importance of the annual NEPA Holiday Show, why he thinks the Scranton music scene has produced so many successful bands, his work as a history teacher, the worst and most ridiculous shows he’s ever played, his family’s secret talent shows, tours with his brother and more in Episode 42 of the NEPA Stage Original Podcast:
