Organizations in this photo: Brooklyn Transcore, Gilligan/Capacitor Records, Crystal Moon, Lunchbox, The Pigeon Pack, Leg Drop Productions and #blkgrlswurld ZINE. Punk Island is a collective of artists, curators, musicians, and educators whose goal is to bring the vitality, diversity, and intensity of the DIY punk community into the light of day. The collective works together to produce the annual Punk Island Music and Zine Festival as well as a variety of programming year round. The collective defines “Punk” as not as a genre but a culture that is rooted in DIY ethics and freedom of expression. Photo by FACE

FEATURED BANDS 

This month I give you a precision preview of all the Punk Island bands (by alphabetical order) instead of one, in depth, band review:

ABBATIA 

@abbatia_/?hl=en

ABOUT THE BAND:

From the band’s bandcamp page: ABBATIA is an intense, ever-changing music project ripping through America’s northeast and beyond. Fronted by Jazz, Droogie, backed by Syd Solanke’s cutthroat production and vocals, and the relentless drumming of Peter Sukeena, ABBATIA shouts tortured poems through an unyielding sonic field.  yank your tether. 

*ACHE

@ache_nyc

ABOUT THE BAND:

Hardcore band formed in 2014 from NYC

Ryan Bland - vox, Mattakins - guitar, Dan Piro - guitar, Rey Brutal - bass, Ryan Seit - drums

AFK:

@afktba

ABOUT THE BAND:

AFK blends together experimental hip-hop, industrial, electronic, and punk to bring a sound that's explosive, aggressive, unforgiving, but most importantly honest—a fusion that has been shaking up the NYC underground upon their arrival.

ALLAPATUS:

@allapartus

ABOUT THE BAND:

Allapartus started as a punk band during Adam’s college years, morphing over time into its current lineup: Adam Woodly on vocals and guitar, Zsorian Sanchez on guitar, Tateich Calhoun on drums, and Kevin Dubois on bass. Their music balances “delicate atmosphere and guitar-driven catharsis,” pulling from pop-punk, post-hardcore, and emo influences while keeping tension and release at the core of their songwriting.

Lyrically, the band takes inspiration from books, film, history, and current events. Adam cites science fiction, DIY communities, and labor organizing as major thematic pillars, with the upcoming full-length album expanding on those ideas—delving into alienation, working-class struggle, patriarchy, and generational trauma.

ALREADY LATE:

@werealreadylate

Already Late is a NYC trio blending alternative, hip-hop, and pop-punk into something that refuses to sit still. Frontman Jest A King flows from singing to rapping, guitar to ukulele. Blurring lines between pop-punk angst, J-rock intensity, jazz unpredictability, and hip-hop rhythm, Already Late is a sonic rebellion—gritty, poetic, and unapologetically genre-bending. Fronted by Johnnie Noct (lead vocals/guitar), alongside the rhythmic precision of B-Stixx (drums/uku), and grounded by Hakase’s dynamic basslines and scream vocals, the trio delivers bilingual anthems in English and Japanese, each song a pocket universe of raw emotion and relentless energy. They’re chaotic but calculated. They’re thoughtful but explosive. And if you’re just finding out—you’re Already Late. est. 2018

ASKEADIS:

-No info found-

AVATAREDEN:

@avatareden/?hl=en

ABOUT THE BAND:

From the Set List: “Queens-based band AVATAREDEN. The members of the self-described "Trans-Led Genre Expansive Experience" expertly weave together English and Spanish lyrics while surprisingly, and seamlessly, fusing elements of salsa, indie-rock, pop, RnB and Latinx jazz.” 

*BANGZZ: 

@bangzzband

BEST BEAR:

@bestbearmusic

https://bestbearmusic.com

BEST DRESSED GHOST:

@bestdressedghost

BIG SCARY INDIAN:

@bigscaryindian

BLACKOUT SHOPPERS:

@blackoutshoppers

BOOB:

-No info found- 

BRASS KNUCKLE BRIGADE:

@brassknucklebrigade

* BUTTERBRAIN:

@butterbrainnyc

CARLOS THE CHORDS:

*Carlos_the Chords

@carlos_thechords

MARLY:

Bassist for @defiancehc

@marlysmusic

CHEMICAL X:

@chemicalxnj

CHUM HUFFER:

@chumhuffer

CIVIL MIMIC:

@civicmimic

COMETA NEGRA:

@cometa-negra

COMMUNITY CHAPSTICK:

@communitychapstickband

CONCRETE BURIAL:

@concreteburialofficial

CORPORATE PLANTS:

@CorporatePlants

DIGAMY:

@listentodigamy

ENRAGE:

FAT HEAVEN:

@fatheavenband

FIRST PRESIDENT OF JAPAN:

@firstpresidentofjapan

FREEZING PROCESS (CT):

@freezingprocesscthc

FUNKRUST:

https://funkrust.com

GOD'S FAVORITE:

https://www.instagram.com/godsfavoritehc

GONZO BOMB:

@gonzobombrva

GOOF GOBLIN:

@goof.goblin

GRANDMA DRINKS:

@grandmadrinksnyc

GULF:

-No info found-

HALF DIZZY:

@halfdizzyband

IRIDESCENT POOLS:

@iridescentpools

JEKSSAIRA:

@/p/DJqPhs3NxN-

JENNY HATES TECHNO:

@jennyhatestechno

KIRKBY KISS:

@kirkby_kiss

LAKE LANIER:

@lakelaniernyc

LAST MINET:

-No info found-

LOCKED IN A VACANCY:

@locked_in_a_vacancy

LOS GUEYS:

@losgueysphilly

M.A.L.A:

-No info found-

MARKO & THE SLORES:

@slorec0re

MODERN NATIVES:

@modernnativesband

MY WAR:

@mywarnyc

NCM:

@ncm

NO GRUDGES:

@no.grudges

OEDIPUS TRIPLE EX:

@oedipustriplerexband

PANCHO VILLA'S SKULL:

@panchovillasskull

PERIOD BOMB:

@period_bomb

POLAROIDS NOISE:

@polaroids.noise

PRPE:

-No info found-

RATAS EN ZELO:

@ratasenzelo

RBNX:

@the_rbnx

RENT STRIKE:

@rent__strike

REYA FLOWERS:

@reya.flowers

ROUGH LINES:

-No info found-

* RYAN CASSATA:

https://www.ryancassata.com

SAD MATT:

@sadmatt.pk

SEEING SNAKES:

@seeingsnakes

SERAPHINE CLEAVER:

@seraphinescleaver

SERIAL POETS:

@serialpoets

SHAGGO:

@shaggo

SHAKEOUT:

@shakeoutny

SHUT UP:

@shutup

SILENCE EQUALS DEATH:

@silenceequalsdeath

SISTAH:

@sistah

SKETCHY:

@thebandsketchy

SLOPPY BITCHES:

@sloppybitchesband

SLUGWATER:

@slugwaterband

SPEAK EASY:

@speakeasy

STRONGEST STARFISH / WEAKEST WILLOW TREE:

@strongeststarfish_wwt

THE BAD UPS:

@thebadups

THE GOONS:

@goons

RESISTANCE COMPANY:

@resistancecompany

THE SCHWEGS:

@the_schwegs

THE UNBROKEN:

@theunbrokenofficial

TRICK THE RIDDLE:

https://www.tricktheriddle.com

UMIRIS:

@umiris

VIVIAN:

@vivian

WORLD SUCKS:

@worldsucks

YEAR OF THE DRAGON:

@yotd

YELL AT GOD:

@yell_at_god

OTHER MUSIC OF THE MONTH:

Seeing Circle Jerks, Gorilla Biscuits and Murphy's Law at Paradise Rock Club (in Boston) a couple of weeks ago or so was a big highlight of the month for me. Chris and I went two days in a row and had an absolute blast! Keith's lyrics and delivery are as current as ever, even the songs CJ wrote so long ago. And his banter about getting lost/not finding his way to the stage after using the club's bathroom, and how Boston fans are cool because no one asked him for a selfie (read in that thick Cali accent of his), cracked me up.  The musicianship of this entire band (big up Zander and Greg) is top notch!  Joey C's drumming was the tightest, most attack / forward playing I've listened to in a while. The crowd went WILD wild ("in the streets") for 'em. Both nights! And talking to some of these guys was a pleasure. Nice people. Very passionate about playing live and that came across (on stage) loud and clear.

The first night we watched Gorilla Biscuit from the balcony and they were awesome. I loved the shout out they gave Al Barile, may he Rage In Power. The second night we went right upfront and that was THE BEST decision. What a great experience. I did not know every single word to every single song like some of my neighboring front row cats, but I it was contagious and the energy was to the roof. Civ is a ball of confidence and the entire band was super fun to watch and listen to. 

Our friends Murphy's Law opened to nights with such masterful chaos! Gimmy G is one of the most comfortable performer/front person I know.  With humor and joy he riled up that crowd to a total frenzy. I liked the real connection he was able to make with the younger kehds and how relatable he was to them. I am glad he left politics out of it and simply stated “I don't care who you vote for as long as you vote!” (The night could have easily turned into a war of opinions and instead it was a unifying night of epic goodness). Last time I saw these guys live was att the Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge MA, right after the new lineup was put together (after our good friends Ben and Amy split to do their own thing as Sad Plant). The band has obviously been playing a lot since then because in this short time (a year or two?) the "string section" (Gt and Bs) sounds like they have been in the band all along. 

Looking forward to playing with these bands as soon as we get the chance to. And until then, I loved listening to their tunes all month.

SONIC BOMB BAND UPDATES:

SONIC BOMB had a fun show with Inverter. We always love sharing the stage with those goofballs. So much energy and art and fun. A great time! 

JOSEPHINE WITH A CAUSE (SOLO) UPDATES:

I have a Fabolous show coming up in Newburyport, MA on 5/6, which will be part of the Brewery's monthly “GIRL JAM!” With Jennifer Tefft  of Jennifer Teft & The Strange. And host Cynthia Keefe. Really looking forward to it and expecting to have a wonderful, magical time. 

Other than that, I have one more song to finish pre-production for, for the solo album. And it's time to start sending these demos out to potential musicians for the grand recording. Crossing fingers, praying prayers, Hamsa-Hamsa-Hamsa, Tfu-Tfu-Tfu. 

(a lil') SINGING TIP of the month that has been working well for me personally:

Stretch out your tongue as far as you can with your mouth wide open. Do not let your jaw open and close. Keep it open. Now sing “La-Ga, La-Ga, La-Ga, La-Ga, La…” up and down your entire vocal range. Interestingly the lower notes are the most important for this exercise. The goal of this trick is to strengthen your tongue mussels which in turn makes your range larger and your sound bigger.

FINE ART:

PEOPLES ARTIST - 2026 - JOSEPHINE WITH A CAUSE

LIVE MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Awesome Live Music Photographer Friends and Friends of Friends (PART TWO):

I love looking at live concert /show photos so much. Not only because these are my idols and my performing peers. But also because these images are packed with so much movement. so much expression. So many poetic messages. These artists behind the lens have a back and forth, give and take relationship with the performers. Neither is no more important than the other for the final image.

Please keep in mind that I picked the photos that connected w/ ME the most for this reason or another.  I am sure that you can find anywhere from 1–100 photos by each artist that might might speak to you the most and that Photos in the photographers galleries are lownot high rez on purpose(!) Go buy your prints from the artists y’cheap bastahds. 

Alison Braun

@alisonbraunphoto

ALISON BRAUN SHOP

Holly Roy: