Moonraker / Neckscars – split 12”: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, EP, Limited Edition, Numbered, Stereo, Peach

Description

Moonraker are The Michael Jordan of Baseball of Punk Rock – the tongue-in-cheek descriptor has been Moonraker’s calling sign for over a decade.

David Green (Drums/Vox), Nick Schambra (Vox/Bass) and Matt Sampson (Guitar) describe the slogan as meaning that perhaps they might excel more at something else, but this is the playing field they happen to be on so they should swing for the fences anyway.

The Los Angel-ish 3-piece has been touring the country extensively since it’s inception. Numerous grueling and ill-advised winter tours through the midwest early on eventually led to more comfortable climate jaunts across the US and into Canada, Mexico, Japan and the UK.

Their brand of reference-heavy, heart-on-your-sleeve melodic punk speaks to an audience of like-minded individuals just dying to feel seen or understood.

So, you know, exactly like Michael Jordan or whatever.

Formed in Downstate, New York in late 2018, Neckscars are Will Romeo (Vox/Guitar), Justin Parish (Guitar/Vox), Colin Harte (Bass/Vox) and Lawrence Miller (Drums). Over the past two decades the members have been cutting their teeth in the DIY scene and have gathered to form this expansive collaboration. The result was a classic punk rock and roll sound that doesn’t lean too hard on nostalgia and standard formulas. You can hear them echo influences ranging from seaweed to Dead Boys as they embrace their unbridled enthusiasm.

This split between the two bands is the culmination of a friendship dating back to 2015 when Moonraker and Neckscars (who at the time were known as The Game Day Regulars) shared a hotel room at Death to False Hope Fest in Durham, North Carolina.

Parts of Moonraker’s debut record (2016’s ‘Fail Better’) were written while David and Nick from Moonraker crashed on the couch of Neckscars’ Will and Justin’s Beacon, New York apartment. Moonraker’s contribution to the split is their first new music since last year’s critically acclaimed, ‘The Forest’, while Neckscars’ side of the release bridges the gap between their stellar debut (2021’s Don’t Panic) and their eagerly anticipated sophomore LP.

The six tracks from these two bands run the gamut of regret, triumph, drinking, paranoia, drinking, isolation, drinking, drugs, friendship and just to mix things up a little, drinking.

Track list:

A1 Moonraker (11)– Ticker Tape
A2 Moonraker (11)– Heels
A3 Moonraker (11)– Fireman
B1 Neckscars– Level I (Dusted)
B2 Neckscars– Level II (Insufferable)
B3 Neckscars– Level III (Tequila Hands)