We’re sad to report that local punk/emo band Characters have decided to call it quits. But we’re also happy to be streaming their self-titled, debut full length! Why must you toy with our emotions like this, Characters? This full-length will be released on Aug. 12, before the guys disband and go off to college and if they don’t use their upcoming final shows as opportunities to cover Blink 182’s “Going Away To College” I’m going to slug them.
Characters has been a fixture in the Las Vegas all-ages scene since forming as Next Generation Rising in 2010. During their time together they have shared the stage with the likes of Man Overboard, Seahaven and Misfits, as well as playing the XPOZ stage of the Warped Tour in 2011. Under the Next Generation Rising moniker, the band released the Obscurities EP and a split with Illinois’ SetTheTrend.
These guys have an incredible work ethic – constantly playing shows and hustling to sell tickets. They started at an extremely young age and it’s been nice seeing them evolve as musicians and performers during that time. They also took one of the funniest promo photos I’ve ever seen.
Characters has two shows planned before they call it quits, Aug. 5 at Bridgetown in Los Angeles with Sidewalk and Aug. 6 at Eagle Aerie Hall here in Vegas with Guts and Scarlett Avenue. They’ve got one more final show in the works as well, a house show with Garbage Tree, Wallower and Pool Party. Details for that show can be found on Facebook.
We reached out to the band for comment and bass player Cameron Beck had the following to say:
Reflecting back on the four years Characters (Next Generation Rising before the name change) has been together is nostalgic and bittersweet. In the four years we have done so many things we’ve wanted to do together as a band and as musicians individually. Some of our favorite shows we’ve played are:
Yayo Taco 2010- First show. I was stoked that three dudes started a circle pit on our last tune.
Warped Tour 2011- XPOZ Local Stage. One of my personal favorites. I’ll probably remember that day as long as I live. A dream come true for me at 15.
Hard Rock Cafe 2012 with the Misfits and Bah Ram You- A favorite for the three of us. One of the best crowds we’ve gotten to play for, made some great new friends, and shared the stage with one of the most legendary punk rock bands of all time. We met Jerry Only and Dez Cadena backstage and they were the nicest dudes.
Such Gold, Eagle Aerie Hall 2013- The night before Halloween. Jeremy dressed as a little kid with overalls and a propellor hat. Ben wore a toga. I wore a sombrero that came off almost immediately after our first song. Being sandwiched between Such Gold and Alaska is the best kind of sandwich, if I do say so myself.
Kurt Travis/So Much Light/Hotel Books, Eagle Aerie Hall 2014- Kurt Travis is one of our personal favorite musicians. He, as well as all of the other bands on the show that night were extremely supportive and just overall pleasant people. Kurt’s set was unbelievable, and his encore performance of “Uneasy Hearts Weigh The Most” was a spectacular surprise.
Man Overboard, Transit, Knuckle Puck, Forever Came Calling, Eagle Aerie Hall 2014- Playing a sold out show with two of your favorite bands from sophomore year rules.
As for a list of our final shows, we will be playing in Los Angeles at Bridgetown DIY on August 5th. The very next day we are headlining at the Eagle Aerie Hall with Scarlett Avenue and our friends in Guts. Tickets are $10 and we can deliver them to you. As for our very final show, we will be announcing a house show with our very best friends very soon, around the 15th of August.
Not only do some of our favorite memories include shows we’ve played but just good times we’ve had together, as cliche as that sounds. From staying up late playing Majora’s Mask on Gamecube to climbing a nine-foot high horse statue outside of a Summerlin neighborhood, we cherish our friendship more than anything. It’s just pretty damn sweet that we get to make music together as well. These guys are the best friends I’ve ever had, and some of the best musicians and songwriters I’ll ever have the chance to work with.
Over 60 shows and four years later, it is extremely bittersweet to me that this band is going to end on this note. The main goal for us this past year is to record and release a full length album. The three of us have been working on this album for the past six months with Jonas Vece in Boulder City, Nevada. These eight songs are songs we are very proud of and very excited to show you. The track listing is:
Cage
Mark’s House
It Was Nice
Interlude
The Murder of Chase Harris
Celebration
Philadelphia
All of My Friends Are DeadWe are still playing the physical release date by ear, but we will be releasing a very limited number of cassettes via Lonesome Waltz Records. If you follow us on Twitter/Facebook, we’ll be posting links to get your physical copy of our self-titled record. Thank you. Please stick around.
www.facebook.com/charactersisaband
www.twitter.com/charactersnv
www.charactersnv.bandcamp.com-Cameron Beck
Characters photo by Hunter Wallace
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