For over 20 years, The Dollyrots have been a shining example of how to mix raw punk energy with catchy, bubblegum melodies, all while living life entirely on their terms. Fronted by bassist and vocalist Kelly Ogden and guitarist Luis Cabezas, this power duo has built a legacy of anthemic tunes, relentless touring, and an unwavering DIY ethos. But what sets them apart isn’t just their music—it’s their ability to balance the chaos of punk rock with raising kids that are now old enough to take the stage on their own. The band has released eight studio albums and played over two thousand shows since their 2004 debut on legendary punk label Lookout! Records. The next two albums came out through Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records, followed by several DIY, fan-funded releases and a current alliance with Wicket Cool Records. Long a staple in rotation on Sirius/XM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage, the band’s consistent output perked up the ears of Wicked Cool founder Stevie Van Zandt. “Their songwriting has reached a consistent level of greatness,” he says. The Dollyrots’ sound stays rooted in the sharp hooks of classic pop punk. Growing up together in Florida, followed by a decade-long stint in Los Angeles, the band emerged from the L.A. punk scene with a style that blends humor, heart, and high-energy. Their anthem “Because I’m Awesome” has enjoyed over 2.6 million streams on Spotify while becoming a rallying cry for sarcastic self-confidence. Whether they’re singing about awkward crushes or the everyday chaos of life, their songs always deliver a sense of fun and relatability, reminding listeners not to take life—or themselves—too seriously. The band is no stranger to success, hitting the Billboard Heatseekers and Independent Albums charts several times and featured in movies and TV shows including “Nimona”, “Billions”, “The Price Is Right” along with classics such as “Easy A” and “CSI:NY”. Their most recent album, Night Owls, is co-Produced by longtime collaborator John Fields (Jimmy Eat World, All Time Low, Meet Me At the Altar) and features multiple tracks receiving heavy rotation on Sirius/XM and featured on NPRs New Music Friday and Spotify’s New In Punk Playlists, along with many more. Kelly and Luis aren’t just bandmates; they’re life partners who’ve taken their shared love of music and turned it into a family affair. Their two kids, River and Daisy, have grown up on the road, trading playgrounds for green rooms and bedtime stories for soundchecks. Instead of seeing family life as a limitation, Kelly and Luis have woven it into the fabric of their music and lifestyle. Their kids often make mid-show cameos on stage and can sometimes be spotted at the merch table helping fans pick out t-shirts, or popping up in behind-the-scenes tour videos. The family vibe is infectious, making Dollyrots shows feel less like a concert and more like a reunion with your fun, rock n roll cousins. This unconventional lifestyle has added a unique layer to The Dollyrots’ identity. They’ve become a symbol of what it means to balance ambition and creativity with family life. Their fans—many of whom are now parents themselves—find inspiration in how Kelly and Luis have stayed true to their punk roots while embracing parenthood with open arms. The band’s influence has also extended to the radio, where Kelly has held down the position of morning show DJ since 2019 on Sirius/XM Channel 21 The Underground Garage. The Kelly Ogden Program plays the best of garage, punk, and rock, airing every weekday morning with a bonus Friday night show. She can also be heard on their sister station Sirius 721, and shares a side project with Bowling For Soup frontman Jaret Reddick called Jaret and Kelly. Always active on the live circuit, the band is gearing up for extensive 2025 tour plans including both U.S. and overseas runs. This will coincide with a new release coming in the Spring just on the heels of deluxe vinyl reissues of their seminal LPs “Eat My Heart Out” and “Barefoot & Pregnant” in February through Wicked Cool/The Orchard. Though their lives have evolved, The Dollyrots’ music remains as vibrant and youthful as ever. Their DIY approach has also allowed them to stay connected to their audience and build a loyal community that feels more like an extended family. Their fans have watched them grow from scrappy up-and-comers to seasoned musicians and parents, and that connection makes their music hit even harder. They show that you don’t have to give up your passions or your identity to raise a family and prove that punk rock isn’t just about rebellion—it’s about creating your own path and sticking to it, no matter what. With a little bubblegum and mischief on the side.

GYMSHORTS is from Rhode Island and like the band’s home state frontwoman Sarah Greenwell is a petite powerhouse that marches to the beat of her own drum. Endearingly rebellious, fiercely independent, and hellbent on causing a commotion, Greenwell embodies the kind of rambunctious unpredictability that has personified some of pop culture’s most legendary troublemakers; a little bit Bart Simpson, a hint of Kevin McCallister, and a dash of Dennis The Menace form the inspirational foundation of GYMSHORTS’ particular brand of punk n roll, smoked to perfection in the back of Jeff Spicoli’s van. GYMSHORTS are a sarcastic grin and a pair of bloodshot eyes behind pitch-black Wayfarers in the back row of class, a best friend and a bad influence all rolled into one. GYMSHORTS takes musical cues from a deep well of sources, with touchpoints that range from trailblazing new wave punks The Nerves to sassy turn of the millennium bad girls The Donnas tossed into a creative woodchipper with midcentury surf guitar and wooly, flannel wrapped grunge. The resulting sound is ragged and raw and immediately magnetic, rough and tumble with the kind of lived-in authenticity of a scuffed-up pair of skate shoes. A sturdy platform for the band’s unabashedly unique identity that is equal parts bratty and wise, tightly wound and poised to launch in nearly any direction at a moment’s notice. Blistering speed and high-octane thrills characterize a GYMSHORTS’ live set, like a juiced-up NASCAR laying a righteous burnout in the winner’s circle, a springy mosh of unbridled exuberance that has earned the band coveted spots supporting Death Valley Girls, Tacocat, La Luz and many others on tours stretching across the globe from Texas to Thailand. As buoyant ambassadors of plucky stick-it-to the-man attitude, GYMSHORTS never fail to leave crowds sweaty and satisfied in the aftermath of a ferocious blitzkrieg bop, decimating eardrums in a whirlwind of maximum volume sonic debauchery with an enthusiastic heart of gold. GYMSHORTS’ catalog is available on Bandcamp and your favorite streaming platforms. Pick up their LPs and 7”s at your local record store and don’t miss an opportunity to party hard with GYMSHORTS when the band comes to your city.

Pop rock/punk whatever from Chicago

Panther Style is a rock band from Chicago, IL USA. Influences include The Posies, Big Star, New Order, Lush, Sleater Kinney, The Cult, Van Halen, Fugazi, and Failure. Started by veterans Jeanne McClure, Al Rodis, Dan Lutger, & Melissa Koehl (Mary Tyler Morphine, Siderunners, Dyslexic Apaches, Reptoids) out of a mutual desire to make some beautifully catchy songs that also rocked. Loudly.