Pop punk found its post 2010 momentum in Chicago. The list is long of bands that kept the scene flams burning; names like Knuckle Puck, Real Friends and Belmont stand out. Acts like Wilmette and First and Forever came later.
The next in the lineage has arrived. When The Sun Sets recently released their full-length debut album, The Cards We’re Dealt. Now the band are about rev up the van for the back half of their cross-country tour in support of the album.
“(This record is) a culmination of the last few years of our lives both as individuals and as a band,” lead vocalist Zack Baumgartner says. “The album shines a light on some of the happiest times in our lives and some of the most vulnerable because we want every listener to know that this life is full of ups and downs.”
The independent act’s debut is stuffed with scene stars. 408 join When The Sun Sets on “Shapeshifter, while Bluprint hop on for “Getting matching Jet Skis Was a Bad Idea.” Definitely Maybe pair with the group on “Undertow,” while Latenightsinmycar are excellent on “If Love Was A Highway, Then You Missed Every Exit.”
“’If Love Was a Highway, Then You Missed Every Exit’ explores relationships gone sour and the realization that cutting out negativity allows you to experience so much more in life. Sometimes a relationship gets torn down so much that it’s just too late to say sorry, and this song is a journey through that headspace,” Baumgartner adds.
And lolitslea elevates “But What If We Struck Gold,” a huge standout on the album. Her voice blends beautifully with Baumgartner’s. The pair are a match made in pop punk heaven, which is basically just heaven but better.
The Cards We’re Dealt cements the gap between modern and classic pop punk. The lyrics lay with bouncy melodies throughout 10 tracks that never seem overbearing. Every punch lands at the perfect time.
“For me, it’s going through my own experiences. You may think you’re alone, but a lot of people are going through the same thing. Our biggest thing we want to get through to our audience is that you’re never alone,” Baumgartner concludes.
When The Sun Sets is about to rock six shows in the Midwest. Check out the band’s concert schedule here.
Photo courtesy of Kaylee Jenkins
