British-Dutch-Seychellois punk rock band Character Actors release EP “Everywhere is Good Except for Where We Are”
About Character Actors
Probably the world’s only British-Dutch-Seychellois punk rock band, Character Actors are made up of Josh Booth (also of northern punk stalwarts and recent Fest debutants Bear Away), Alex Rijpma, James Withers and James Winn (formerly of metal goths Torsohorse).
Having met in 2018 and quickly bonded over their love of The Clash, Dillinger Four, The Hold Steady, The Lawrence Arms, Against Me!, Alkaline Trio (you get the picture), Alex and Josh decided to start a punk rock band. After recording a drunk and scrappy debut demo in 2019, they recruited James on the bass and another James on the drums, started gigging around Yorkshire, and began work with superproducer Bob Cooper (Ten Hands High, Hot Mass, WSTR etc.) on the album that would become The Hard Part (2023).
Album highlights included the woah-laden existential crisis anthem ‘Where’s God Etc.’, The Gaslight Anthem and The Menzingers-indebted ‘Reverie’, and their most popular song to date, ‘Hungover/Heartbroken’.
Their new EP, ‘Everywhere Is Good Except For Where We Are’, recorded with Kurt Wood (from Goo, Foxes Faux and Sounds of Swami) is tighter, brighter and catchier than ever before, and cements their place in the flourishing northern punk scene.
They’ve shared stages with some of the country’s best bands, been reviewed by the likes of Colin’s Punk Rock World, Personal Punk, and Music Dies Here, and been played on shows such as Just Some Punk Songs, Punky’s Mixtape and The Rip Radio.
About the EP tracks:
With Friends Like These, Who Needs Pricks?
Already our second most listened-to song ever, this a big singalong anthem about sort-of-hating but ultimately still loving your friends - something everyone can relate to.
Most Kinds of Dirt
Named after a Moe Syzlak quote, this quick burst of punk energy explores familiar themes of disappointment being the only permanent feature of growing up. Cheerful.
Teach Me the Ways of the Secular Flesh
The wildcard track, featuring banjo, organ and three-part harmony. This time named after a line in Arrested Development, this song is about doing mad shit to keep life interesting.
Hallelujah II
With a name like that, it better be good, right? From a blistering opening to an epic finale, this is one of our favourites and it’s growing to become a crowd favourite already as well.
Links
Instagram: instagram.com/character_actors
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Pyj1CT3vqdqKUHd4csMRk?si=JT6YUJKESqmuknRt5YEzSw
Bandcamp: https://characteractors.bandcamp.com
Facebook: facebook.com/characteractorsband
