Zach Fontanez and his family run a coffee shop and sober bar in Meriden that holds events ranging from a silent book club to hardcore shows. He’s also been in and continues to be in a bunch of bands. We thought all that was a great reason to get him on the podcast to talk primarily about Grace’s Place which fills a void in the lack of all-ages venues in the area.
We told Matt from Killer Kin that Zach was going to be on and Matt then wrote this up about him:
Zach Fontanez is one of the most prolific, energy-filled, altruistic rockers to ever grace the Connecticut music scene. With a taste palette that spans all mutations beneath the rock ‘n roll umbrella, this Punk’s voracious appetite for creation germinates a scene and show setting rife with electric elation. A member of groups such as: The Human Fund, Minor Inconveniences, HATERS, and many more notable projects, Fontanez can be seen behind the kit, in your face with screaming into a Shure SM58, or swinging his stud-clad wrists in front of your favorite stage. Fontanez is a paragon of Raw-Powered positivity, patience, and the DIY dreams that most wish they could live.
We have our favorites of the year as usual. And we have once again asked some friends to contribute lists (a couple bonus voices on the podcast even!). Give the lists a view, check out the podcast with clips of all the bands/songs and check out the playlist with all the favorites below.
Happy New Year! Let’s get into the lists!
Redscroll Records Label Releases for 2025
Theoden’s ReignCitadel Of The Stars LP, CD & Cassette [02/06/2025] Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop ChopBecome Nothing / We Live As Ghosts LP (Brand new A-Side with B-Side previously released on cassette)[04/18/2025] Killer KinKiller Kin CD (reissued with added bonus track “Point Blank”)[07/01/2025] DisfigureNew Age Of Judgement CD [07/25/2025] Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean Sisyphean Cruelty CD Reissue[08/01/2025] Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean Obsession | Destruction CD & LP Reissue[08/01/2025] Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean The Vestige CD (First Time on CD)[08/01/2025] Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean Consumed by the Vitriol of Life / I Tried Catching You But You Fell Through Me LP (Released Separately Before – Now on a single 12” Record)[08/01/2025] MeetinghouseYou’ve Seen Heaven CD & Cassette [09/05/2025]
This month we talked to Logan Butler. If you’ve been upstairs at any of our recent record fairs at Counter Weight Brewing Co. then there’s a good chance you’ve at least seen him and possibly even conversed!
Get Awesome Records / Logan Butler
Logan’s been in various bands/musical projects (Wolverine Carcass, Wicked King Wicker, Kudzu…) and has had numerous music industry jobs (The End, The Omega Order, Napalm Records) and we talk about those and music in general. We talk about the possibility of Get Awesome Records (his record selling operation) opening a physical location in NY (ideally somewhere between the NYC and Poughkeepsie).
City of Iron is a band based out of (practices in) Meriden, CT. We were joined by 5 out of 6 of the members (Tyler got stuck at work). We talk about music. We talk about video games. There’s a decent amount of laughing. Check it out!
Honestly, this one is just a fun romp with a fun crew. A crew bonded by work and… anything I say about it would just ruin it. Just give it a listen. Oh, and there’s a snippet of new unreleased as yet music!
