Jasper the Colossal

The elderly hate it.  Some groups of people find it repulsive.  People question whether or not it’s actually considered music.  There are also those that would fight you for daring to speak out of line about what they are passionate about; those same individuals also say they have found something that makes them feel like they are part of a family.  What I am talking about is punk rock.

Punk rock music is beloved by many around the world.  The Ramones, The Clash, and Sex Pistols brought a brash, rebellious sound that was unapologetic and wild.  Full of energy and emotion, catching a punk show is unpredictable.  Expect a pit of people to start the intense participation of slamming into each other while forming a circle, a practice commonly known as moshing.  There is also a pretty good chance that people will be either crowd surfing or the one of the band members will be stage diving.  You never know what to expect, but you know that you are in for one crazy night.  In Dayton, we are fortunate that we have a great collection of punk rock bands taking local stages.  One band that should you should check out is Mayliner.  Mayliner consists of three memembers-guitarist/vocals Josh Caperton, bassist/vocal Chris Barnett, and drummer Paige Beller (Beller is also the lead singer of band Jasper the Colossal).

Caperton and Barnett have had Mayliner up and running a little over a year now, but the two have been playing and writing music since their high school days.  The two took part in numerous battle of the bands around the local area and were even asked to be part of the bands that they were competing against.  They have also been there for each other through thick and thin during their previous bands’ journeys.    Mayliner alone has had their share of lineup changes, with drummers coming and going up to last year.  However, both men agree that it doesn’t affect their progress.  “As long as I see Josh next to me, and he sees me next to him-it is all good,” Barnett says.

That chemistry and bond are just part of why they are one of the good up and coming punk bands around town.  Caperton and Barnett play with viciousness, with a rapid pace of play on each of their respective instruments.  The drum play of each of their songs is fast and heavy.  Mayliner wants to do one thing: play as loud as they possibly can, a staple in any punk rock band’s live sets.

“I have been told that we sound like The Who but faster”, Barnett says when asked how he would describe the band’s sound.  The songwriting is shared by both Caperton and Barnett.  They will go to each other and share what they have, keeping the process open and free.  The lyrics songs center on experiences that have come and gone throughout their lives including songs about occurrences and encounters that weren’t delightful.  However, those songs do go into how you overcome bad events and become better, and not let the bad define you as a person.

Mayliner and Jasper the Colossal are will be releasing an split EP from the local record company FM Records this Thursday. Each band will have about 4 songs on the release.  So how was this idea brought up you wonder…

“The idea of doing the split EP was up and in the air for over a year”, Caperton explains.  “We loved the idea of doing something with Jasper, maybe with recording one of their songs and they record one of ours.  We heard that Paige (Beller) went in the studio and recorded, so we went and did our thing.”

Be expecting some fantastic punk rock that will downright be a crime if not played at a maximum level.  After all, isn’t that what punk music is supposed to be played?!

This Thursday, Mayliner and Jasper the Colossal will be playing a split EP release party at One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn, Ohio.   Go out and see why Mayliner is truly one of the up and coming punk bands rocking around the Dayton area.