Random Records with Steve O

Postage EP 1 & 2

My favorite part of living in Albany was getting to see After the Fall all the time. Playing a heavier take on punk, with some definite hardcore leanings (especially on 2013’s Unkind), they were right up my alley musically, and played very frequently, often organizing/opening shows for the larger bands that came through town (i.e. A Wilhelm Scream, Iron Chic, Lemuria). I’m actually quite amazed I haven’t written a Random Record for them yet. Maybe that’ll happen during this quarantine, let’s see how nostalgic I get.

Anyways, we’re gonna fly through one of the spin-off bands, Postage, which is 3/4 of After the Fall. So yeah, Postage, like the ALL song, is clearly inspired by ALL/Descendents. It’s fast, it’s poppy, it’s catchy, it’s a good time. Vocalist/guitarist Mike Moak drives the (mail) van here; for example on “Return to Sender” (see I’m not the only one making puns). The four tracks on their first EP are all in this same vein, full of a driving energy, solid riffs, and catchy lines you’ll find yourself singing along with. The highlight here is undoubtedly “8085,” an ode to old school punk, including “Banned in D.C.” (Bad Brains), Rocket to Russia (Ramones), Milo Goes to College & I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, (Descendents), Earth A.D. (Misfits), My War & Damaged (Black Flag), amongst many more. It’s an awesome tip of the hat to their influences, a spiritual predecessor to After the Fall’s “1994.”

2019 brings EP 2 – a fun note about these releases: the physical versions are flexi discs. EP 2 follows exactly where EP 1 left off, more fun, fast, catchy, pop punk tunes. And how about that cover! Sleeping cat in a mailbox is a total winner. We get shorter and longer songs amongst these three tracks, but the formula stays the same. Moak has a distinctive voice leading these songs and we still get a pun with leadoff track “Mail Patterns.” “Old Man” has a bit of a heavier feel to it, reminding me of some of those short, heavy, rapid-fire bursts on After the Fall records (look for one example at “Bummer” off Fort Orange). This all reinforces the chops both Moak and fellow guitarist Tyle Paige have and highlights the chemistry everyone’s got; together with drummer Chris Millington they’re the core of After the Fall.

And this all brings us to “Onward,” the closing track on this EP and what I think sums up everything Postage is doing perfectly. The song is catchy as fuck. It’s got some sick licks throughout. Moak’s heartfelt lyrics and delivery hit a new high here. It’s an anthem in the truest sense of punk anthems. I’m including the lyrics in full, because they’re so damn meaningful, especially in these trying times. Scream them along as you listen. Words to live by indeed.

“Trying to keep my mouth shut / trying to keep my head up / trying to be respectful / trying to remain grateful / can’t spend my / day to day / negative / in this way / gotta keep on moving forward / gotta keep on pushing onward.”

Listen to Flexi EP 1 here and Flexi EP 2 here. They’re both quick, so give them a couple digital spins. It’ll get stuck in your head for sure.