Slam Dunk Festival has officially kicked off the festival season for many, and here at AMPED!, we caught up with some familiar faces, both new and old.

May bank holiday weekend officially kicked off the festival season for us with Slam Dunk Festival bringing some of the best names in the alternative rock, metal & pop punk scene.

This year’s lineup was no exception, with You Me At Six bringing their final festival performance, alongside pop-punk, emo and alt pioneers like The All American Rejects, I Prevail and Goldfinger, providing a whole spectrum of artists to enjoy over the weekend. We managed to chat politics with Bob Vylan, Punk-Goes Pop with State Champs, and even I Prevail’s most gnarliest mosh-pit moments.

by Felix Bartlett | May 31, 2024

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Gnarliest mosh-pit stories with I Prevail

What would be your dream festival headliners? 

Eric: “It would have to be two of my favourite iconic bands, it would be let’s do Foo Fighters and Metallica headlining.  Throw us up there somewhere. I’ve seen these bands already but they’re fucking incredible, I’d love to see t Bad Omens, Sleep Token. And then, I’ve been a huge fan of this band for a minute. Their last record is awesome. Sylosis I’ve never seen them yet, so I want to throw them on that bill.”. 

Dylan: “Put Biffy Clyro on there too.”

Eric: “Oh yeah, Biffy Clyro yeah.”

Dylan: “That’s perfect. Yeah I can’t top that.” 

What’s the craziest mosh-pit story you can share? 

Dylan: “I’ve seen some kid right in the middle of a wall of death do a swim move, and a shoulder got popped out of socket, he kept going.” 

Eric: “We had a three man, pyramid in the middle of a pit once before.“

Dylan: There was a security guard, I don’t remember. I think it was Blue Ridge. Grabbed somebody crowd surfing and had a compound fracture out of his leg. And as he’s getting carted off after we’re done, he’s like, you guys good? That was so sick. We’re like, are you good? And he’s like, I’m fine, man. Don’t even worry about it.”

Eric: “I won’t say the festival, but there is a girl crowd surfing and, there’s someone else that spikes on their shoulder, and she fell face first on it. That was probably the gnarliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Dylan: “So, yeah, take care of each other out there and be aware of what you’re wearing.“

Eric: “Yeah. Don’t. Don’t be that dickhead. Take the spikes off. All right?” 

Last one if you were on an island and could bring one album and one item what would it be?

Eric: “The practical thing would be my deck of Magic the Gathering decks. Or my box of those so we can play, pass the time, you know, and the one record. Oh, man. Yeah, you answer your thing.”

Dylan: “Well, I’m thinking the record. The only thing I can think of, I would bring is my dog, and I know I’m wearing all three of them on my shirt, but I would bring my Frenchie.”

These are all three?

Dylan: “My dogs. Yeah. Number one dog that. But I would bring my Frenchie Duncan, because he’ll just chill in the sun with me, and we can just starve to death together in pure serotonin.” 

Eric: “Man, you got a record?”

Dylan: “Yeah, but it’s kind of a deep cut. Actually, it’s this band called The Wedding. It’s called ‘Polarity’ that’s my go-to.” 

Eric: “Okay. I think I’d have to go with, ‘Ride The Lightning’. Metallica.” 

WHERE TO FIND I PREVAIL

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Festival Memories with L.S. DUNES

Let’s let’s kick things off. What’s the one thing you look forward to when playing a festival

Anthony: “There’s something really special about playing outside. You know, when you can see the trees and the clouds, you’re, like, close to the elements. I think there’s something very charge about it, that I really like.”

Frank: “Yeah, it’s funny. It I like the look of it. It’s always a little bit harder outside, you know.” 

Anthony: “I mean, there’s no container. Not when you’re in a venue. You have like a container. You can control the energy. There’s like a different kind of energy. And there’s like, you know, these like the elements are right. And they’re reminding you all the time that, you’re so small, you know, and it it kind of makes it a little easier to just go have fun.” 

And soundcheck’s a bitch right?

Anthony: “Right. No soundchecks. No, it’s not like that yeah.” 

Frank: “Yeah there’s none of that. Allergies are also at top notch.” 

Anthony: “Sometimes you also get like a thing where the sun is just coming down, like, right on the stage at a certain time. So you’re just like, yeah, you make the best of whatever you got. Whenever you got it.”

What’s a what’s the most memorable moment from a festival? 

Frank: “All right, my most memorable moment from a festival was watching you [Anthony] play, Warped Tour on the beach. And it was the last song he crowd surfed out. He’s singing, the mic gets thrown, and then they crowd surf him into the ocean. And then he just disappeared. It was fucking awesome. It was. I was like, oh my God, I gotta play now.” 

Anthony: “That was one of my favourite moments of a festival crowd surfing into the ocean, but I feel like it’s number two, to the first L.S. Dune’s show ever which  was that Riot Fest. It was our first show ever, and it was a giant festival, and it seemed like there were more people there than I had ever played in front of in my whole life at that moment, and it was just a wild set. People like knew some of the songs and danced and like, we’re engaging the whole time. And it was surprising like a first, first ever show crazy festival crowd. It was like, it topped, the crowd surfing into the ocean for me.” 

So we all know that festival season is probably the most batshit crazy ride. There’s no prep that’s done or tour to get into the flow of things. 

So what’s the one thing you do when you have to prepare for the festival season? 

Frank: “Oh, man. Well, we, we’ve been, we doing, those, like, wellness shots a lot. A lot of ginger. a lot of, was that Huel stuff we were drinking?”

Anthony: “Oh, shit. Yeah. Fuel’s like a good thing if you like before the show if you’re trying to get, you know, like, some vitamins and protein. Yeah, but you can’t, like, get a full tummy because you want to feel light. Yeah. I’ve been trying to, like, do some stretching and yoga, you know, stay active and running and doing a lot of fun stuff.”

Frank: “Sleep. Lots of sleep, for sure.” 

How do you find your setlist varies at festivals compared to venue shows? 

Frank: “Well, we’re still a young band, right? So for the headline sets, we basically play everything that we’ve ever put out. Which I think equates to like 14 songs and then for the festival set, you’re deciding on like your time alignment, if you have like 40 minutes, 45 minutes, trying to keep the energy up, still have that kind of a journey through it like an Evan flow but also to play the stuff that people want to hear.

Yeah. so I think we, we knock that down to was that like seven songs? So it’s like a seven-song set, but I think it’s, it’s, you know, all killer no filler.” 

So finishing things off we’ve been doing a desert island disc scenario with our guests. 

So what’s the one album you’d bring to a desert island and what’s the two items you bring with you on that island?

Anthony:  “‘Bitches Brew’ by Miles Davis. A machete and, a moleskin.”

Frank: Wow. Okay. a tiny house. 

Good shout. 

Anthony: Maybe, like, a cast iron skillet? 

Frank: “You’re done. You’re out. You gotta cook with the machete. Chop, chop.

Probably, I guess a record player. Oh, shit. How are you going to listen to the record? That’s all I’m saying.”

Anthony: I’ll scratch out the lyrics. 

Frank: “There you go.

And then bring a record with you and the others. You. Yeah. Let’s do it, man. For the record, I’ll take ‘In Utero’. by Nirvana” 

WHERE TO FIND L.S. DUNES
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TOUR Stories with Against The Current

Dream tour lineup? 

Chrissy: “Shania Twain.”

Dan: “Blink-182 and Shania.”

Will: “Blink and Shania and we’re the opener!” 

Chrissy: “Shania, I guess you know a nice opener on, like, an arena tour. You know, we play for 25 minutes and then get the rest of the day off. Great. And then watch Blink and Shanaya. Yeah, they’d go well together.”

Will: “Hey, if you asked us tonight, we would have said the same thing ten years ago.” 

What’s the worst and best food you’ve ever had on tour? 

All: “Sushi for sure”

Dan: “And then the worst, snakehead soup is still at the bottom.”

Where did you get sushi in the green room!?

Chrissy: “This was in Japan. Like, we went to this unbelievable, sushi place that didn’t even have a front door. It was like, if, you know, you know, type thing. It’s unbelievable.

I’m going Warper Tour catering is the worst. I got so sick that whole tour. I mean, they’re just keeping it loose. No, that was it was not a good one.”

Will: “I think I ate raw horse in Japan. Didn’t know that, thought it was raw beef. And then also raw chicken. I don’t know why I’m surprised. I don’t know if it was really, like, the worst, but it was just the craziest thing I’ve ever eaten. Probably. Yeah.”

If you guys were on an island what would be the one album and one item you’d bring? 

Chrissy: “I’d bring a Swiss army knife. I’m surviving this bitch. Like a really good one, too. Like one of the ones that’s like. She’s thick. And, one album. I don’t know. It’s tough one. Against The Current ‘Fever’.”

Will & Dan: “Nooo Don’t do that. Don’t do that to yourself.”

Will: “Okay. no pun intended. My album would be ‘This Desert Life’ by Counting Crows, and the item I would bring is my glasses. So I could see glasses just like. Just in case.” 

Will: “Dan’s bringing ‘American Idiot’ by Green Day.”

Dan: “Yeah, and a hatchet, I guess.”

Chrissy: “I was going to go axe, so I back hatchet.” 

Will: “Yeah, I kind of wanna bring an axe, too, but we’ll carry on. I kinda need my glasses more so I don’t chop someone down thinking they’re a tree.” 

Do any of you guys remember the Pop Goes Punk albums? 

All: “Heck yeah. Of course.” 

If they made it come back and you guys can have any song what would you pick?

Dan: “I would pick ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ by Shania.”

Will: “Wait, it’s picking a pop song. Yeah, we’re the punk, right?”

Chrissy: “We’re the punks.“

Chrissy: “I’m going to say ‘Breakaway’ by Kelly Clarkson. And I’m wearing a Princess Diaries crown.” 

Will: “Everyone’s got such good answers. Yeah. I’m blanking right now. Big girly pop. I’m really blanking right now. ‘It’s all coming back to me’ by Celine Dion.”

Chrissy: “Yeah!!!”

WHERE TO FIND AGAINST THE CURRENT
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New Noise With Jay Valentine & Jak Maden of Guilt Trip

What track do you always look forward to playing most? 

Jay: “Probably our biggest one. We’re a one hit wonder. So ‘Thin Ice’ is our go to. Yeah.” 

Jak: “ Yeah, that’s our closing track. That’s the one”. 

What’s been the best festival you’ve played so far? 

Jay: “We played Bloodstock two years ago and that was like our first-ever festival experience. It was really sick. We had, like, a full tent and everything.”

Jak: “Yeah, I definitely agree with that.” 

Jay:  “But today was sick as well. Today’s top two. Definitely.” 

Continuing with festivals what’s the best festival scran you’ve had? 

Jay: “This morning was good like, full English.” 

Jak: “Full English when you’re away. Yeah, that’s the winner. And then. Probably like a proper real curry in the evening.”

Jay: “Yeah. We love a curry. Yeah. You can’t go wrong with a good curry. Probably a real good curry.”

If you were to choose a dream support lineup who would it be? 

Jay: “Machine Head“

Jak: “Machine Head yeah” 

Jay: “Machine Head because we just totally ripped them off in every tune we’ve ever written.”

Jak: “Yeah, yeah, I feel like that. They’re the only band, that all five members [of Guilt Trip] are, like, really big fans of. So I think we get a lot of inspiration from it. But it would probably suck so maybe…”

Jay: “For me, it’d be Break and Benjamin. I’d love to tour or play with Breaking Benjamin.” 

Jak: “For a realistic band that we suit is Kublai Khan and we’re actually doing it with him in Australia, so I think that’s a dream come true in it.”

Jay: “We’re playing Download in two weeks and that’s the pinnacle of UK festivals in it, especially for metal. So yeah we’re really looking forward to that.”

Jak: “That’s like our bucket list achievements for us really.” 

Jay: “Yeah, we went in 2013 and we’re like one day it would be amazing. And now the day is about to come. So yeah it feels really good.” 

On the theme of Download what was the best act you saw in the past and who are you most excited to catch this time? 

Jay: “Machine Head on Sunday we want to watch of course. And then the best that we saw, we saw some good bands. The Ghost Inside played they were really good, Limp Bizkit headlining the second stage. Korn.”

Jak: “Yeah, the first year we ever went was unreal! Oh, also you know what? Brutality Will Prevail because they’re in our world and not a band anymore. So like the from our world and playing in the same tent I think. So that’ll be a memory to be actually playing that ten. That’s when we first got into hardcore. So I think it’s like a full-circle thing.” 

WHERE TO FIND GUILT TRIP
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Talkin’ Politicis with Bob Vylan

After just announcing not only a UK tour, but a US and Europe tour how are you finding managing it after your raging success? 

Bob: “It’s been normal for a couple of years now. We don’t get much time off do we?” 

Bobby: “Yeah we’re definitely getting better at managing it all though. Learning how to manage it better, it takes a while. You gotta, go get in the swing of it, you know?” 

Who would you say your biggest influences in the punk scene? 

Bob: “I’ll be honest with you. There’s not tons because, I don’t listen to that much punk to be honest. yeah, and a lot of it is quite boring.” 

Bobby: “I don’t know I’d call them strictly punk bands, maybe like some hardcore bands and stuff more that, but, I don’t know the influences aren’t necessarily from punk itself.” 

Bob: “Our influences are less musical, we always say influences are not musical at all the influence are more like thikers, writers or like Cornel West is for me. It’s not to be mistaken for Kanye West. Cornel West is a huge influence for me, the writing of James Baldwin is a huge influence for us.”

Bobby: “Zephaniah.” 

Bob: “Benjamin Zephaniah, the writing of Benjamin is huge influence. Like it’s more that sort of stuff that,  the music sounds the way it sounds because I play the guitar, but I’m self-taught, so I have to figure out ways. I  can only play what I’m able to play do. I mean, I can’t shred, I can’t do all these things. So, like, punk music is a fairly easy genre of music to play if you can’t really play the guitar. And that’s kind of where I fit in. Do you know what I mean? So that’s why it sounds the way it sounds.” 

“fuck it. kier starmer, because he’s a snake in the grass”

So moving away from punk and instead moving onto the big announcement: ‘The General Election’ Who is your least favourite politician?   

Bobby: “Suella Braverman easily, after pritti  I didn’t think she could get worse. And then we had Suella. And then I realized, like, I don’t know, there’s so many layers to it. But yeah, Suella for me.” 

Bob: “Oh, you know what? Fuck it. Keir Starmer, because he’s a snake in the grass. Like, of course, Suella. She lets you know who she is. Like, I can respect somebody that lets you know who they are of right? That, like, she’s not trying to be anything else. Suella obviously I’m not a fan of, but she lets you know she is. Same with Pritti, same with a lot of Tory politicians. To be fair about Keir Starmer, I was calling him, I was calling him a Tory from early, when, when he took the party from early. And everyone was like, you should give him a chance. Give him a chance. Like, no, no. Keir Starmer is a snake in the grass. I can’t respect somebody like that. Making themselves out to be one thing, but their another.

Yeah.”

Bobby: “That’s good.” 

Moving onto something different now – if you were on a desert island what album and what item would you bring?

Bob: “The Cast Away Soundtrack” 

Bobby: “Yeah, I don’t know, I don’t know. That would be the thing I’m most concerned about. But, if I had to choose, if I had to choose that, I guess it would be. I’m going to say I said it in every interview. Actually, for reals. ‘Yacht Rock’ album. That’s what.” 

Bob: “Yeah, that’s maybe how you got there.

Yacht rocked a little too hard, and now you’re capsized.” 

Other than an album what’s the one thing you’d bring?

Other: A knife

Bob: What?

Other: One thing to the island bro. 

Bob: Oh, dude. Oh, yeah, I know. No, no, I didn’t just bring it.

Oh, you know what an airplane. I’m good. I’m going. I’m on vacation. 

If you guys could recommend anyone up and coming, who would you pick? 

00:06:43:58 – 00:07:04:04

Unknown

Hey, what do you say? When is your favor coming out? Check out right now. Oh, definitely. Panic. Oh, yeah. Okay, cool. Yeah. I’m I’m I’m definitely panic. Shocked. They’re amazing. And then problem happens, you might not see them ever had so much from Ireland. But then. Yeah. Remember the patterns of panic. Yeah. Yeah I was everything.

WHERE TO FIND BOB VYLAN
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Callin’. a comEBack with Boys Like Girls

Are you boys who like girls? Or are you boys who are like girls? How did you come up with the name? 

Martin: It was something that just kept coming up. I think I wrote it down like four times. And, I think to some capacity, it’s just that, you know, it’s got a ring sometimes. I mean, it’s culturally a little bit of a different band name than it used to be. Now that, it’s 2024 but can’t change it now. So it is what it is. Fuck it. 

The band name is really fucking annoying at the airport, I’ll tell you that, because they’re like, what kind of band? We just say Metallica now because they’re like, oh yeah, they, they sure do that [girls]. They like one of my boys like boys and girls like girls do. Haha. When you’re just like at TSA just trying to check in, you’re like jet lagged and you’re getting a band name questions.“

Pick a dream festival lineup

Martin: “We would definitely pick ourselves because I have a hard time going to shows and not playing them. I stand there and I watch the other band and I’m just like, I’m not supposed to be in the pit here. We played with the Foo Fighters which was  good. It’s good vibe. Oasis reunited. First time, first show that they play back, which will probably be in 25. I hope they fuck each other up. I think that would be great to watch a tambo fly across the stage. 

Okay, so Oasis is a big one. Number two dead or alive situation? They got to be alive. 

Coldplay or U2 you pick?“

Beard: “I’d go with Coldplay.“

Martin: “Coldplay. So Coldplay, and Oasis. Great festival. And Boys that Girls. There it is. Boom.”

We ordered five. Think that’s deadly? 80 million people there. I’ll go first to three all day.”

Share your craziest festival performance. 

John:: “When we were young was pretty crazy.”  

Gregory: “Do you remember your first Warped Tour?” 

Martin: “No, I remember 2014 and I think so. 2014 was like the dark ages for this type of music, right? It was like, no longer nostalgic, like it was like out right? And I go to Coachella and it was like, I don’t belong here. Everybody thinks my band sucks. It was like 2015 fucking Tame Impala playing that kind of band, you know? And some DJ plays ‘The Great Escape’ . And I was like, standing there like. I mean, it’s not that bad. Maybe it’s not that bad, dude. Maybe it’s not that bad. And the crowd goes apeshit and it was like, all right, maybe it’s not that bad because I was like, so insecure.“

John: “Does anyone really know the bands that played Coachellla? Except for, like, the two people.” 

Martin: “It’s like a lifestyle festival now. It’s like rapper rap festival now, 2015. It was still very like. It was still like you knew all the bands you. It’s like fucking like Alabama Shakes and shit like that, you know what I mean? Like, it was cool. And now this type of music is cool. So like, time dictates a lot. And because the music hasn’t changed it’s the same goddamn songs. So, that one for me was, was big. 

One of our first shows back was When We Were Young in the States. And, it was overwhelming. It’s like 6000 people big C going crazy, jumping up and down. And I think you spend that when you spent 12 years away from the stage. We all played it in some capacity, but not with Boys and Girls in it. It does. I think it does something like where you forget, right?

“But then you come back on stage, you’re like, oh, right, you guys all care about our music”

You know, when I was 23, I used to be like, hi, I’m Martin from Boys and Girls, pretty much. That was how I introduced myself. And then you kind of like, okay, I’m, I’m not that I’m actually a human person, you know what I mean? But then you come back on stage, you’re like, oh, right, you guys all care about our music. I actually forgot when I was at home cooking dinner, I forgot that you guys give a shit. So that was pretty overwhelming and amazing for our band. So we’re excited for tonight. I think it’s going to be similar. We’re stoked about our slot playing like, you know, at 6:00 I don’t, which is not a rock, not a ton of crossover. So it should be. It should be a cool time. The sun still out. I think it’s going to be great.“

What was your first experience of the UK like compared to now?

Martin: “Our first tour in the UK was so fucked up. We were playing some festival with, like, Brand New, All American Rejects, like at their mega peak. AFI. And we were like, baby, like nobody knew who the fuck we were. So we were in this, like sprinter where you’re facing each other and they give you like an English liaison. We called them English, and for the longest time he’s like, do you want some fashion chaps? And I’m like, fashion shit, what the fuck is he talking about with that fashion chaps? He’s talking about fish and chips.

We still say it, but it was like, you know, you had to do these four-hour drives to Leeds or whatever, and, you know, from London and we’re like it’s hot all the gear in the back. We’re pushing the gear. No tech. It was, it was grim. And we were so jet lagged and like you know so this is a little bit of a different vibe. We got our bus parked behind the stage. It’s a little bit of a different experience. it’s good. Yeah. It’s the best the best life.”

WHERE TO FIND BOYS LIKE GIRLS
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Amped up! with AS DECEMBER FALLS

If you guys could have your dream festival headliner line up, who would it be?

Ande: “Three headliners. Oh, Panic! At the Disco original lineup, reunion tour, main stage at Slam Dunk.” 

Bethany: “Yeah, you know what? I’m on board. I’m on board with this plan. Yeah, absolutely.” 

Ande: “Ryan Ross is back.” 

Bethany: “I realised they were here last year, but bring back Enter Shikari again.”

Ande: “Have Paramore ever played Slam Dunk festival?” 

Bethany: “I don’t think so. They’d have to headline.” 

Ande: “Yes. Absolutely. There may be a fight between Panic and Paramore. But we could sort that out. I’d have it a perfect world.” 

Bethany: “Again they played today but I’d put Against The Current up there as well because I love myself some Against The Current.” 

Ande: “And then to be fair a lot of the bands look like today. Like literally Taylor Acorn, Honey Revenge, there are just so many.”

Bethany: “I feel like today is just us trying not to fangirl like everyone here today is playing. We’re like, “Wow, I love you. I listen to you every day”. 

Ande: “We’re actually quite upset. We have to do press right now.”

If you had to pick one act that you were most excited about, on today’s lineup, who would it be?

Bethany: “I was super excited to see Honey Revenge, but we couldn’t because we clashed, so I hated that. and yeah. And then once again, I’m very excited to see Against The Current.“

Ande: “Again, Against The Current, Taylor Acorn, Rory, Caskets, As Everything Unfolds. I can’t pick! Don’t make me choose! There are so many. There’s a lot to see.” 

So, if you were on a desert island and had one album and one essential item what would it be? 

Ande: “Can we have cats?” 

Yeah, you can have cats. 

Bethany: “Are we bringing the cats?”

Ande: “Like, can we have three cats?”

You know what? I’ll allow that. Yes. 

Bethany: “For me my soundtrack would be ‘Three Cheers’ by My Chemical Romance.”

Ande: “Probably have to be ‘Appetite for Destruction‘ by Guns N Roses.”

Bethany: “So we’re bringing three cats?” 

Ande: “Yeah!” 

Finally If Pop Goes Punk ever made a comeback, what would be the one song that you guys would want to cover? 

Bethany: “I got it. Gwen Stefani, ‘Hollaback girl’. Yeah. I have wanted to record this song for years and years, and we’ve just never got round to it, so yeah, that’s. That’s my answer.”

WHERE TO FIND AS DECEMBER FALLS
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