Joyce Manor was conceived in the back of a car over a cheap bottle of booze in the Disneyland parking lot – the kind of beginning that California dreams are really made of. Co-founders Barry Johnson (guitar, vocals) and Chase Knobbe (guitar) named the band after an apartment complex that Johnson would walk by every day.

One day Joyce Manor was invited to play a show, caught off guard they scrambled to scheme a plan. Joyce Manor made their debut as an acoustic duo but soon discovered that “playing loud is just more fun,” according to Johnson. They rallied Kurt Walcher to play drums and welcomed old buddy Matt Ebert on bass. The new Joyce Manor were soon attacking their songs with enthusiasm, neurotic precision, and discovered beauty in simplicity along the way .

The LA pop-punks are about to release their incredibly fun new album Never Hungover Again on July 18th via Epitaph Records, and to celebrate the band’s co-founder/ guitarist and vocalist Barry gave us a track by track run down on the record, which you can also stream now before its release.

Christmas Card

“This song was originally supposed to be the last track on the record and sounded a lot more loose and chaotic during practice. We decided the melody came through stronger if we tightened it up.”

Falling in Love Again

“This song was comprised of scraps from songs that didn’t make the cut and was written a few days before entering the studio. It is the first Joyce Manor song to have keyboard on it thanks to our friend Terrence.”

End of the Summer

“Easily the song that was re-written the most times on this record. Originally titled ‘Something’s On My Mind’ before it was re-worked with new lyrics.”

Victoria

“Wrote this one after listening to The Strike – ‘Shots Heard Round The World’ on repeat for a few days. Joe Reinhart wrote the guitar lead in the chorus.”

Schley

“First song written for this record that didn’t end up getting scrapped. I originally imagined it as a Mick Jones style Clash sounding song but when we jammed it out it just felt better this way. This song originally had two different guitar solos. Pretty crazy.”

Heart Tattoo

“The first song I’ve ever written that is about one specific thing the whole song. Wrote it in about 20 minutes.”

The Jerk

“Favorite song on the album. I wrote the rhythm guitar and vocal melody at home and when I got to practice Chase (guitarist) said “I wrote a guitar part”.

In The Army Now

“First song we have ever recorded where chase wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics and vocal melody. Originally this song ended after the first chorus but our friend Zed convinced us to make it longer.”

Catalina Fight Song

“The shortest song on the record and the only one that was fully written before we practiced it. The whole song is two chords.”

Heated Swimming Pool

“Another song that went through a lot of different versions. I think the music on this song is the prettiest thing we have ever done. Really nice way to end the record.”

Never Hungover Again is out July 18th via Epitaph Records

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