Casual

Formed in 2013 by former <a href="spotify:artist:5SPRw52SgFtAjDIsF60mSz">NONA</a>, Caseracer, and Pinkus members, guitarists Mike Haller and Jeff Hersch, bassist Liz Parsons, and drummer Joe Brendel had all been prominent members of the East Coast D.I.Y. punk scene. The band's first material came in May 2013 with the release of their self-titled debut EP. Also released on cassette by indie labels Perpetual Bullshit Tapes and Start Something NJ, the EP revealed the group's take on angsty pop-punk, drawing inspiration from their previous bands and the local scene. Spending the majority of 2013 on the road or playing local shows, the four-piece started making a name for themselves with their infectious live performances. A split release with <a href="spotify:artist:7pNOV3VeNblexV97TaKM0G">Spraynard</a>'s Pat Graham's outfit Martin appeared at the end of 2013 on Start Something NJ, while the band also contributed to the Secret Audio Club Wax series, with a split 7" with Crybaby. Casual continued to tour throughout 2014 -- with Haller and Hersch also helping set up a local community arts space in their home town of Flemington, New Jersey -- but managed to find the time record what would become their debut album. Initially issued in limited quantities at the end of 2014 as a tour-only cassette, the album was picked up for release by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Dead+Broke+Rekerds%22">Dead Broke Rekerds</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Square+of+Opposition%22">Square of Opposition</a>. After pressing delays, the ten-track album Casual was finally released in September 2015. ~ Rich Wilson, Rovi