Zero 2 Panic
The one and only ska band to perform at Rocklahoma 2015, and perhaps in Rocklahoma history, I present to you ZERO 2 PANIC!
Comprised of Cody Johnson on guitar, Forest “Fo” Swepston on trumpet and vocals, Chris Goddard on trombone, Lewis Hundley on sax, and Andy Bishir on drums/percussion, they have the DNA of a perfect ska band, and their musicianship proves it.
“That’s our calling card,” boasted Swepston. “We’re the only band you’ll see that plays what we play.”
All the horn players have a background in jazz and marching band dating back to high school. “I was a super band geek,” Swepston announced.
In fact, he and Goddard and Hundley all teach marching band now.
On the other hand, Bishir claimed he is, “anti-jazz,” which actually lends itself to a unique blend of sounds.
In their just-released, self-titled album, they made sure to stray away from ‘generic ska.’ Swepston explained, “We just played off our influences, so every song sounds a little different.”
Comprised of Cody Johnson on guitar, Forest “Fo” Swepston on trumpet and vocals, Chris Goddard on trombone, Lewis Hundley on sax, and Andy Bishir on drums/percussion, they have the DNA of a perfect ska band, and their musicianship proves it.
“That’s our calling card,” boasted Swepston. “We’re the only band you’ll see that plays what we play.”
All the horn players have a background in jazz and marching band dating back to high school. “I was a super band geek,” Swepston announced.
In fact, he and Goddard and Hundley all teach marching band now.
On the other hand, Bishir claimed he is, “anti-jazz,” which actually lends itself to a unique blend of sounds.
In their just-released, self-titled album, they made sure to stray away from ‘generic ska.’ Swepston explained, “We just played off our influences, so every song sounds a little different.”
It can be argued that ska is making some form of a ‘come back’ right now, but according to Z2P, ska never died. “It was just reborn… It’s a phoenix,” said Swepston.
Goddard added, “People got scared about being too dorky for a minute, and then we’re like, ‘I don’t care! I love being dorky!’ Dorky is back.”
And the crazy Rocklahoman’s loved the dorky.
“People are like, ‘WHAT IS THAT INSTRUMENT?’ So automatically they’re stoked because they’ve never seen a friggin’ trombone before,” laughed Swepston.
For some reason, Z2P challenged their fans to put stickers on their cats. “Someone actually did it,” exclaimed Goddard.
Swepston clarified, “We gave him all kinds of free stuff, so it was cool. The cat was cool about it. It was chillin’, it was layin’ down.”
I like food. You like food. Zero 2 Panic likes food. A lot.
“I was just thinking about chicken fried steak,” said Hundley when he was asked a question and didn’t even realize it. “I’m a chicken fried steak connoisseur.”
Swepston adds, “Turkey stuffed with cornbread and covered with gravy. Oooh yeaah!”
And with a moment of great wisdom, Goddard said, “Food makes the world go round.”
Be sure to check out their new record Zero 2 Panic, which guaranteed will be good, but Swepston says the first three songs are especially rocking. I can’t wait for them to make it out to California so I can dance to some seriously groovy music.
Goddard added, “People got scared about being too dorky for a minute, and then we’re like, ‘I don’t care! I love being dorky!’ Dorky is back.”
And the crazy Rocklahoman’s loved the dorky.
“People are like, ‘WHAT IS THAT INSTRUMENT?’ So automatically they’re stoked because they’ve never seen a friggin’ trombone before,” laughed Swepston.
For some reason, Z2P challenged their fans to put stickers on their cats. “Someone actually did it,” exclaimed Goddard.
Swepston clarified, “We gave him all kinds of free stuff, so it was cool. The cat was cool about it. It was chillin’, it was layin’ down.”
I like food. You like food. Zero 2 Panic likes food. A lot.
“I was just thinking about chicken fried steak,” said Hundley when he was asked a question and didn’t even realize it. “I’m a chicken fried steak connoisseur.”
Swepston adds, “Turkey stuffed with cornbread and covered with gravy. Oooh yeaah!”
And with a moment of great wisdom, Goddard said, “Food makes the world go round.”
Be sure to check out their new record Zero 2 Panic, which guaranteed will be good, but Swepston says the first three songs are especially rocking. I can’t wait for them to make it out to California so I can dance to some seriously groovy music.
 | Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future. |
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