V.Ocalist Cole Hatzler, bassist Brent Burdett and guitarist Bardo Novotny are ready to take on one of the world’s most famous stages. But as they roam the tiny performance space of Manhattan’s Hard Rock Cafe, pop-punk upstarts seem at ease.when in fact NME was introduced to the band, Bardo quickly responded by throwing the band’s name into an impromptu acoustic song, strumming his guitar with a cheeky smile on his face. It doesn’t seem half bad.
He kept playing throughout our chat, emphasizing the humor of his bandmates while the beauty school dropouts spoke energetically to each other. The Los Angeles trio just completed a short set to a select group of fans. I can still hear the girls giggling with excitement on the other side of the door. This was followed by a glimpse of the opening fanfare of Turnstile and Blink-182 as the trio performed at Madison Square Garden the following day.
Beauty school dropouts are used to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with rock’s big names. Blink bassist and vocalist Mark Hopps has signed to his Verswire label alongside punk-pop icon Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz. Beauty School Dropout has a penchant for songs that blend heavily distorted guitars, catchy self-deprecating lyrics, pop, alternative rock and even hip-hop, and their 2022 debut, We Made Plans And God Laughed” has hit his 14 million streams and counting. . The album also features Hoppus’ signature vocals on “Almost Famous,” and as the trio admits, the song contains an intense sense of unease. “I’m going to be famous soon, but I hate it already.”.
But it’s their creativity, ambition, and desire to create something completely unique, rather than just replicating songs from a bygone era, that have brought Beauty School Dropout to this stage. According to the trio, their band was “doomed.” The stars hit it off when they were introduced by a mutual friend backstage at a rooftop concert in Los Angeles. At the time, Hutzler and Burdette were in a band called the Strange Faces, but knew Novotny was missing.
Their latest single, “Dying To Be You,” proves they’ve reached the perfect line-up. Starting with a sinister guitar riff and candid lyrics that highlight the band’s overall mental health struggles, the album is enough to make the age-old pop-punk ritual of writing what hurts on a swollen guitar sound fresh. It has been revived with an imaginative arrangement. Playing the song live at MSG, it’s hard to believe this is his third tour with the band. At one point, a group of young women dressed in cosmetology school dropouts leaned against a barricade, singing along word for word to “Dying To Be You,” despite having only been released earlier in the day. rice field. Once the set is over, we can see the trio returning and standing near the stage, staring intently at the turnstiles and Blink-182, perhaps in awe at their future.
NME: The single “Dying To Be You” will be released on the same day as the opening shows of Turnstile and Blink-182 in New York. What do you think?
call: “This is my favorite song we’ve ever made. It just does something to my brain. Sonically, it’s the kind of music I love the most. Especially the rhythm.” When it’s good, I’m always excited to release new music.I feel like the friction is growing.I feel like the timing is right these days.”
Brent: “[Turnstile and Blink-182] They are some of our favorite bands, so being able to play with people we love dearly is one of the happiest things ever. “
What kind of message would you like your fans to receive from this single?
call: “I hope they find comfort in knowing that others share the same sentiment. I was in a pretty bad depression when this song was written. I think putting pen on paper, even if it’s a depressive episode or an emotional episode, is inherently very relatable because so many people deal with it.”
Bardo: “The theory is that comparison is a joy-stealer. We all feel the same thing, so it’s comforting to be able to empathize.”
How would you like your fans to experience when they hear you perform live in an arena?
Bardo: “I hope they see God. Otherwise the guards will know they are gone. “
What does it mean to you to play at a historic venue like MSG?
Brent: “Life goal check”.
Bardo: “Tomorrow I will retire.
call: “May the legacy live on.”
Bardo: “We’ve never been there, but every time we’ve been to New York, we’ve literally said, ‘Next time, we’re going to play at MSG.’ And now it’s happening.”
call: “This is crazy because we played at the Mercury Lounge exactly eight months ago and that was the first show we did here. It’s a big leap.”
What can gig-goers expect from a beauty school dropout show?
Bardo: “On record, we love the mosh pit.”
Collie: “Hole with respect, with love. I always want the show to have a mosh pit and keep the audience hooked.”
Brent: “Our mosh pit is a mosh pit with respect.
What would you like to share with your fans next?
call: “We are now touring non-stop forever. We look forward to sharing more music, more experiences and more shows. In terms of intentions, we’ve always talked about creating a literal circus.We have big dreams and big visions, and we’re going to keep working until they come true.”
Brent: “A fictional circus is cool, but a literal circus is much better.”
You’re always on the go, how do you find time to write new songs?
Bardo: “I really don’t have time. Especially when I’m on a van tour, it’s not the most moving place, and hotel rooms are a shame. But when I’m home, I write. Me.” We stayed at home for ten days during that time. [our tour with] I had a tour of JXDN and Blink-182, so I had to write it then. When I get home, I’ll work really hard and make it through. “
What have you learned on your journey so far?
call: “We all had dreams that we were chasing as individuals and it took time, energy and intention to find each other. Less than three years later, we are here now. I think the harvest is that whatever your dream is, wherever you are, if you set your intentions and put your energy and heart into it, you can definitely achieve it.”
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