The Christmas season is a time for traditions such as tree lighting, gift giving — and punk music.
Yes, indeed — a celebration that includes punk music is one local tradition that will continue this year at The Cellar on Treadwell, as the annual Punxmas show will go on this Saturday, albeit in a much different way than previous years.
“Everybody could use a little pick me up,” said Jeremy Zombii, half of the band Zombii. He’s a Cellar employee and cohost and organizer of Punxmas, which is celebrating its fifth year with all virtual performances that will be livestreamed via Facebook and also be available for viewing at The Cellar — which is adhering strictly to Covid-19 guidelines and offers limited seating inside and, weather permitting, outdoor seating on the patio.
“I didn’t want to cancel. I’m glad we could make it work like this,” Zombii said.
“This” ended up being twelve acts from Connecticut and beyond, scheduled for 30-minute sets between 4 p.m. and midnight, each performing remotely, each linked into a common broadcast hosted by Zombii and bandmate bassist Zach Yost on site at The Cellar.
“It’s the first one we won’t be playing,” said Zombii. “Zach and I were trying to figure out how to do it, but decided we were better off hosting.”
The past five years have seen not only Zombii hosting and playing the event, but taking it to three different venues.
“The first two years were held at the former Outer Space and adjacent Ballroom with outdoor stages utilized as well. The first year we had 14 bands,” said Zombii. “The second year we had 20 and it was crazy.”
The third year, the event was held at The State House. The fourth year was their first at The Cellar.
“Last year we brought it back to where it started,” said Zombii. Though it was familiar, it was not without its challenges. “With a smaller venue we had to figure out a setup — acoustic acts in the corner, full bands on the stage. It was hectic, but it worked well. We had a PBR special that ran out three times.”
Zombii said he was told it was the Cellar’s second-best night of 2019. The year 2020, of course, proved to bring its own set of challenges.
Danuerysm Photo
Cry Havoc performing at Punxmas IV.
“Once Covid-19 began it was always in the back of my mind, and I was hoping we would be there for it,” said Zombii. “The closer it got, the more it set in, and I started thinking ‘how can we do it?’ I thought maybe the acoustic acts could play here and the bands at home, but then we had to think about the weather too. We decided it was best to do it all online, and to have it be the first year with no Zombii playing, knowing it would be easier with less running around and having all the bands on time.”
Zombii worked along with Cellar owners Pete Mould and Eric Vikmanus to prepare for this new endeavor. The Cellar will be open for dinner for part of the night, and takeout is available as well. A projector will also be set up so anyone on site can also enjoy the show. Bands participating this year include both new and returning acts, something that Zombii works to incorporate each time.
“I put out announcements for bands to contact me, but not so many did due to it being virtual I think” added Zombii. “But almost every band we asked said yes. They were amazingly up for it and excited to play.”
“The acts are from all over, not just Connecticut, and a good handful of them have played Punxmas before,” said Zombii. “Every year I try to have new bands, swap it around and have a broader range. Not all are always punk — we have had metal, acoustic. We try to bring in a little of everything. I just wanted to do a big holiday blowout, have a bunch of bands, and have fun.”
Daneurysm Photo
Zombii and Johnny Giovanni at Punxmas IV.
Some first timers include Cellar regulars and CT-based punk/metal duo Turkey Vulture as well as CT-based ska punk bands Sonorous Rising and Agonizers. Another act new to Punxmas is Critical Miss, a solo acoustic musician from Arizona. Zombii said they had become good friends after playing together on tour; she was supposed to be in Connecticut over the summer on tour herself. Returning performers include John Gone and White Thrash (both CT-based punk bands), Johnny Mainstream (an indie rock artist from New York), and Jake Fullington and Johnny Giovanni, who are both solo acoustic and locally based.
According to Zombii, bands will be encouraged to post links for tips, and throughout the show they will have a tip link up for The Cellar so people can contribute.
“A lot of our stuff, we do for The Cellar. Any tips we get, we donate,” said Zombii about his bands with Zost. “The Cellar is like my second home. Nothing will go to us. We want to help give back to the community and help where we can.”
Zombii and Yost play in two projects themselves: the aforementioned Zombii and the Barstool Dropouts, a project that plays acoustic pop punk covers from the 90s/2000s, like Blink 182 and Sum 41.This past year they did The Cellar’s A Dinner and a Show both virtual and on the patio. “It’s a fun little side project,” said Zombii.
Jeremy Zombii
Zach Yost and Jeremy Zombii playing on the patio at The Cellar.
Zombii the band is working on its next album, with four songs already recorded, two released as singles, and another six or seven written that the band will record when members are back in the studio in February. The new album, called Fail Harder, includes a cover of a song by a local band that Zombii doesn’t want to reveal just yet, but “we’re excited to put it out. We asked and they let us, and we’re honored.”
Like many other artists during this past year, Zombii has found his inspiration in creation.
“I’ve been so busy lately with school and work and in my downtime working on new music. It kept our spirits up to sit down and play…. Normally I would have been at 100 shows already, both playing and attending. It’s definitely a weird time. I’ll be really happy when we can get out there and see our friends,” he said. He believes it will all come back with a bang. “Now that there aren’t any, once they start up, I think we will see a larger influx of people going out to see shows. I’m looking forward to that first show.”
But for now, there are these 12 bands over the course of eight hours, and no one is happier about that than Zombii.
“Punxmas is bringing us all together. Even if we’re not all in the same room, we are all doing this together, and I’m really stoked for it,” he said.
Punxmas Vol.V will be broadcast live from 4 pm to midnight this Saturday the 12th on The Cellar at Treadwell’s Facebook page. Please see their Facebook page for more event details, including times, lineup of acts, dinner reservation/takeout info, and dining restrictions.