There’s a weird kind of heartbreak that comes with living even a semi-public life. Not the obvious kind. Not the strangers on the internet who have opinions about you without ever meeting you. That part? You almost sign up for it. You learn to build some kind of callus. You expect it. I say this as someone who still constantly gets hurt by comments even from strangers but I am able to recover easier. But this time? This is different. This is someone who knew me....choosing to

Wheatus, Keep Flying, and Why We Keep Swabbing Once again I’m out on the road for a week of shows with the incredible humans in Wheatus and Keep Flying. And I have to admit, it feels really damn good to be around people who care about Punk Rock Saves Lives. From the moment I showed up I was welcomed with open arms and immediately hit with my favorite question: “What dogs do you have with you this time?” (obviously I have Lilly and Kit) That’s the kind of energy I like to star

In this installment I talk to Chris Cappaulli about the Michigan punk scene, inclusivity at gigs, writing fun songs about dark subjects, and the punk-rock-to-dad pipeline. Q: Tell us about the band! How did it start, what have you been up to? What’s the punk scene like in MI?   In 2023, Dr. Nick, Mitch, and I (Cappaulli) discussed starting a three-piece punk band.  At the time, Dr. Nick was our bassist and a singer, Mitch was our guitarist, and I was our drummer and the other

I want to start with the constant Tina fact. There’s a kind of sadness that isn’t situational. It’s not “had a bad day.” It’s not “just need more sleep.” It’s bone-deep. Soul-rooted. The kind that hums under everything. I live with that kind of sadness. Depression for me isn’t dramatic. It’s not loud. It’s not always visible in the photos where I’m holding a swab kit and smiling next to a stage banner. It’s quiet. It’s heavy. It’s crying in a van at 2am and then waking up hou

Today would have been my mom’s 60th birthday. Her name was Christine Larch, but she went by Tina. I was named after her, which feels poetic and complicated all at once, like most things in my life. Life truly can be many things at the same time. I am a mental health advocate because I grew up as the child of someone with debilitating OCD. Not the kind people joke about. Not the kind TV makes palatable. Not “quirky” or “organized” or “I just like things clean.” This was OCD th

January is a weird month. 2026 seems to be a weird year. I’m home. Actually home. Sleeping in the same place more than three nights in a row. Cooking meals that don’t come from a truck stop. Hugging people and hanging out with friends without a countdown clock in my head. And I’m grateful for that...deeply grateful. But I’m also restless as hell. This is the part no one warns you about. When motion is your normal state, stillness doesn’t feel like rest... it feels LOUD and ex

I had the brilliant experience of having A Day Without Love play at my house earlier this year. Brian Walker is a brilliant and thoughtful artist and person. I talked to him about his travels, the politics of punk, and the benefits of being single. Q: You have been playing for 12 years. Can you take me through the early days of this project? How did you end up here? A: The project has always been about my struggles with adjusting to life and trying to find a place of comfort

⚠️ Content Warning:  This post contains raw and honest reflections about mental health, burnout, and suicidal thoughts.If you are in a dark place, please know you are not  alone. In the U.S., you can call or text 988  (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) Text HOME  to 741741  (Crisis Text Line) If you work in the music/live events community, visit backline.care  for free support. If this feels too heavy for where you are mentally today, I encourage you to come back when or if it feels

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