PREMIERE: Relive The OG Punk Era with Dead End Job's New Track 'By Your Side'

We love coming across musical acts that are keeping the OG punk spirit alive, and Californian pop punk three-piece Dead End Job are doing exactly that. Hailing from Berkeley, USA, the guys have kept the band raw and edgy playing together as a three-piece, paying homage to their influences and pop punk pioneers, Blink-182 and Green Day.

We're stoked to be bringing you their new single 'By Your Side' today, a frivolous, high-energy track which has taken on a new meaning in 2020, the band exclusively revealed to us in our chat below. Also bringing with it some huge nostalgia for the early 2000s, 'By Your Side' will kinda remind you of a Blink classic (I'll let you listen and find out for yourself!)

G’day guys! First up, introduce yourselves and who makes up Dead End Job?

I'm Colin and I sing and play guitar. I'm Alex and I play drums. I'm Octavious and I play bass.

Your new single ‘By Your Side’ sounds like a tasty AF pop punk track! Tell us a little more about the track...

'By Your Side' was one of the first songs we wrote as a band around 2018. We were able to dial down our sound over the years and thought it’d be a good time to release it since it would set the tone for the future of our music.

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t remind me of early Blink-182 - why is Blink the best band of our generation?

Blink is one of the most influential bands to us because, aside from their music being amazing, they seem like really normal dudes that just loved to party, make music and have fun, which is kinda what we were striving to do from the beginning.

Who else forms Dead End Job’s musical influences though?

We are definitely heavily influenced by Green Day. However, our music tastes all vary pretty drastically. Alex is more into the classic punk, with the f-you attitude. Octavious is more into heavier music. Colin is more into the new age pop punk stuff.

‘By Your Side’ follows your previous single from this year, ‘Revolution Zero’, which is a little more furious and energetic. What inspired the angsty sounds behind that song?

'Revolution Zero' was actually written by Alex. It was mainly inspired by the state of politics in the U.S. and we thought it’d be a nice change of pace for our sound. It is probably one of the funnest songs to play live!

But can I just say, your Live Your Life EP that you dropped last year was super fucking pop punk, which we love! 'Car Battery' slaps hard. How’s the creative process changed for you in between releasing Live Your Life and ‘By Your Side’?

Live Your Life had ended up being sort of the blueprint for our music. The sound on the EP is one that we crafted together after practicing every week for 2 years straight. By the time we were able to record 'By Your Side', which was one of the first songs we ever messed around with, we were more level headed and had more of a guide to achieving the sound that we all wanted as a band. From the time signature changes, to the layered guitars, we were able to take a song that was very barebones, and with the help of the producer at Noiseeater Recordings in Santa Cruz, and turn the song into what it is today

Here in Australia, we have definitely been exposed to the media’s portrayal of COVID in the US this year. But how’s the year panned out for you guys so far?

This year has been very difficult for all of us, especially in the music industry. We had plans to release 'By Your Side' earlier in the year but decided to shelve it indefinitely. After seeing that shows weren't coming back for a while, we decided it would be a good time to release some music. 'By Your Side', by this time, has taken upon a new meaning, and we would like to use the song to sort of show our fans that we will always by their side through thick and thin, just like they've been with us.

What’s the most important lesson you’ll take from this year?

The biggest lesson i think we will take from this year is to be grateful for the opportunities we have and to jump at any and all opportunities available. Which has always been our mindset, but experiencing this year has definitely solidified that.

And what are you hoping to achieve for 2021?

For 2021, we are hoping to get back into the studio and record enough music to last up until the end of the world, and to play shows for anyone and everyone who will listen and hang out with us.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

We would like to just say thank you to everyone who has checked out our music! We are currently selling merch on our website and we only have a few shirts and hats left. Stay tuned as well because we will have a lot more for everyone in 2021! 

Cannot wait for that! Thanks for the chat boys!

Follow Dead End Job here: Facebook |Instagram

Rep their merch here