The next Playlist in our ongoing series features Lost & Loveless (Nick Martin of D.R.U.G.S.’s clothing company) and A Lot Like Birds, and we couldn’t be more excited to have them both taking part in the feature.. Check out the Playlists and listen to the songs while reading everyone’s thoughts!

(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
Blakfish - Economics
I discovered this band one day through myspace while checking out top friends on a band I love called On The Might Of Princes late one night. The song, My Stomach Feels Like My Throats Been Cut, took me about 20 listens in a row before I could finally say I loved it. I was super confused, I wasn’t sure whether I was supposed to like it or not, but the song would finish, and I’d have to start it all over again. It seems to me like any song that commands multiple listens in a row is nothing short of special, so this song and band remain extremely important to me. RIP - Ben Wiacek
The Jonbenet - Behold The White Whore
First of all, what a hell of a song title. Secondly, this song is just an onslaught of hardcore genius! The chorus is one of the catchiest things you will ever here, especially in hardcore, and the lyrics are amazing. This band opened up for The Number 12 Looks Like You and Heavy Heavy Low Low back in 2005, Cory and I went to this show, and after watching The Jonbenet destroy their set, Cory and I were almost overwhelmed to the point where we left before #12 even took the stage! We didn’t need them to make the hard earned $12 we spent on each ticket to consider the show worth it. The Jonbenet took the liberty of melting our faces and shortly after became one of our favorite bands. RIP - Ben Wiacek
Refused - Refused Party Program
Who doesn’t know about Refused? Well, stop reading this, and go get The Shape Of Punk To Come, and then tell me why you made the terrible mistake of living your life without ever owning that CD. It’s arguably the best album to come out in the hardcore/posthardcore genre ever. Just think about it, it came out in 1998, and has ever since been an integral part of most of your favorite band’s CD collections and inspiration behind their musicianship. Refused Party Program is one of the songs on there that perfectly emulates the “punk-rock” side where it’s just three different chords the whole time for about a minute of pure intensity that your mind will not shake, that song is furious. I’ve been wanting to cover it forever. RIP - Ben Wiacek
Bear Vs. Shark - Catamaran *Song is currently not on Spotify
I used to hate this band…. I couldn’t tell you why, but I’m sure there are plenty of bands out there that you or him or her unjustifiably dislike due to one thing or another. I finally saw this band back in 2004 or so with Fear Before The March Of Flames and The Fall Of Troy. When they took the stage, I was not expecting to leave that show wishing I could go back in time to become a fan and listen to their CD’s repeatedly so once the song Catamaran came around, I’d be one of the dozens of people shouting and singing along as they closed their set. It was very moving. I had injured my knee weeks prior to the show, so as I sat side stage, admiring the vocalists stage antics, the crowds frenetic energy, wanting to be a part of it all. I couldn’t be happier that I saw them, it was like a life lesson. Judging a band for whatever reason seems suitable at the time may one day come back and bite you in the ass as it did to me.. RIP - Ben Wiacek
Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s - As Tall As Cliffs
So we have a sappy side, what of it? - Mikey Franzino
At The Drive-In - Rolodex Propaganda
At The Drive In is among the most punk rock entities I can think of (alongside Tera Melos, Refused, and Paul Baribeau). I think any remotely like minded person our age curses the stars every single night for being too young to witness them live. Omar (and every respective musician hes ever surrounded himself with really) is of course an inspiration to us. He is affirmation that you can be a true musician and not be musically educated. RIP - Mikey Franzino
Russian Circles - Carpe
This band makes heavy sound beautiful more than any single band out there. They are also among my top 3 favorite live performances of all time. I saw them right when Station was about to come out, so they played a lot of Enter (the album that wooed me) and then came out with “Harper Lewis” before it had released and I lost all control of my bowels. You are not allowed to stand with your arms crossed at Russian Circles show, you are going home with a bang over. I was listening to a lot of Russian Circles when I recorded Plan B, who knows if it shows.
Giraffes? Giraffes! - I Am S/H(im)e[r] As You Am S/H(im)e[r] As You Are Me And We Am I And I Are All O
This band is so goddamn creative. There’s so few bands out there doing the mathy/intrumental thing and still valuing the importance of good hooks. And they quote Alan Watts, whats not to love? But really, I think it is an honor to be on a persons list of “Bands to play on long beautiful drives,” and these guys have been on mine for years. - Mikey Franzino
Third Eye Blind - Narclolepsy
Third eye blind is the first concert I ever saw, my dad took me right after the self titled came out (Yeah, you’re fucking jealous) in the fifth grade. I used to drag my mom into room when I was little and make her listen to me sing this song, the self titled was among the first albums i remember ever making me feel emotional. You can often find Cory and I drunkenly singing this song at the top of our lungs. - Mikey Franzino
Mew - Snow Brigade
Mew takes you places. They are just masters of communicating an emotion. Every groove is so simple but so incredibly tasteful, every aspect of their music is that way really. I love them as a musician and a music enthusiast, few bands bridge that barrier well and I think I speak for the whole band in saying so. - Mikey Franzino
The Number Twelve Looks Like You - Jay Walking Backwards
The Number Twelve is oddly enough the band that turned me on to screaming. I was pretty stubborn about it when it started becoming a thing and bands like Elysia and The Devil Wears Prada were at the forefront of that scene at the time. I vehemently hated that kind of music, and still do. The Number Twelve taught me the art in heavy. When mongrel came out, my drummer at the time and I turned out all the lights in his house, put it on his parents giant stereo, and didn’t speak until the album was done, and even then were incapable of it. RIP - Mikey Franzino

(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
My playlist is all over the place. For the sheer fact that I’m an eclectic music listener and I can’t stay stagnant in 1 genre. These songs have been on extreme heavy rotation while chilling at home working on Lost & Loveless and blaring in my headphones on tour with D.R.U.G.S.:

Stiff Little Fingers - Here We Are Nowhere *Song is currently not on Spotify
Been digging through all my punk rock records and this song makes me feel like I’m 14 years old again, running around my room like a crazy person. It’s :57 of rowdy, sloppy, yet melodic punk greatness.
Lydia - Ghosts
One of my favorite records this year, thus far. I’ve always been a closet super fan of this band. This song really stuck out as my favorite track after my first initial listen through of the album. When we were in Australia, I had this song on repeat. I’ve probably listened to this song over 150 times at this point. He has such a fragile voice. Like he may break at any moment. And I love that vulnerability in a great singer.
The Ghost Inside - Between The Lines
One of very few hardcore/metal bands in the past few years that has really blown me away. I love this song specifically because it has this cool intense, fast energy in the intro of the song that is reminiscent of Shai Hulud — including his vocals that resemble Geert van der Velde, who is one of my all-time favorite hardcore singers. Just a very straight forward band that doesn’t fill their songs with any bullshit filler parts.
letlive. - H. Ledger
This band is my band of the year. There has not been a band that has truly caught my attention and turned me into a massive fan like this band has in such a long time. This song has an amazing chorus and Jason just writes incredible lyrics to make it one synonymous creation. In the bridge where he says, “I’m a proud ass nigga.. Back of the bus is where I’m proud”. That shit gives me chills every time I hear him scream it. An honest and intense front man. Hard to come by.
The Beatles - Blackbird *Song is currently not on Spotify
Maybe my favorite band of all-time. By far my favorite Beatles song. I feel like this song just takes me to a different world every time I listen to it. And about 78% of the time, I get teary-eyed. 7% of the time, I weep. I relate to this song on so many different levels, I could write essays on it. If I’m ever in a down mood, it helps me. If I’m in a great mood, it helps me. This is McCartney in genius form.
Adele - Someone Like You
What can I say about this song? Wow. I’m listening to it now as I’m typing this. Such a gut wrenching, honest, deep song. When I first heard this record, I was sincerely blown away by every single song on the album. But when I heard this song, I wept like a child. It made me feel bad. I had also just gone through a break-up and this song really put shit in perspective in my life. In the bridge, you can hear her voice really worn-down and almost cracking. That part of the song seriously sends chills through my whole body every single time I hear it. It’s very pure and painful. She’s a beautiful artist who I have tremendous love and respect for.
Thrice - The Earth Will Shake
I will always love this band. They shaped me as an artist, hands down. I love the depressing, ball and chain, prison yard sing-a-long to this song. I love playing it acoustically and warming up with it. I could do a whole Thrice playlist, really. I always get asked the question of who I’d like to work with and it would be Thrice. They are extremely forward-thinking musicians and I respect the shit out of them for that. A band that has never compromised their sound.
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Rude Mood
My favorite guitar player of all time. This song just puts me in a damn good mood and I shake my tush a bit. He was able to convey so much raw emotion through his guitar. So much soul. Beautiful.
Slipknot - Wait and Bleed
This band fucking blows my mind. I recently read Corey Taylor’s book which was an incredible book. Such an intelligent individual who really just says shit how it is. I’ve always loved this song. I love the melody in his screams, which a lot of screamers completely lack. He’s so distinct and intense, it sounds like he’s literally going to crawl out of your headphones and kill somebody. So to all fellow screamers out there, stop sucking ass and fucking it up. Listen to Corey Taylor and study.
Queen - Love of My Life
Freddie Mercury is hands down the best singer and frontman to ever exist. I’ll stand by it and will gladly get into a fist fight with you if you’d like to argue agains it. This band successfully wrote brilliant songs in ALL genres of music. But this song holds a special spot in my heart. I’ve watched so many live videos of this song on YouTube and the way he can command a crowd with such ease and grace. You can hear a mouse fart at Wembley Stadium in front of thousands of people as he sings this song.
Periphery - New Groove *Song is currently not on Spotify
Not much to say other than the riffs in this song are fucking awesome. I’ve contemplated recording my own vocals over this instrumental. Maybe one day.
Neon Trees - Sins of My Youth
I’ve been obsessed with this bands record. Had the pleasure to catch them in San Diego and it was by far one of the best shows I had been to in a long time. Tyler is such an incredible and exuberant frontman, you can’t help but be drawn in when you see them. So much charisma and it definitely conveys through in this song. Just a fun band to crank on the stereo.
D.R.U.G.S. - We’re All Fucking Crazy (DEMO) *Song is currently not on Spotify
Yeah yeah yeah, I know it’s my own band. But we’ve been working on new material and I listen to this one quite a bit. It’s got a rad sing a long and Craig’s voice kills throughout the whole song. It’s reminiscent of “The Only Thing You Talk About”, but it’s much heavier and Matt Good puts a stamp on the bridge. Mmm, it’s a tasty track, I must say.