The last time Jivebomb played Charlotte, it was at a sweaty, frenetic, sold-out show with Candy at The Milestone, one of the Carolina’s most iconic punk venues. Footage from the night shows the entire room in a frenzy, throwing down and stage diving from the first note to the last. The mix sounded incredible, the energy was wild, and the performance has since become a kind of local legend - boosting the video of the band’s set to thousands of views. That kind of word-of-mouth reach can be invaluable, and for Baltimore collective Jivebomb, it helped stoke anticipation for their return to the Queen City.
This time, they brought their signature sounds of fury to Snug Harbor, a nautical-themed bar and music venue tucked into an unassuming block of Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood. The last time they played this specific room was alongside Angel Du$t nearly two years ago. Now, they were here to headline their own bill in support of their newly released debut full-length, ETHEREAL. The show also happened to coincide with guitarist Harper’s birthday, adding a layer of celebratory warmth to the Friday night.
The crowd was a bit more laid-back than at their last Charlotte appearance - still a full room, still people nodding and swaying, but not quite the level of chaos of The Milestone. A few enthusiastic stage divers and dancers made themselves known, but for the most part, this was a night to soak in the band’s sound and presence rather than erupt into frenzy. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The band sounded incredible either way, with razor-tight musicianship, Kat’s signature antagonistic growls cutting cleanly through the mix, and every single song from ETHEREAL in the setlist, plus a few from their 2022 EP Primitive Desires.
Jivebomb’s presence onstage and off is warm, punk, and real. Members of the band could be spotted throughout the night showing respect and watching local openers Döltz and Survival Tactics as well as their fellow tourmates Polarview. Jivebomb’s inclusion in the rising class of post-pandemic hardcore torchbearers - alongside peers like Scowl, Militarie Gun, One Step Closer, Jesus Piece, Speed, Pain of Truth, and of course, Turnstile and Knocked Loose - feels well earned.
With ETHEREAL, the band has sharpened their voice and style, building on their established chaotic frenzy with tracks like "WISE CHOICE" and expanding into broader sonic territory. Tracks like “SURVIVAL AIN’T TAUGHT” carry a braggadocious swagger, while “ESTRELA” and “SERAPHIM (MARINA’S SONG)” embrace something closer to poetry. Their visual flair with their artwork (especially the “SURVIVAL AIN’T TAUGHT” video) and Kat’s striking personal style only amplify the sense that Jivebomb are carving out something truly distinct.
Outside of the venue, the band reflected on what it means to finally have the record out. “It feels like it really took long to do it, not for any particular reason.” they confess. “We're slackers pretty hard for a while. We think playing shows is more fun than writing.” That love of performance is evident not just in how they play, but how they write. “We kind of focus on the live aspect more than the song, yeah. It’s like, is this something I would be stoked to see? That’s how the songs are written.”
The band confirmed that they're playing the entire album live on tour this year, maybe not in order, but still in its entirety with a few older cuts thrown in as well. Tracks like “Illusion of Choice” and “Primitive Desires” still always get the pits going, after all. The new song they were most excited to bring to the stage? An emphatic and unanimous: "Rhythm Zero." "It’s fast, it’s a longer song, Harper gets the solo - it’s becoming our favorite song that we have. And it wasn’t even a single."
Writing ETHEREAL was not without its hurdles. “A part of the process of getting the record done - that took us a long time to start taking the steps - is we had those kinds of fears or questions about, ‘Oh, we have to make it sound like a Jivebomb record.’ And then when we were in crunch time, we were just like, ‘Let's write the songs that we want to write.” That freeform approach is partly what allowed ETHEREAL to venture into some unexpected places. “Some of them ended up being heavier, and some of them ended up being, like, two minutes of a deep beat” they noted. “We all listen to such different shit all the time that you have to blend everything together or it’s gonna sound one specific way.”
Jivebomb aren’t a band that writes on the road. “We could, but we don’t try,” they admitted. “If we were the type of band that did a real soundcheck, we could get something done every day, and that would be ideal. But we don’t soundcheck.” Their process is deeply collaborative, and rooted in being together. “I think there’s usually a point person in those kinds of bands that write on the road, and they have a laptop with software where they can program stuff like drums. None of us can do that. We can only write when we’re together and jamming. We can all write riffs by ourselves, but we can’t make it a full thing without everybody being there.”
Their diversity of taste spans from all corners of the musical world and beyond. “Harper has a lot more history with thrash and 80s metal than all of us do,” said David. “My dad was in an 80s hair metal cover band. I listen to a lot of 90s metal and industrial stuff.” That range also came into play when it came time to design the cover art for ETHEREAL. “I just knew I wanted it to be an actual photo,” Kat explained, “because everything we put out before was hand drawn.” The final product is a mix of photo and animation, inspired by sources ranging from 80s punk records like Rich Kids on LSD to the rotoscoped works of animator Ralph Bakshi on films like Wizards, Cool World and Heavy Traffic. “There’s always gotta be a little guy,” the band joked, referring to the small illustrated characters that often populate their art.
Of course, the band’s love for the stage doesn’t come without a few battle scars. "I broke my arm in November on someone’s head," one of them laughed. “Got my nose broken during Suburban Scum,” added another. "Division of Mind set was the first time I'd ever gone into the bathroom and blood was just all over me."
“I had to have two back surgeries,” said Ethan, blaming it partly on being tall and partly on being an active participant at hardcore shows. “Everybody’s got an injury.” Consensual pain aside, the band remains infectiously enthusiastic about touring, connecting with fans, and playing shows night after night. Whether they’re facing a packed-out pit or a more polite and reserved crowd, Jivebomb have already proved that they have the chops, the attitude, and the vision to go the distance in a rapidly shifting scene. Catch them near you and get caught up in the wave.
Keep up with Jivebomb and on their socials as well as at Flatspot Records.
Get the new album, ETHEREAL - HERE
