 Photo of Gavin Reed taken by Sinbad Gavin Reed has introduced experimental lo-fi and psychedelic slowcore to Fort Myers through his self-titled solo act. He openly explores a wide variety of genres to prevent a sense of musical confinement. “I feel like a lot of musicians cling to a certain aesthetic or targeted demographic for their identity, and then create what they think will appeal,” said Reed. “I like to explore new sounds and let those discoveries inform who I am.” Reed has released four mid to full-length albums, three of them debuting in 2019. His most recent release time vs animal dropped on January 30. The songs feature warped vocals overlaid on top of an eerie track that sounds faintly unsettling at times. In a good way, of course. Reed prides himself on managing multiple musical projects at once. He has played in upwards of five bands over the past few years, which paved the way to where he is today. Reed believes Robot Religion is the best band he has ever put together. The group was an experimental sludge band that led Reed to meet other, like-minded SWFL musicians. "Writing and recording became an essential coping mechanism for my PTSD and suicidal tendencies." Although Reed enjoys the collaboration aspect of playing with other artists, he likes putting out music individually as well.
“I love having total control over the whole process, especially as a multi-instrumentalist,” said Reed. “That being said, combined talent usually produces the best results, and I have learned a lot from being in bands.” His current setup for his solo act consists of acoustic guitars, a Boss looper pedal, warm bass tones, a synthesizer and a circuit-bent telephone. When all put together, each instrument allows Reed to play a wide range of sounds from sedative soundscapes to mellow acoustic tones. “Playing music has been a source of therapy for me since I was a kid,” said Reed. “In high school, writing and recording became an essential coping mechanism for my PTSD and suicidal tendencies. Music continues to be a great source of healing for these afflictions.” Reed had an interest in playing music since the age of five. He began on a starter drum kit that was gifted to him by his parents. In middle and high school, Reed was involved in the school band and choir. While in college, he learned a lot from audio tech classes and the various bands he played in while growing up. “Nobody can really teach you how to write a good song,” said Reed. “They can give good advice, but expressing yourself with the use of time and frequencies has to be self-taught.” Within the upcoming months, Reed is planning to release two albums and embark on a month-long tour with his garage-punk band, Ancient Whales. His psych-folk band, Dew Loon, will also set off on tour this summer along the east coast. Before Reed leaves, he plans on playing a handful of solo sets to also promote his own music. His newest solo project, Sun Possum, is an electronically charged trash-funk band where hypnotic, danceable beats and crude demonic noise become best friends, according to Reed. All of his music is available for purchase/download on Bandcamp. Reed said the SWFL music community has not only been accepting of him as a fellow artist but has welcomed him with open arms. “I love how tight the SWFL community is,” said Reed. “Most of us musicians are friends, and we have mutual respect for each other. There is also little to no competition. It’s all love.”
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 Photo Taken by Multiple Arms Productions The reggae five-piece, The Freecoasters deliver a lively take on southern soul and ska to Fort Myers. Frontwoman Claire Liparulo, vocals & rhythm guitar, and bass player, John Schiller are the backbone of the band. The new recruits Marc Davis, drums, Keith Cute, lead guitar, and Shane Praefke, organ and Wurlitzer, blend in well with the existing sound. Their first full-length album titled Show Up was released back in 2016, and since then, the band has been writing and touring around the country. Before the release, The Freecoasters set off on a month-long, kickstarter campaign to build hype for the drop. “Tucson, AZ” and “Swim” emerged as fan-favorites and continue to be setlist staples. Not only is the band praised locally in SWFL, but their fanbase stretches across oceans. Streaming platform analytics say the band has more listeners in São Paulo, Brazil than in their hometown. They have even shipped vinyl records as far as Japan and Australia. “Every time we go to new places, we always seem to find amazing, passionate people,” said Schiller. “The sense of community among those making music, and facilitating the making of music, makes your jaw drop.” The band wrapped up their second west coast tour last November and hit Texas, Arizona and California along the way. While in Albuquerque, the band had a show fall through unexpectedly. Schiller said the kindness of a stranger turned the entire night around. “We got hooked up with a promoter in Yuma, who set something up in no time, got a crowd there, managed to get us paid, and then invited us to crash at his place,” said Schiller. “You just don't get that kind of story if you don't get in the van and go find it.” The success of the band scored them a spot on the Florida Ska: Closer Than You - Vol. 3 compilation on Spotify, along with over 3K likes on Facebook. Some of The Freecoasters’ musical inspirations include The Slackers, Toots & The Maytals and The Aggrolites. "You belong anywhere you want to be, whatever size you are.” The reggae and soul genres have been heavily male-dominated since its boom in the 60s, and Liparulo is aware of this more than anyone.
As a female frontwoman, she said she has had to overcome many obstacles due to her gender. “Most of my challenges were personal,” said Liparulo. “[As] a woman with curves, I felt I didn’t have a place on stage as a woman my size, which is absolutely ludicrous. You belong anywhere you want to be, whatever size you are.” Liparulo is now empowered by her presence on stage and radiates positive energy through her lyrics. Her confidence and spunk has shaped the band’s image into something one-of-a-kind. “My favorite thing about being a representative of women in music is the impact I have on kids, especially,” said Liparulo. “When they see a woman on stage with energy and passion, many of them have a breakthrough that I can see in their eyes.” The band has an upcoming run of shows in February and will hit Naples, Cape Coral, Tampa and Punta Gorda. Tracks from their upcoming album, A Different Kind of Heat may make their live debut during these shows. There’s only one way to find out. The release date for the album is still being determined as the band wraps up album art and arrangements. Fans can follow The Freecoasters on Instagram and Twitter to receive updates about news and future shows in the area. (Stay in touch! Click to follow The Freecoasters on Facebook and Instagram)  Photo by Tess Fechtmeyer - Left to right: Brendan DuBois, Skyler Lapham (drums), Cody Smith and Isaiah Suriel Not to be confused with the internet personality, Cody Ko, Cody & Co is a Fort Myers act that freely merges genres and is grounded in Gen Z humor. The band’s frontman, Cody Smith operates solo but collaborates with local artists within the community. Cody & Co released five EPs throughout 2019, an impressive feat for any artist, and his music is available on streaming platforms. “I like releasing music because it gives an outlet for all the general nonsense in my head in a nice and clear direction,” said Smith. “Working with other SWFL musicians is a great way to fill in the gaps that I don't even notice existed until they play.” Smith’s most recent release, Turns Out Constantly Releasing Music Isn't a Good Coping Mechanism, the Cat Was a Good One Though. He's a Good Boy dropped on Dec. 25. The title’s comedic relief serves to cushion the EP’s somber theme, which is about overcoming depression in a relationship. “I hope people can sit down and listen to my music and have it do to them what all my favorite music has done for me - act as an outlet for obsessive tendencies in a way that helps idealize a version of myself I never noticed before,” said Smith. Some musical inspiration for Cody & Co includes an array of artists from The Front Bottoms and The Cure to Willie Nelson. These musicians made him realize that releasing an abundance of music in one year was an achievable goal. Smith said one way to describe his style with Cody & Co is a take on fusing folk, pop and alternative. Cody & Co Released Five EPs Within a Year’s Time Smith regularly plays local Fort Myers venues including, Beach Records and HOWL. He invites friends to play with him during these jam nights.
“Having come from playing drums in punk bands, then screaming folk-punk at people, to having string arrangements be a focal point of an EP gives me whiplash looking back at the past three years,” said Smith. His first release of the year titled Cocaine Killed the Music Scene & All My Friends Are Dead to ME debuted on Apr. 11 and features three originals sandwiched between an intro and an outro. About two weeks later, Cody & Co put out ReHash, which includes the fan-favorite “White Rabbit”. Smith chose to release his music periodically through multiple EPs rather than a collective, full-length album so he could explore a wider variety of sounds and aesthetics rather than focusing on one. I Don’t Get Why My Parents Are Proud of Me Either, but Hey I’m Still Thankful was the third EP of the year, which dropped on Aug. 9. Lastly, the late Sept. release Just Because I’m Happy Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Have Depression Anymore, Nevertheless I Wish It Did is a four-track collection featuring acoustic guitar and saxophone solos. Smith plans to continue playing and writing in 2020 and is looking forward to releasing more content. “The 5 EPs I released in 2019 serve as what I feel is a marker for the real creative growth I've had,” said Smith. “My game plan is just to keep doing my best and whatever that entails.” (Stay in touch! Click to follow Cody & Co. on Facebook and Instagram)  From left to right: Brendan DuBois, Caleb Vilca, and Skyler Lapham ⠀⠀⠀⠀Photo by: Colleen Turley This Fort Myers alternative rock trio has a following upwards of 2,000 fans on social media. Local band, Perfect Sequence has been actively playing shows in the Southwest Florida scene since 2016. They released their earliest work on an EP titled The New Beginning two years prior in 2014. The five-track collection of songs features passionate lyrics belted by Caleb Vilca, lead vocals/guitar, paired with his captivating riffs that move fluidly across the rock spectrum. “Away from This” and the EP's title track, “The New Beginning” continue to be fan favorites that still make their way onto the setlist during live shows. Brendan DuBois, bass/vocals, and Skyler Lapham, drums/vocals, add their personal styles and musical backgrounds to Perfect Sequence. “The three of us have been playing together for a little over a year now,” said Lapham. “Brendan and I make a powerful rhythm section that Caleb is able to build on. We get along well together, and I consider both really good friends.” Lapham is a senior at FGCU and is graduating in Spring 2020. Perfect Sequence’s most recent music video is for their track “Chemicals,” which was filmed on North Lake Village’s Waterfront. The video was uploaded to their YouTube page this past summer and it highlights the band’s comedic humor. Perfect Sequence’s most viewed video is for the title track of their Dec 2017 album, Awaken, which hit over 30K views. The video is a powerful visual to support Vilca’s lyrics. The song encourages people to aid those in need because, one day, you may be the one that cries out for help. Awaken is the band’s first full-length album and is available on Spotify and iTunes. The record raises awareness around mental illness and talks about overcoming life’s challenges. “We have a genuine interest in engaging with the community through our music without fear that it may come off as preachy,” said Vilca. “We really like letting it all out on stage, but that’s not the only reason we do this. [We do this] to see if we can help society in some way as average humans.” Perfect Sequence aims to give their audience an energetic performance when playing live. Some of their favorite Southwest Florida venues are Broadway Palms Dinner Theatre and Dogtooth, in Naples, as well as Rack'em Spirits & Times, in Cape Coral. “I've been lucky to use FGCU's connections as a tool to push our music, and ourselves, into the public.” Their most recent show was on Nov 15 at Beach Records along with other Fort Myer’s locals Gavin Reed and Oak and Ivy. Perfect Sequence draws inspiration from headliners like The Killers, Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam. Their approach to the rock genre comes across as natural, and their music is easy to enjoy. “My musical background consists of pop-punk, shoegaze, indie, and hardcore,” said DuBois. “These have all had a huge impact on me and my style of bass playing. That’s what I bring to the table in this band.” In addition to playing at local venues, Lapham spreads the word about Perfect Sequence through his connection with FGCU. He joined the band in 2018 and promoted Awaken to the student body after its release. “I've been lucky to use FGCU's connections as a tool to push our music, and ourselves, into the public,” said Lapham. “We were able to get the word out about the message behind our music video for ‘Learning to Fall,’ in the context of suicide prevention.” WGCU and Eagle News have previously covered Perfect Sequence as a result of their popularity throughout Southwest Florida. They were invited to play at last year’s Out of the Darkness Walk and asked to perform at this year’s NAMI Walk to End Stigma. The coordinators of these events recognize the positive impact Perfect Sequence is making on the community and gave them the platform to be heard. The band’s numbers are on a continuous rise, and their fanbase will continue to expand when new content is released. Perfect Sequence is gearing up to play their next show on Dec 20 at Rack'em Spirits & Times. “In the past three years since we’ve been playing, we’ve seen a growth in our scene,” said Vilca. “Although we pride ourselves to have contributed to its growth, the scene has, and will always, belong to many acts with whom we feel humbled to work with.” (Stay in touch! Click to follow Perfect Sequence on Facebook and Instagram)  Left to right: Louie Calavera, Xid, Frankie Orion, and Colin Orion ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Photo by: Jesi Cason Photography
One Southwest Florida (SWFL), cyberpunk band is on a mission to revive the synthwave scene by adding their own unique flair to the genre.
Fort Myers’ act, Cobress, features four SWFL locals who have dubbed their style as “witchwave” with inspiration from gothic rock. They are best known for their avant-garde costumes and elaborate show presence on stage when performing. Frankie Orion, guitar/vocals/synth, is the front woman of Cobress. She strives to empower her audience not only through her lyrics but with her appearance as well. “I begin the show in a huge sparkling dress, and by the end, I strip down to a bikini,” said Frankie Orion. “I don’t do it out of vanity; it’s about empowerment. I do it because, after twenty-eight years, I’m learning to love myself and hoping I can inspire other women to love themselves too.” Colin Orion, bass/vocals/synth, is Frankie’s husband. The duo has been playing side by side in Cobress since the project’s start in 2017. Cobress’ sound mirrors that of the band New Year’s Day and includes techno influence similar to In This Moment. “Cobress has brought a different music genre to the collection of very diverse SWFL acts,” said Colin Orion. “Having grown up here, the other musicians are our peers and our friends. Seeing their faces at shows will always be the best part about playing.” The band’s first release was an EP titled Stage Stomp, which hit streaming platforms in March 2018. The six-track playlist details personal anecdotes through high energy anthems like the title track of the album, “Stage Stomp.” Frankie’s enticing vocals provide a nice contrast against the band’s synth-rock ring. WGCU aired an interview with the Orion couple in 2018, which dissected songs off of the EP and predicted where Cobress would head in the future. Louie Calavera, drums/triggers, and Xid, guitar/synth/vocals, complete Cobress. The two help give the band the industrial and electronic sound it’s known for. “We’ve all previously been in projects where the music produced wasn’t quite us,” said Colin Orion. “Not to the fault of anyone else, but maybe just in the spirit of finding yourself over the years. It’s like when you fall in love, and you thought you had loved before, but it was nothing compared to this.” Colin sang vocals and played bass in the post-hardcore group, Scientist Versus Werewolf, which was active in the mid-2000s. Frankie remembers seeing Colin perform in that band when she was in her teens. She enjoys being able to share her passion for performing with her husband. Frankie also takes pride in overcoming the unspoken gender boundaries in the rock/grunge scene. “What I enjoy most about being a woman in the rock scene is being in a project where I get the freedom to express myself not just with sounds and lyrics, but with visuals like fashion too,” said Frankie Orion. She also trains in the art of polesque, which is a mixture of pole dancing and burlesque. Frankie finds ways to incorporate a sensual show within Cobress’ performances. The band regularly plays at different SWFL venues, including Nice Guys Pizza, Rack’em Spirits & Times, HOWL and several others. Cobress’ most recent gig was a two-night party billed, “The Cobress Neon Halloween Weekend,” celebrating the release of the first chapter of their new album: Neon Royale. Chapter One: Fire was dropped on Halloween night during night one of the release party at South Street Grill in Naples. Chicago Boys Bar & Grill in Fort Myers hosted night two of the celebration on November 1. Neon Royale will be released in four separate chapters, each containing songs that will come together to create the whole album. “We’ve noticed a trend in the music industry where artists releas[e] albums gradually rather than all at once,” said Colin Orion. “Even though we really love the nostalgic feeling of a full album, we also understand the reason for this technique. So we decided to try and do both [and] we wrote the full album as a story separated into chapters.” The four complete chapters of Neon Royale are Fire, Water, Earth and Air, and they will be released in that order. Album art for the LP was illustrated by Colin, who is a tattoo artist at Independent Tattoo. Each chapter’s cover will be a panel of an image that will become visible after all four covers are pieced together. The second chapter of Neon Royale, Chapter Two: Water, is expected to be released sometime in November. “The people of SWFL are our family,” said Colin Orion. “It’s our job to give them [a show] to the best of our abilities and to always be striving to one-up ourselves for the next time. Of course, the road is great, but there’s no place like home.” (Stay in touch! Click to follow COBRESS on Facebook and Instagram)
 From left to right: Jake Shockley, Roxx Barrios, Dan Heath - Photo by: Jesi Cason Photography Roxx Revolt didn’t meet The Velvets until 2018 when the two projects came together to unite the underground scene in SWFL. Roxette “Roxx” Barrios, vocals and rhythm guitar, scouted three other Fort Myers’ locals to form the only glammy-punk n roll band in the area. Each member has an extensive musical background from playing in various projects before coming together to form Roxx Revolt and The Velvets (RRTV). “All of our past experiences have an influence on the ways we write and styles we have developed,” said Jake Shockley, lead guitar and backing vocals. “We are continuing to incorporate the sounds we have in our heads into our music." Barrios met Shockley after watching him play a live show with another local band last year. Barrios, a Venezuelan-born talent, believes her own culture inspires her to write and has an impact on the music she workshops with the band. She said Venezuelan culture is very vibrant and warm, and she allows that to shape her style. “It is always rewarding to watch stigmas [get] demolished, especially when you play a little part in it.” Bassist and backing vocalist, Dan Heath came into the picture through a mutual friend. He has been jamming with Barrios since 2016 around the beginning of her solo project, Roxx Revolt. “SWFL has such an amazingly talented scene for female-fronted groups,” said Heath. “Talent and the integrity of the music are what count, and everyone here delivers. There is only one Roxx, and it’s euphoric having her at the helm.” It’s common knowledge that most artists in the rock/metal scene are predominantly male. SWFL is no exception. However, we have some shining female stars down here, with Barrios rightfully earning her place as one of them. “I’m not one to be defined or feel limited because of my gender,” said Barrios. “There’s definitely an attitude when people, especially guys in the music scene, underestimate you at the beginning. It is always rewarding to watch stigmas [get] demolished, especially when you play a little part in it.” RRTV recently debuted their new single titled, “King Revolt” on Sept. 17. It is the first track released by the band and has exceeded their expectations in the short amount of time it has been public. Drums for the song were recorded by past RRTV member, Wes "James" Mitzelfeld. However, Jordan Favazza is the band’s current drummer. “King Revolt” is a celebration of one’s spirit. The members’ described it to be about feeling like a black sheep but accepting it, rather than being ashamed of the fact. The single is available on Spotify and Youtube. Barrios and the others began RRTV with a clear vision in mind. They wanted to shape the current local scene into something energetic and positive. “We [were] tired of seeing what I call ‘dead kid shows’ [where] nobody seem[ed] to be enjoying it,” said Barrios. “Revolt is in our name because we are in a protest against [these shows] and want people to celebrate their humanity, happiness, and love.” A full-length album has been confirmed and will be released sometime during the beginning of 2020. RRTV’s next show is on Oct. 12 at Rack'em Spirits & Times in Cape Coral. The band will play “King Revolt” live and possibly tease at some of their newest, upcoming tracks. (Stay in touch! Click these to follow RRTV on Facebook and Instagram)  Picture taken by Colleen Turley at a live BBH show
Ska-punk is hard to come by in SWFL, but Bargain Bin Heroes (BBH) has made a name for themselves in the local scene since their debut in 2015.
Their lineup includes five Fort Myers' locals featuring Eric “Big E” Demayo, lead vocals/bass guitar, who writes the band’s originals. “I feel we do the genre justice while adding our own little twist,” said Demayo. “SWFL is interesting [because] having bands cross genre lines with other bands makes for really electric shows.” Rob Deuce, guitar, and Aaron Melcher, trombone/backing vocals, play alongside Demayo in addition to Amanda Brooke, saxophone, and Jimmy James, drums. BBH has played live shows at venues across SWFL from the beginning and even make their way up to Tampa for occasional gigs. They advertise upcoming shows on Facebook and Instagram, which helps draw in the crowd of regulars. “Rack’em Spirits and Times, in Cape Coral, and HOWL, in Fort Myers, have been our biggest supporters, and I feel like we have our best local shows there,” said James. “Playing with other local bands is a blast. So many of them become your friends, and it turns you onto different music that you might not be aware of.” The band recorded their first full-length album in early December 2018 titled, Droppin’ the Deuce. Stand-out anthems off the eight-track record include “North on 75” and “The Moon.” Both songs showcase the talent of Melcher and Brooke on brass while demonstrating the band’s various sounds mesh together. “Hopeless,” another top track, starts with a bass solo from Demayo and talks about his struggle of feeling isolated within society. “I feel like it’s the songs and musicianship that has gotten us to this level,” said Demayo. “[The album] definitely helped us reach a larger audience both locally and across the world. The best part after it was released was seeing people at our shows singing along to our songs. Seeing something like that totally makes all the hard work worthwhile.” BBH currently has two shows lined up for this month, Sept 13 at PoorHouse in Fort Lauderdale and Sept 28 at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral. “I think our fun energy really shines at shows,” said James. “We all do it for the love of music, not for money or fame. If something bigger comes from it, that’s great, but for right now we are having the best time playing music together, and that is what matters most.” The band revealed they are working on a cover EP and plan to release a collection of originals sometime soon. Although there is no official release date, fans can listen to Droppin’ the Deuce on Spotify and catch BBH during their next live performance this month.
 Whelpley (left) and Mikan (right) acoustic set on August 10 Hailing from Port Charlotte is SWFL’s newest underground band to hit the local scene. Oak and Ivy only recently began their journey in January, but their lineup includes four friends who are all too familiar with the post-hardcore scene down here. Gage Mikan, lead vocals and rhythm guitar, was a founding member of Cape Coral’s band of angsty teens, Tenth Wave, which disbanded back in 2018. The band released a self-titled EP on Spotify with the help of FGCU alum, Jon Whelpley who produced the record. Whelpley now plays lead guitar alongside Mikan in Oak and Ivy. Aaron La Plante, drums, and Nik Kulpanowski, bass, have also taken part in various side projects, including Even Less Friends and Lucid Lake, before joining Mikan and Whelpley. “I think our past experiences have helped us understand what people want out of seeing live bands,” said Mikan. “It helps us express ourselves [through] our music while always catering to an audience, to the extent that they would come see us again.” With each members’ past experiences, they knew planning needed to be done before Oak and Ivy started to play live shows. The band spent the first half of the year gathering their thoughts and working on their sound, which is still developing each time they step into the studio. “Our current music is mostly a mix of post-hardcore, emo, and hard rock,” said La Plante. “We are currently writing to include more elements of prog (progressive) and math rock.” Math rock refers to a subsection of indie rock that boomed in some U.S. cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, in the late ’80s. Chon is a prime example of the genre. Oak and Ivy began to play live shows within the past two months. Their first advertised gig took place at Cape Coral’s staple venue, Rack’em Spirit & Times. Mikan and Whelpley also play occasional acoustic sets. Their most recent being at Beach Records on August 10. “I think my favorite thing about playing in SWFL is the opportunity to be able to surprise people,” said Kulpanowski. “SWFL isn’t really known for a particularly vibrant or exciting music scene. When people get out and are able to see some good bands at a great place, it can be surprising to them.” The band admits that breaking out and getting heard by locals has been challenging, especially because Oak and Ivy haven’t released much original content online yet. Mikan said it can be difficult to stay motivated at times, but thinking of the future keeps him moving forward. Whelpley believes their geographic location causes some setbacks. Although conveniently based in between FGCU and FSW, Whelpley believes it is not enough to gain the traction the band needs for its music to leave an impression with listeners. “It’s 15,000 students who all have the potential to be involved in the local music scene,” said Whelpley. “But from my experience, not too many people know all that much about it.” Oak and Ivy plan to begin recording an EP very soon and release music by the end of the year. Until then, the band plans to continue booking local shows and getting their name on more tour bills. We look forward to what is yet to come. (Stay in touch! Click to follow Oak and Ivy on Instagram and YouTube)
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