Manic Kat Records started their holiday season with Nightmare Before Punxmas a celebration of performers from the label’s roster. The event was held December 19-20, at Olive’s in Nyack, NY.
An annual event, this year’s go-round faced a major challenge: getting the label’s national and international acts to Nyack. Travel is a major cog in a touring band’s wheel. The 2025 government shutdown brought about massive flight cancellations, causing logistical hell and sidelining acts scheduled to attend. The quantity of bands playing was reduced, but the quality was certainly not.
Manic Kat Records describes itself as “an independent punk label that aims to put the artists first.” The glow radiating from the Punk marquee has expanded over the label’s eleven years of existence. Hardcore, metal, alternative, and pop punk are now incorporated into the path of totality. The label embraces this amalgamation of sounds setting it apart from other independents.
Friday night featured Solace, a Stony Point, NY based band. This five-piece band brought a West Coast tone (à la Red Hot Chili Peppers) to the stage sharing originals constructing a vibrant melodic groove as their set progressed.
I Am The Pilot, a trio based in Poughkeepsie, was impacted by this year’s flight debacle. Not to be deterred they took on the challenge, playing as a duo with bass player Todd M Ross taking lead vocal and guitar duties. The band’s hardcore sound filled the house during their short and power-punched performance.
Olive’s ambiance served as the perfect location for this holiday gathering. On the wall was a picture of Elvis in an army-green uniform holding a slate with his name on it. To the right, a large traffic light, that did not turn red, beamed across the room. Around back, the bathroom had “Whatever, as long as you washed your hands” on the door, while a disco ball hung near the complimenting this cacophony of visuals.
Saturday night opened with label founder and CEO Pete James representing his band Cult Classic, performing solo. Pete shared acoustic offerings of the band’s tunes mixed with some covers.
As Pete’s set progressed, Ben Pritchard, lead singer of Goldstate, a UK pop punk band, was summoned to the stage. With a gleam in his eye, Ben shared the news that Goldstate was signing with Manic Kat Records. The two then fused together for an improvised Goldstate set.
With Pete and Ben wrapped, it was time to plug in. Jersey’s Reality Suite brought a tight, polished set to the eager crowd. With ten years on the stage together, Reality Suite has developed into a solid rock band.
To close out the Punxmas gala, When Thieves Are About performed. Synthesizing their explosive speed with hardcore metal, When Thieves Are About blew the roof off Olive’s. The band was nonstop with their driving sound while exhibiting obvious ebullience. They left nothing on the stage when it was all over.
Chestnuts were not roasting by the fire at this festive gathering. No, not at all. They just turned the amps up to eleven while wishing merry Punxmas to all, and to all a rock’n night.
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