Ekko Astral releases benefit album exclusively on Bandcamp; Memories flow for Carla J. Easton via vinyl
This is Punk Rock Bach for April 30, 2026.
President Adam Sandler? What tomfoolery could this be? Well—it’s a curious scenario posed by the band Ekko Astral on its latest album. This week, we’re talking with the band’s lead singer—Jael Holzman—about the record.
We’ve also got a Q&A with Carla J. Easton about her music-listening habits ahead of her May 8 album release.
Plus, an update on my C-Note speaker construction (soldering is tough!) and what I’m listening to currently. All in this week’s edition of Punk Rock Bach!
Onward!
Ekko Astral’s latest album aims to raise money for trans support groups
A former reality TV personality may sit in the Oval Office currently, but one Washington D.C.-based punk band is thinking about another celebrity for president: Adam Sandler.
“It started out being inspired by, actually, a YouTube review of an Adam Sandler film called ‘Jack and Jill,’” said Jael Holzman, the lead singer for Ekko Astral. “Came out long time ago, but the film itself is terrible.”
Holzman said that YouTube review was from Red Letter Media—which is a Wisconsin-based team of filmmakers who often mock the current state of Hollywood and celebrate poorly made films.
“Over the years, the song has just evolved and developed, where this like tune that began pre-Trump entirely over the years became a perfect receptacle for both [bandmate] Liam [Hughes] and I’s cynical and, you know, surrealist sense of humor,” she said.
“Sandler ‘36” is the first track on Ekko Astral’s new album “fuck this band: live at the chapel.” It was released exclusively to Bandcamp on April 22. The album was recorded during a San Francisco concert at, Holzman said, a former mortuary-turned-music venue.
The album’s release comes after Topshelf Records said in February that it could “no longer support” Ekko Astral. The label said on Instagram that it would also not release the band’s album “the beltway is burning” and would issue refunds for pre-orders. Pitchfork’s Nina Corcoran reported further on the label’s announcement, and circumstances that happened before hand, here.
When asked about the label’s decision, Holzman pointed Punk Rock Bach to public statements the band has made previously—including the description of “fuck this band” on the Bandcamp page. She declined to comment further.
Donating proceeds
The album’s Bandcamp page indicates proceeds from “fuck this band” will go to two groups: Gender Liberation Movement and No More Dysphoria.
Gender Liberation Movement is a group that is “fighting to free all people from harmful and limiting gendered expectations,” according to its website.
No More Dysphoria, according to its website, is a non-profit that has “the goal of helping transgender individuals pay for major aspects of their transition.”
“These organizations do really vital work, so we’re happy to raise money for them,” Holzman, who is trans, said.
Nicolle Maroulis, founder of No More Dysphoria, said in an emailed statement that, “In today’s economic age, it is damn near impossible to be a musician (or any kind of artist), and do it sustainably. The costs of recording music alone are not cheap, and then add the cost of DIY touring on top of that.”
“The fact that Ekko Astral chose to donate proceeds from their latest album is great, and we really appreciate it,” Maroulis said.
Gender Liberation Movement did not respond to a request for comment.
For now, no streaming
While Ekko Astral hasn’t ruled out releasing “fuck this band” to streaming in the future, they’re not discussing it currently. Holzman said part of the appeal of Bandcamp is that fans are buying the music files.
“For various reasons, you know, we wanted this to be a benefit record,” Holzman said. “And we wanted it to be something that people kind of held close to their chest as fans.”
She said in the past the band has released music in tandem with streaming.
“We’ve never had, like, a buy it, and then that’s the only way you can get it, and it’s only available as a file,” she said. “And, like, I personally really like that idea that even though it’s not a physical media, this music is worth something […] you’re buying it. There’s also, I mean, the fact that it’s a benefit record. I wanted people to actually give, like, I wanted people to actually donate, to raise money.”
Holzman performed bass on the album, while Liam Hughes was on guitar and Jeremy Snyder played drums. All three provided vocals. Other tracks include “head empty blues,” “uwu type beat” and “horseglue/beltway”—a favorite of Holzman’s.
“Beltway is this column of fire that I still am perplexed by, rhythmically,” she said. “And the way that we end it too, there’s like this kind of falling of ash feeling that live is very cathartic for me.”
When asked what’s next for the band, Holzman was reticent, and offered a simple “stay tuned.”
Ekko Astral’s album “fuck this band: live at the chapel” was released exclusively to Bandcamp on April 22.
Records from Flaming Lips to Kirsty MacColl — Carla J. Easton shares what she spins ahead of her album release
A week from tomorrow, musician Carla J. Easton is set to release her new album, “I Think That I Might Love You.”
Indie music fans don’t have to wait to check out one of the tracks on that album. Easton released the single “Let’s Make Plans for the Weekend” and its music video earlier this month.
And when it comes to listening to music, Easton is a vinyl fan—and will sometimes listen with family.
“My mum has macular degeneration (loss of sight) and is recovering from her third stroke,” Easton said. “We were listening to 'Sugartown' by the Maguire Sisters as we used to sing it together when I was a little girl. Supporting my mum in her recovery has made me realise how music can be a great way to hang out together and trigger memories.”
Easton shares with Punk Rock Bach this week how she appreciates the records from a sonic standpoint and an aesthetic one.
Editor’s note: Q&A has been lightly edited for style, syntax and typos.
Punk Rock Bach: How do you prefer to listen to music?
Carla J. Easton: I love listening to records. I like the physical aspect of it as well as the sound. You have to engage with it more and I think that promotes better listening and appreciation for music.
I really love listening to music in the car, too! I always listen back to my own mixes in the car before signing off on them. And I just think songs sound great when you listen to them on the radio in the car.
PRB: What are you listening to now?
Easton: On my record player, I’ve been listening to Wendy Carlos’ ‘Switched-On Bach II,” CLAIR’s ‘Earth Mother,’ Flaming Lips ‘Oczy Mlody,’ Dory Previn’s ‘We’re Children of Coincidence and Harpo Marx,’ and Kirsty MacColl’s ‘Desperate Character.’
PRB: What do you listen on?
Easton: I’ve got a turntable and some monitor speakers. The turntable is basically a Rega 1 but branded as VinylPlay (same parts, same factory).
Next week: Dylan Mandel from The Lives of Famous Men shares his appreciation for Philadelphia radio. Be sure to subscribe to get next week’s issue in your inbox!
Carla J. Easton’s new record “I Think That I Might Love You” is set to release on May 8 via Ernest Jenning Record Co. It is available for pre-order on Bandcamp.
Woodworking, soldering and listening, Oh My! Building the C-Note speakers, Part 2
As I explained last week, I’ve hit the pause button on my offline music server build so that I can focus on building “C-Note” speakers from Parts Express. And this new project is coming along…though in fits and starts.
On Sunday, I applied the second coat of shellac primer to the constructed speaker cabinet.
After curing (letting the shellac primer dry and harden) for 48 hours, I’m going to give two coats to the underside of the cabinet to protect the bottom from moisture. Once that’s completed, I’ll apply two thin coats of oil-based polyurethane to the cabinet. But more on that next week.
The curve ball I faced this weekend? Soldering.
I’ve never soldered before. I’ve watched YouTube videos on how to do it, but I guess those lessons didn’t stick—because, according to the DIY Audio reddit community, my iron was not nearly hot enough and this soldering job simply won’t do. Here’s a photo of my initial solder work:
Please note: I needed to cut the excess ledes from the components, as well as heat the joint and feed the solder into it so that both front and back are connected.
But it’s not a lost cause! On Wednesday, after earlier conferring with my uncle—who is an engineer—I finally got a joint hot enough for the solder to flow into it, making a strong connection. I trimmed the excess and now look forward to making the rest of the joints look this clean.
I’m going back into the circuit board this week to try to fix what I fouled up. With any luck, next week I’ll have a properly soldered crossover and a near finished speaker cabinet.
Be sure to check back next week for an update on the C-Notes!
What I’m listening to…
Have you ever had an album that puts you to sleep in the best way possible? A modern lullaby that will sway a dude in his 40s to a nap?
Kimbra’s 2023 album “A Reckoning” has that effect on me. The album is solid; it’s not a boring record by any means! But I think I’ve only heard it a few times in its entirety without falling asleep.
Maybe it’s the time of day I’m playing it—right as I head to bed. I find the music oddly comforting.
But be assured—the album is good stuff!
Thanks for reading Punk Rock Bach! Until next Thursday!