The Wescott is Pretty in Punk — 20 Watts Magazine | Premier Music Publication of SU

By Erin Manion

Mom Jeans are no longer to be confused with a fashionable booty lift. The band is now becoming a staple in the emo/punk/rock industry and have recently made its way Syracuse, New York. Mom Jeans does not travel alone; they brought their punk friends to perform on your friendly neighborhood Westcott Theater, including Mover Shaker, and Prince Daddy & the Hyena. Syracuse’s very own Closure performed as an opener for the three touring bands.

Natives of California, Mom Jeans formed gradually as each member played individual shows in various places in the Berkeley area. Eventually, they fused together and maintained a network of connections with producers and managers from their early days as endeavoring musicians.

This year has been a wild ride for the band as they continue to tour all over the United States as well as Europe, Mexico, and Australia. Despite their broad range of travels, they displayed a soft spot for Syracuse. The band drew a surprisingly large crowd for the venue.

“This town is sick,” said guitarist, Bart Starr. “I’ve been to Syracuse a bunch of times, they kill it.”

When it comes to influencers, Starr showed interest in My Chemical Romance, which is definitely evident in his performance. His hardcore strumming patterns and passion while playing certainly echo the classic emo band. Joel Kirschenbaum, merch designer and tour manager for the group, credits other managers he has taken notes from such as Jeff Rosenstock’s, or Touché Amoré’s, both emo/rock bands similar to Mom Jeans.

While Eric Butler, lead singer of Mom Jeans, wrote most of the lyrics for their newest album Puppy Love, it was evidently a collaborative project.

“We all worked hard on it, I like how it came out,” said Starr. The band also said that they have more fun playing their newer songs than the older ones; the new album is “way more engaging, high-energy.”