Artist description melodic pop punk with hooks that pack a punch

Music Style Punk

Musical Influences Screeching Weasel, The Queers

Similar Artists Screeching Weasel, The Queers

Artist History J.B. Sarcastic [Jeremy Bachman] has been around the punk scene since the tender age of six. His uncle, Victor Garcia-Rivera, led Cincinnati punk pioneers The Edge. Victor took his nephew to shows and also gave him the starring role in his music video for The Edge’s “Just An Illusion”. This music video aired on MTV in 1987. Though just a kid, J.B. never forgot his cameo in the spotlight. His uncle helped start the Cincinnati punk scene and helped break down the age barriers that permitted underage fans to see punk shows at local nightclubs. Uncle Victor also played several shows at Gilman Street Theater in Berkeley California when it first opened in 1987. That legendary club spawned the East Bay punk scene that created bands such as Green Day,Rancid, and Operation Ivy.Like a lot of kids his age, the 13-year-old J.B. became obsessed with punk music after being exposed to Green Day’s “Dookie” CD. Around that time, his Uncle started promoting all-ages shows at local venue the Southgate House. Jeremy assisted him as part of the stage crew at that club.Having been exposed to the music at an early age, J. B.was now determined to learn how to play guitar, sing, and form his own band. Without the aid of a teacher, he taught himself to play, and started writing songs. Driven by pure motivation, and influenced by underground punk bands, J. B. learned the instrument, while exposing his friends to these unknown groups. The aspiring punk rocker moved to Springdale (a suburb of Cincinnati). Ironically,he moved right down the street from his long time friend Jeremy Ortman (J.O.), with whom J. B. attended Sunday school when they were both children. Both boys ended up attending Princeton Junior High School. In their freshman year of High School, they decided to form a band.J.B. started writing catchy pop-punk songs. He and J.O.became noted for their sense of humor and sarcastic attitudes. Thus, they christened their fledging group “The Sarcastix”.J.O. purchased his first drum set by working for minimum wage at a fast food joint. J. B worked at the same burger joint and saved up money to buy his guitar gear.The duo played their first show New Years Eve in J.B.'s Garage in front of a captive crowd. With little, but intense, preparation [J.O.had no drumming experience but had taught himself a few beats], they put together a set list of 17 songs (6 covers and 11 originals). Lacking a bassist and a lead guitarist, they hammed it up in front of their closest friends that night. Copious amounts of beer and a visit by the men in blue couldn’t damper what became the most enjoyable night of their young lives. That crude but spirited debut convinced them that playing in a band was their true desire.Every day after school J.O. would take J.B.'s bus home and they would go to work in the garage, teaching each other how to play and write songs. They spent their free time going to check out the other local Cincinnati bands.4 months later, they set out in search of a bassist,putting up flyers in local record stores and coffee shops. A few bassists responded, but they couldn’t find the right person. One day, Gabe, a high school friend of theirs, who then sang in the popular local punk band The Chemo Kids, called J. B. up to tell him about a show he was setting up. He had heard from random kids around town that The Sarcastix rocked, and wanted to give them their first show. They accepted the offer, and collaborated to put on Cincinnati’s first annual Punk Rock Prom. The Sarcastix rented out the local Legion Hall in Norwood, due to a lack of suitable all-ages venues in Cincinnati. The Chemo Kids booked the other bands, and rounded up people to help set up and decorate the hall. J.O. started dating this new girl who lived in the city. He and J. B. went to her school one day to pick her up. That occasion marked their first encounter with Noah Diamond. Noah played in a great pop punk band called The Oncelers. He hit it off that day with J. B and J.O. The trio started hanging out on an everyday basis. Noah volunteered to help with Punk Prom, which turned out to be successful. Hundreds of flyers and word of mouth throughout the scene, turned the concert into a rousing success- generating enough cash to cover the hall rental, yet pay all the bands a good amount of money. All the kids dressed up as if it were a real prom (some people even rode limos to the show), and the hall was decorated to the nines. The Sarcastix opened the show in front of an audience of hundreds of kids. At this point, the band consisted of J. B., singing and playing guitar, with J.O. playing drums and singing backup. Even though they didn’t have a complete lineup, the duo received an enthusiastic response. Noah had been coming to all of their rehearsals and really loved their music. Soon enough, he offered his services as a bass player.Knowing his on-stage presence with the Oncelers, and having become friends with him, The Sarcastix accepted. Noah acquired a bass and learned the material quickly. The lineup was almost complete.One day in June, J. B. got reacquainted with a kid he had first met when they urinated in an alley together. His name was Matt. He lived in Northern Kentucky. A veteran of many local bands, Matt was playing a show with his current band, Sloppy Joe. Matt took interest in J.B.’s band. J. B., J.O., and Noah went to see him play and loved his style. Matt had been trained on classical guitar, and improvised leads to any punk song spontaneously. He felt unfulfilled with Sloppy Joe. Desiring to actually be a part of a band to which he could contribute and enjoy himself, he asked if he could join The Sarcastix as lead guitarist. The other three agreed. The lineup was now complete.The band soon started playing every venue open to them. From birthday parties, punks’ houses, Legion Halls, bars, churches, schools, and parks, The Sarcastix have impressed many people with their catchy Power-Pop Punk. The group has built a large, diverse fan base, spanning all the way from Cincinnati to Indianapolis,and Louisville and Nashville. The kids who go to their concerts know all their songs and shout out requests. They come onstage to sing with J. B. on his microphone. J. B. sometimes puts down his guitar just to go out into the crowd to get them moving and dancing. Having made some rough basement recordings, the band has sold some of these recordings on CD-Rs, in order to meet the demands of their rabid fans. In addition,their songs have been available for download on the Internet at sites such as Garageband.com, where fans worldwide have consistently rated their songs at the top tier of the charts. The Sarcastix will be recording a full-fledged demo this summer with Victor Garcia-Rivera producing, as well as touring out of town to expand their regional following.

Group Members Jeremy Bachman- Rhythm Guitar, Lead VocalJeremy Ortman- DrumsNoah Diamond- BassMatt- Guitar

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums, vocals

Location Cincinnati, OH - USA

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