We chatted to Ryan Savitski from US hardcore band One Step Closer ahead of their show with Drain at Kings Beach Tavern on March 6. The bands are here for New Bloom Fest in Brisbane on March 8.

The Sunshine Coast continues to kick goals in the heavy music scene with another massive international band hitting our shores next month.

Touring acts such as straight-edge melodic hardcore band One Step Closer have become a major boon for the region, which has seen a resurgence of heavy music in recent months.

The band from Pennsylvania shot to stardom when they re-surfaced from the Covid lockdowns in 2021, and they were able to prioritise touring again.

Ryan Savitski, 25, who joined the group when he was just 17, says when it comes to success – it’s still all about the grind and hustle.

He says while the digital world has given some musicians an overnight launchpad to success, performing live is integral to a band’s longevity.

“We didn’t see a decent amount of traction until we put our EP out – “From Me To You” – when I was 19,” he says.

“But we never really toured before the pandemic… once everything came back, so that was fall 2021 for us… that’s when I feel like we started to really pick up steam and we got to tour a lot.

“And we’ve just kind of been endlessly grinding since then.”

‘There’s still something so natural about touring’, Ryan says

“I don’t know if it’s just because I’m of old-school thinking, or whatever, but, I think that the Instagram views, and the TikTok views, and all that kind of stuff, can only go so far.

“What people want to experience is a live set. And if you can’t perform or you don’t sound great to people they’re not going to come back and see you again.

“I think a lot of these TikTok people are kinda blown up, and yeah they’re getting a lot of monthly listeners and stuff like that, but there’s only 2-300 people showing up to their shows still. Or even less.

“There’s still just something so natural about touring and grinding and just playing to as many people as you possibly can.

“And just playing your absolute heart out every single night. I think that’s very very special.

“And I think that’s what creates fans.”

Watch our full interview with Ryan Savitski from One Step Closer here:

New Bloom Fest coming to Brisbane next month

One Step Closer will join California punk-rockers Drain for a sideshow at Kings Beach Tavern on March 6.

The bands are here for New Bloom Fest, which returns to Brisbane on March 8. The festival is also in Sydney on March 9 and Melbourne on March 10.

Headlined by British brooding rock heroes Basement, the festival brings back the golden age of DIY hardcore shows in a modern setting.

Also on the bill are hypnotic icons Balance and Composure, melodic indie heavy-hitters One Step Closer, innovative emo mavericks Sweet Pill, and post-hardcore bohemians Glitterer.

Primitive Blast, The Others, Colourblind, Deadshowws, Wifecult and Masochist, will also play at the Fortitude Music Hall event.

Drain and One Step Closer have added sideshows in Hobart, Wellington and Auckland.

Tickets to Kings Beach Tavern show on March 6: https://tickets.oztix.com.au. Tickets to New Bloom Fest om March 8: https://www.newbloomfest.com.au/.

Bringing back American hardcore music

Emerging from the coastal settings of Santa Cruz in 2014, Drain aren’t merely a band; they’re a full-blown experience.

With a reputation for euphoric chaos and nothing but good vibes, these guys are here for a good time. And they’ve also been repeatedly praised for helping to spearhead the recent renaissance of American hardcore music.

Cementing their place at the hardcore forefront in 2021 with debut album, “This Place You Know”, One Step Closer are both strangely familiar yet searingly fresh.

The group’s multi-faceted trademark sound captures moments of shoegaze, indie rock, post hardcore and more, while also remaining enigmatically hard to define by any one genre category.

The Coast’s own hardcore music resurgence

The Sunshine Coast is experiencing its own heavy metal uprising, with Caloundra and Nambour now major attractions for global heavy-hitters.

The suburbs saw a host of international visitors last year, including international punk-rock bands Dark Thoughts (US) and Peter and The Test Tube Babies (UK) at Black Box Theatre.

Attrition (UK) and Poison Ruin (US) also had shows there.

Speed was also set to play at the theatre following their sold-out show at Solbar, but cancelled due to a family emergency.

Kings Beach Tavern has already seen In Hearts Wake and Damage this year, and Aussie rock legends The Butterfly Effect will play on Thursday.

It’s the second year for New Bloom Fest in Australia, showcasing all things alt rock, post-hardcore, grunge and punk.

Drain + One Step Closer Australian Tour Dates

THURSDAY 6 MARCH – KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST (18+)
SATURDAY 8 MARCH – NEW BLOOM FEST, BRISBANE (18+)
SUNDAY 9 MARCH – NEW BLOOM FEST, SYDNEY (18+) TICKETS SELLING FAST
MONDAY 10 MARCH – NEW BLOOM FEST, MELBOURNE (18+) LOW TICKETS
WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH – ALTAR, HOBART (18+)
FRIDAY 14 MARCH – SAN FRAN, WELLINGTON (18+)
SATURDAY 15 MARCH – NECK OF THE WOODS, AUCKLAND (18+)

Tickets to Kings Beach Tavern show on March 6: https://tickets.oztix.com.au. Tickets to New Bloom Fest om March 8: https://www.newbloomfest.com.au/.

All photos via Facebook.