Born To Party

Teen Mortgage formed in 2017 when guitarist/vocalist James Guile connected with drummer Ed Barakauskas through a stroke of luck via a desperate Craigslist ad after James relocated to Washington D.C. from Liverpool. They quickly built a reputation in the local punk scene, proudly channeling a timeless punk spirit and a hooky pop sensibility, with a sound that’s both fun and absolutely furious.

The band’s name is a nod to the absurdity of living in the era of late-stage capitalism, as the two musicians juggled day jobs while pouring their angst and observations into their songwriting. They draw on their city’s hardcore heritage by crossbreeding East Coast hardcore with garage and surf-rock, keeping a strong focus on hooks and melody. It’s thrashy, riff-driven punk in the style of Dead Kennedys, The Cramps, FIDLAR, and the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtracks, whilst the lyrics tackle topics like the military-industrial complex and the drudgery of dead-end jobs with underdog optimism, feeling both nostalgic and urgently of-the-moment.

A major turning point came in 2024 when Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan took notice of the band and personally invited Teen Mortgage to open for Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer on an arena tour. By mid-2024, Ed made the leap of quitting his nursing day-job to pursue the band full-time, and their trajectory has only pointed upwards, scoring slots at major festivals including Download and Louder Than Life. On stage, James and Ed create a huge wall of sound using clever pedal setups, and they never fail to get a mosh pit sweaty and smiling.

We caught up with the band to find out more:

Tell us the story of the Craiglist ad?

What’s the significance behind the name Teen Mortgage?

Who are some of your biggest influences, inside and outside of punk rock?

Can you take us through some of the messages and specific issues throughout Devil Ultrasonic Dream?

Has joining the legendary Roadrunner Records changed anything about how you recorded the album compared to previous releases?

What’s the story behind the album title?

Do you prefer playing in huge arenas, festival fields or tiny clubs?

Any cool stories or lessons learned from the Smashing Pumpkins tour?

Are there any festivals you dream of playing which you haven’t yet?

What’s the ultimate goal of Teen Mortgage?