Old Daggers may be weathered, a few noticeable nicks in their blade, yet when it counts, they’re just as sharp as they ever were, cutting right through the rust to leave another mark on the Northeastern Pennsylvania music scene.
It’s been nearly six years since the jagged group formed in Scranton, though each member – vocalist/bassist Seán Carey, guitarists Chris Wilbur and Anthony Magraner, and drummer Gabe Fasciana – has decades of good times and memorable scars to speak of from various other bands, all spilling out through their classic sound that they’ve dubbed “heartland punk rock.”
NEPA isn’t exactly the Midwest, but the hard labor, long hours, circle pits, boozing, brawls, and brutal sincerity feel the same to any working class punk. The only thing that surprises Carey at this point is “the fact that we’re still here.”
“Life changes pretty fast. Jobs, families, responsibilities, and all the things that come with getting older can make it difficult to keep a band together. Our respect and love for each other defines us. Through all of that, we’ve continued writing music and finding reasons to keep moving forward. Releasing our debut album [in 2023] was a huge milestone, and seeing people connect with our songs has made all the hard work worth it,” he explained.
“The record was really a Polaroid of where we were in life. A lot of the songs dealt with growing older, uncertainty, friendships, relationships, anxiety, loss, and trying to find purpose when things don’t always go according to plan. We weren’t trying to write anthems – we were just trying to be honest about what we were going through and what we were seeing around us.”
That continues today with a new single full of nostalgic sing-along gang vocals called “Curbside Choir,” premiering today on NEPA Scene as it shoves its way onto the stage of all major streaming platforms.
“‘Curbside Choir’ is probably one of the most straightforward songs I’ve written,” Carey acknowledged.
“It’s partially a biographical story. It’s about leaving home, chasing something bigger than yourself, and finding someone to share the ride with. The song starts with a kid leaving a small town and heading to the city with no real plan. Along the way, he falls in love, gets into trouble, dreams big, and tries to make the best of whatever life throws at him. It’s about young love, uncertainty, late nights, road trips down the shore, and believing that hard times are easier when you’re not facing them alone.”
And they are far from lonely these days, gathering friends old and new throughout the rise of Old Daggers, especially when their self-titled album arrived.
“The response was really positive. The feedback that meant the most came from people who connected with the lyrics. We’ve had people tell us certain songs reminded them of periods in their own lives, and that’s always been the goal – to let people know you’re not alone, you have never been alone, and you’ll never be alone, even when the world caves in around you. Locally, we’ve always felt supported by the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre music scene. There is something unique in the Northeast that you don’t find anywhere else. Some of us have been doing this since the early ’90s. The venues, faces, and bands might change, but the love and support you feel in our area is unparalleled and never changing. It’s steadfast. It will always be no matter the weather,” he emphasized.
“We are proud of it. Every record becomes a time capsule, and when we listen back now, we hear exactly where we were as people and as a band. Of course there are things we would probably do differently today, but that’s growth. More than anything, we are glad we captured that moment honestly.”
Since then, they put out a single last year titled “Who’s Punk? What’s the Score?”
“‘It’s a song about burnout, frustration, and trying to navigate a world that feels increasingly divided and exhausting. The lyrics came from a place of feeling worn down by constant noise and expectations. Lines like ‘I keep waking up on the wrong side’ and ‘My world’s on fire’ reflect that feeling of carrying a lot of weight while trying to keep moving forward. It’s about knowing when to fight, when to let things go, and learning to survive the chaos around you,” he shared.
“We’ve never stopped writing since the first record came out. Some ideas have been floating around for years, while others are brand new. Then you have the ones that you work on for a month, just to toss out. The process, however, feels more natural now because we’ve already gone through making a full-length record together. There’s less pressure and more confidence in trusting where the songs want to go, where we want them to go. The first album taught us a lot about ourselves and about working together. We understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses better now, and there’s more trust in the process. We spend less time second-guessing ourselves and more time focusing on making the songs as strong as possible.”
He noted that both these singles “represent where the band is heading creatively and fit naturally alongside the newer material we’ve been working on. However, their place may just be the stepping stone to the house we are building.”
That means focusing on themselves and where they are in life, not just on another record.
“We want the songs to be a complete statement rather than rushing out a collection of songs. We’re taking our time and making sure every song earns its place. There will definitely be another single. A new album is still in its infancy. We may be taking our time at the moment with new material and a new album, but there is a reason. The reason is simple – if we don’t care about these songs, why would or should you?”
When it does finally arrive, Carey believes “it’ll still sound like Old Daggers, but I think it’s a more mature version of the band.”
“The songwriting feels more focused and the themes feel even more personal. There’s still plenty of angst-riddled punk rock kid in us, but we’ve become more comfortable letting melody, storytelling, and emotion drive the songs. If the first record was about figuring things out, this one will feel more like taking stock of where we’ve been and where we’re headed,” he continued.
“Our biggest priority now is writing towards what may be our epilogue – life is fast, it’s short, and you never know. The fact of the matter is we plan on leaving our mark. We are looking forward to getting back on stage. We have a few things we’re working on and hope to announce some shows soon.”
That’s the cruel dichotomy of punk rock – living on the edge of that knife inspires the music as much as it threatens to slash it all apart.
“Thank you to everyone who’s stuck with us over the years. We’ve never been a band that’s followed a straight line. There have been setbacks, long gaps, and plenty of moments where life got in the way. The fact that people care about what we’re doing means everything to us. We’re excited about this next chapter and can’t wait for everyone to hear what’s coming next.”
Learn more about Old Daggers and their debut album in Episode 178 on the NEPA Scene Podcast:
