No Use for a Name’s journey to playing the famous (or infamous) Sun God festival began 16 years ago in Sunnydale, Calif. Building their talent and fan base slowly but surely, the band has released six full-length albums, a live album, four EPs and “”Hard Rock Bottom”” will be released by Fat Wreck Chords on June 18.
The band has done more than tour the California coast in their many years. They have effectively helped shape the face of the new punk rock that emerged during the midlife of the average UCSD Triton. With contemporaries such as MxPx and former Sun God festival act Face to Face, No Use for a Name gave meaning to the idea of West Coast punk rock and altered the adolescence of more than a few West Coast punks.
Their contributions were made primarily without the help of mass media; No Use for a Name have never won over their crowd by sitting across from Carson Daly. No Use for a Name was on the bill for the very first Vans Warped tour, just as they are on the bill for the 2002 tour.
The band has spent the entirety of its tenure playing relatively small shows — maintaining its influence in the world of punk rock by staying connected with its fans. Instead of having 15 minutes of fame, the band has spent 16 years in the limelight of small clubs and small towns, playing about 100 shows a year.
Instead of perfecting its image, the band has been busy perfecting its sound and staying true to its audience base.
No Use for a Name’s straightforward punk sound has been a mainstay in the genre. They take that sound far beyond its usual limits with their tremendous talent. The band has lost members to acts such as the Foo Fighters, and is well-known in the industry for being masters of the craft.
Their show at the Sun God festival promises to give the raucous crowd a look at a group of musicians who are truly masters of what they do. Sixteen years is a long career by musicians’ standards, and that kind of longevity cannot be maintained without a great deal of talent and the ability to stage one hell of a rock show. It should also be a great opportunity for fans to hear tracks from the upcoming album. No Use for a Name promises to be a superb act for this year’s Sun God festival.
