On Monday, July 10th @ 6:30PM, gloop speaks with Ben Gallaty of Arizona based folk-punk band, AJJ, ahead of their show at Cornerstone in Berkeley on July 15th. Ever since Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallaty formed AJJ back in 2004, it’s felt like the world has been playing catch-up. That’s because the band—completed these days by guitarist/keyboard player Preston Bryant, cellist Mark Glick and (relatively) new drummer Kevin Higuchi—has always woven apocalyptic themes and imagery into many of its songs and lyrics. They even self-released a record called Good Luck Everybody in January 2020, as if they knew what was coming. Now though, in 2023, with their eighth studio record and debut on Hopeless Records, Disposable Everything, it feels like the world is finally aligned with AJJ’s doom-laden prophecies – albeit one that still shimmers with hope. Disposable Everything boasts apocalyptic themes and imagery like all the best AJJ records. And while it follows the outbreak of a pandemic the new LP is less a prophesying mirror held to a burning world than one inspired by personal grief and about what happens when you reach the other side. It’s a beautiful album that’ll make you feel better about everything while telling you just how terrible everything is at the same time. Photo: Kyle Dehn
Ben Gallaty of AJJ
