The Menzingers Talk Life, Punk Rock, and Their New Album

Punk rockers The Menzingers have returned with their eighth album, Everything I Ever Saw, via Epitaph Records. Formed in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the band emerged in the late 2000s out of various Jersey pop-punk and ska scenes to play melodic heartland punk.

Life Changes and the New Record

Frontman Greg Barnett recently shed light on the themes behind the band’s latest release. “Changes. We’ve had divorces, marriages, babies since the last one. It’s about that,” Barnett explained regarding the inspiration for Everything I Ever Saw.

Reflecting on the creative process, Barnett noted that finishing a song or an album provides a major high after a long period of writing, tweaking, and second-guessing. “When you see it done and you’re satisfied, and it’s exactly how you pictured it in your head, that to me is such a great, great feeling,” he said.

The Early Days and Punk Traditions

Looking back at two decades in the punk underground, Barnett shared some colorful details from the band’s early touring days. Asked whether the band experienced more vomit or blood, Barnett answered decisively: “Definitely vomit. We used to play a lot of really hot punk shows in the early days. We’d have a bucket backstage so we could take turns puking in it.”

Barnett also offered strong opinions on concert attire, stating bluntly: “I don’t trust bands that wear shorts on stage. People paid to go see your show, you should not be wearing shorts on stage. Get dressed, please.”

Tour Bits and the Band’s Name

To pass the time on the road, the band relies on running bits. One favorite involves purposely mispronouncing words to bartenders—such as saying “moddello” instead of “moddaylo”—to see how long it takes for someone to react.

The band’s name itself remains a frequent topic of conversation. Barnett revealed that according to the internet, “menziger” is German for “troubadour.” While the name has stuck since their formation, Barnett joked about the complications: “If I can go back in time and tell seventeen-year-old me that this is a pretty complicated band name and you’re going to be explaining it for the rest of your life, maybe I would have picked something a little bit more simple.” The funniest misinterpretations often come from older generations mistaking it for Frank Sinatra-style “men singers,” he added.

Everything I Ever Saw is available now.