Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasper Ryan.
Hi Jasper, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Anxious! At The Disco consists of 4 talented members: Jasper Ryan (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Andrew Boles (Vocals, Lead Guitar), Jordan Petersen (Vocals, Bass Guitar), and Amanda DeFrees(Drums). We all have a love and admiration for the pop punk/ emo genre that rose to significant heights in the 00’s/ 2010’s. Moreover, we have extensive backgrounds in music either from previous bands, musical theatre training, or through formal education. All four of us have at least 2 decades worth of performing music. Jasper moved to Austin 2 years ago where he met Andrew and Jordan through an online meet up group on Facebook called Austin Social Scene. Eventually the group crossed paths with Amanda and set the foundation for their sound. Inspired by the Austin music scene we started the band to reignite our passion for performing live music.
A good friend of ours Paul Miller, created an opportunity for us to play at a local venue called The Oven ATX, through Paul’s artist platform ‘Underground Voices”. Our first show of had about 50 of our friends and family. From there we worked on finding out footing in the Austin music scene playing shows every 2-3 months in our first year. Eventually we solidified our foundational core and now we play at least one show a month since the beginning of 2024.
We formed the band in December of 2022. Inspired by our peers here in town named after popular bands from the 00’s: Y’all Out Boy, Emocean Avenue, or Taking Back Funday. We are not trying to be the best pop punk cover band in Austin.
Our ultimate goal is being the best version of Anxious! At The Disco possible. There is a huge community here and we believe we can all exist and grow simultaneously. We don’t operate with the intention of being noticed. We operate with the intention of providing the best quality experience. When you do things to be great the right way, eventually people can’t help but notice your greatness.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Just like any other band we’ve had growing pains. We’ve had to part ways with 2 band members from the original inception of the band. That’s the biggest struggle forming any band as an adult: finding a group of people that are talented, responsible and available. It is rare to find all three and we’ve been very lucky. We originally started as a 5 piece band and now operates as a 4 piece. This current iteration is thriving because of the respect and dedication we have to the craft and each other. We all listen to each other, are able to communicate feedback to each other, and just like to have fun together.
The other big hurdle was finding venues that would allow us to play and grow a following. We’re in our 2nd year as a band, but we play at least one show a month. Before it was very hard to find a venue that would book us due to not having any footage or a social media following more than 100 followers. Through time and dedication we cultivated a 3 hour set list and enough footage that some local spots in town gave us a shot.
We all have day jobs and careers during the day time and typically play on the weekends. The biggest reason for our current consistency and success is being organized and focused. Moreover, remembering to have fun and listen to your audience. Every performance is an opportunity for growth as well as celebration
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Anxious! At The Disco a pop punk cover band from Austin, Texas that specializes in songs from the 00’s and beyond. Currently our instagram bio says “Unleashing the hits that fueled your iPod”. Everyone likes to lump us in with pop punk/ emo cover bands; however, we do much more then that. Although we still lean on a pop punk sound, we cover top 40 songs from artists like Taylor Swift, The Jonas Brothers, NSYNC, or even Vanessa Carlton. We also created our own renditions of modern songs from artists such as Chappel Roan and Noah Kahan.
Just like any party or disco, we will take your through a journey through the haunting melodies of your youth to your latest road trip anthems. The biggest problem most people have is being able to afford their favorite artists live outside of a music festival. Pop punk/ Emo music is currently having a resurgence and we provide a high quality affordable option. We perform for venues, fundraisers, corporate events or weddings.
So far our proudest moment was our show at The Highball on S Lamar. Something we pride ourselves in, is the experience from the audience’s point of view. This stems from some of our members having an admiration for musical theater productions. When possible, we have a backdrop that has memes and backdrops that bring waves of nostalgia as well as highlights our logo like you would see at a major concert. Even if you don’t notice it, we’re particular about the details. We want you to have a memorable experience so you’ll want to come back for a future show!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The easiest way to find out more information and support us is to follow us on instagram! It’s our main communication source for our followers. We post about our next shows and showcase highlights.
You can either direct message us there or send an email to anxatthedisco@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anxatthedisco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anxiousatthedisco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090961725203&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnxAtTheDisco
- Other: https://linktr.ee/anxiousatthedisco
Image Credits
William Whitworth Roy Neely
