Last Chance At Failure is former Fort Wayne band Spitface 30, minus one member and with a new addition, bass player Travis Roebuck. With a name change, the band is beginning to delve back into their craft, after a five-month hiatus. Always one of Fort Waynes most talked-about punk bands, Spitface 30 was missed during their absence. They are back with the new name, a new attitude, and a renewed energy.
The new lineup is Gorden Groat and Eric Sheets on guitars, Rich Rice on vocals, Travis Sheets on drums, and, of course, Roebuck. Most of the members have worked together periodically for five years. Weve gained an audience because weve stuck around, said Gordon, and we have some talent.
Bar bands are in it to make money, added Sheets. We do it for fun and fans. Our only goal is gas money when we do out-of-town gigs.
The band will be playing in Lafayette March 2, and at The Volcano Room in Indianapolis March 30. Locally, they played most recently February 23 at Northside Park with three other bands, including local speed/grind metal band Red Heroine
At the end of this month, Last Chance At Failures eight-song EP will be complete. The EP, Audio Photo Album Of Schizophrenic Mood Swings, Incoherent Thought Patterns And Miscellaneous Addictions, can be picked up at any of their shows and will be sold locally.
The band plans to play frequently at shows all over the Midwest.
Wed like to stay active on the weekends, with lots of out-of-town shows, said Sheets. Performing all original music, with titles such as Waste of Time, Lolita, and Rick Didnt Like the Last Show, band members are looking forward to getting back into things after the recent gap in performances. Locally, the band has developed a pretty decent following of fans. Theyre pretty loyal, said Rich.
My worst experience as a musician, said Eric, was our first Spitface 30 gig, which was at The Loft. Our drummer at the time got scared and walked off the stage after two or three songs. He did come back five or six minutes later to finish, though.
The band agrees that the best experience is simply playing. They share a high whenever they do a show.
We would greatly like to get back out on the local circuit and help rebuild the all-ages scene, said Sheets. Weve taken about a year off from playing and finally got back on our feet only to realize there are no clubs in town. Hopefully we can do something to change this. There are shows still happening at park pavilions and rental halls, but not as frequently as there were when the Backdoor was open.
Through a few of the more recent shows, Ive seen the kids are still there and stronger then ever as a punk scene. Hopefully, with time, everything will fall into place. We strongly believe in the all-ages scene. It has always been the most dear and sincere to us. You cant find the passion for uncompromising music that exists in (the all-ages scene) in any bar. Were in it for the people that truly love original music. This exists in the all-ages scene. People want to see a band being real, not trying to cash in on the latest marketing trend.
Hopefully, with Last Chance at Failure reemerging on the scene, and a long winter with minimal punk shows, the scene will strengthen and someone will open a venue dedicated to all-age shows. Until then, it seems the underground scene will still be around, even if that means kids putting on their own shows. Creativity and passion just cant be contained.