Pittsburgh’s Teddy DuChamp’s Army began as a one-off basement show in 1998. Guitarist Mike Rock brought friends together from the local punk scene, and the band went on to tour with Hot Water Music, Strike Anywhere and Dillinger Four. They broke up years later, then reunited in 2024 to open for Gorilla Biscuits. Rehearsals with singer Andy Wright and drummer Jeff Kopanic soon turned into new songs.
Those songs became the 11-track “…The Spirit Never Dies.”, recorded in January 2026 at The Magpie Cage in Baltimore. J Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines) produced and played bass, with Mario Quintero (Spotlights) on second guitar. The band’s approach still brings together punk energy, hardcore guitar tones and melodic hooks.
For IDIOTEQ, Mike picked fifteen records that fed into the writing, from D.C. hardcore and Quicksand to newer bands and old Pittsburgh friends. Robbins and Gorilla Biscuits’ Walter Schreifels are two of his favourite songwriters, and both ended up involved in the band’s return.
Mike tried to keep his selection to ten and couldn’t. His complete list, comments and listening embeds follow. You can also hear the new album on Bandcamp.
Government Issue – You
This is G.I. finally being fully realized with the addition of J Robbins and Pete Moffett as one of the most badass rhythm sections in punk rock. From the intro to “Jaded Eyes” to rippers like “Beyond” and pushing boundaries like adding a sitar in “Wishing”. You is the blue print for what was to come in the second wave of the D.C. hardcore punk scene. I remember seeing them in this era at the Electric Banana, only to later find while chatting with J Robbins it was basically the first real show he ever played.
Gray Matter – Thog
Most know Gray Matter best for the earlier output during the famed “Revolution Summer” era in DC. Soon after drummer Dante Ferrando stepped away to focus on his restaurant business and ex- Minor Threat drummer Jeff Nelson joined and they released one record under the band name “3”. The record saw a shift in Geoff Turner’s songwriting which was fully showcased when Ferrando returned and Gray Matter released “Thog”. This record was huge among my circle of friends, but never quite got the attention it deserves. (Honorable mention: the song ‘Swann Street’ from the “3” album might be one of the best songs ever written)
Scowl – Are We All Angels
I have always had what I called my “3 point approach to making music” 1. Punk rock energy 2. Hardcore tones/production values 3. Pop sensibility/hooks. Scowl embodies all 3 of these points perfectly. This album has endless energy, the production rivals that of the best hardcore records and Kat Moss’ vocals take you from the gnarliest throat shredding screamy parts to sweet melodic pop hooks in the same song.
Hot Water Music – No Division
I feel like it is often the case that the record that is your first introduction to a band you love, often stays your favorite of their catalog and this rings true for me with HWM. No Division still has an aggressiveness that the band has moved away from a bit with later releases. Vocally, I think Chris and Chuck really found their voices on this one. ‘Hard to Know’ is an undeniable anthem and is still a mainstay in their set for good reason. (Honorable mention: The version of ‘The Bitter End’ that was recorded during the no division sessions and is available on the extended version of the record is an unsung gem and one of my all time HWM favorites)
Jawbox – Novelty
I feel like most would point to the follow up record, and their major label debut “For Your Own Special Sweetheart” as their favorite, but “Novelty” to me is J Robbins really finding his voice as a songwriter. Songs like ‘Static’ and “Cut Off” paved the way for what JAWBOX and all of J’s future projects would become. Also the first record with a dual guitar attack with the addition of Bill Barbot added a dimension that became signature for the rest of JAWBOX’s catalog.
Gorilla Biscuits – Start Today
After my introduction to hardcore punk with Minor Threat, Gorilla Biscuits was probably my next “favorite band” . “Start Today” felt like it took the ball that Minor Threat created and ran with it. Fast, energetic, aggressive, melodic and all wrapped up tight with a message. The DC and NYC hardcore scenes not only completely shaped my taste in music, but also my personal ethos and the way I looked at the world. From Straight Edge, to anti-racist, to looking out for one another, to animal rights, to just striving to have a more positive outlook, it’s all here, add that to Walter Schriefels’ songwriting and it’s pretty obvious why this record has never left regular rotation in my record collection.
Seaweed – Four
Seaweed is one of those “IYKYK” bands. I feel like one clear theme throughout the list is most of these records are from a point in a band’s career where they finally define their sound but have not yet lost the grit/fire of that initial spark that helps create most punk/hardcore bands. Four finds Seaweed firing on all cylinders. Punchy, urgent, melodic punk that stuck out like a sore thumb from their Sub Pop labelmates in the height of the grunge era. Kid Candy is a killer track and has an equally amazing video as well.
Fiddlehead – Death Is Nothing To Us
Another obvious theme here are records that teeter a line between the aggressive and the melodic. Fiddlehead embodies that sound perfectly. Ex-Have Heart’s Pat Flynn certainly knows where his roots are but he delves much deeper into melody in Fiddlehead, and Basement’s Alex Henery writes such rad guitar parts. This record is what you hope happens when people from several bands collaborate on a new project together.
Fugazi – Repeater
I could probably pick this or “In On The Kill Taker” as my favorites, but when it comes to songwriting inspiration I feel like I personally pull more from “Repeater”. The backbone of this record are the undeniable grooves of a killer rhythm section. But the intricate picking patterns and guitar interplay between Ian Mackaye and Guy Pichotto are the addictive hook for me. Add to that Fugazi’s signature dual vocal approach, and you have a near perfect record.
Quicksand – Slip
In what has to be one of the best follow up bands for a personal favorite songwriter, Walter Schreifels returns after the demise of Gorilla Biscuits with Quicksand. “Slip” was a smack across the mouth wake up call for anyone hanging on to the now dead “youth crew” NYHC scene. This album was so adventurous for the time, and it has Walter proving himself as a legit frontman for the first time. You know it, I know it, It just fucking rules.
Drug Church – Prude
One of those bands that felt like they just appeared out of thin air for me, Drug Church is a band that is helping bands like Turnstile and Knocked Loose lead the charge of what modern hardcore punk can be. Nick Cogan has such a fresh take on guitar tones and riffs, not to be outdone by Patrick Kindlon’s super unique, charismatic and catchy as hell vocal style. Prude is a no skip record for sure, and live they are just as good. The inspiration is real, to the point that “Drug Church” was a working title for one of the new songs when we were writing based on the similar feel.
Rival Schools – United By Fate
It took me a little while after Quicksand to fully buy into Rival Schools but it was obvious right away tracks like ‘Used For Glue’ and ‘ Good Things’ were catchy as hell. I think I still wanted the aggressiveness of his previous projects when Walter put out Rival Schools. But I eventually came around and found the beauty of this record. It is funny when people ask me about our new record in respect to the old TDA material, I often say this record is our Rival Schools to our earlier Quicksand.
J Robbins – Basilisk
I could have just as easily chosen a Burning Airlines record or his 1st solo record “Un-becoming”.
J, much like Walter, just continually puts out incredibly inspiring music. Change the band name or collaborative members all you want (not to say those other members are insignificant by any means) but as songwriters these guys just always deliver. This record is no exception. Just J writing timeless gems as if he was even capable of less.
Hurl – A Place Called Today
A hometown Pittsburgh favorite, these guys did the 90’s loud, soft, loud thing with a beauty and precision many more well known bands only wish they could pull off. There are a few moments on this record that were at the forefront of my mind while writing a couple parts on our record. To me this record embodies Pittsburgh in the winter and has such a cozy feeling. (Also check out the album “Not A Memory”)
Creta Bourzia – S/T
Last but certainly not least, another lesser known Pittsburgh stalwart, the members of this band are directly responsible for everything I have ever tried to achieve musically. It started in their earlier project Liquid Brick, for which I was a sort of de facto, non performing, 5th member. It was the first band I started touring with, I would sell merch, do some of the art and design work, help book shows, drive the van, carry equipment…etc.
Frontman Jason Jouver gave me my one and only lesson on guitar (“put one finger here and on the next string put a finger two frets over, that’s a power chord and you can write a million songs with that”) It is an absolute crime that this band never got big, and I still think some label needs to give this record and maybe the older ones a proper re-release. Jason was the original singer for TDA and Liquid Brick’s Todd Ladner was our original bass player. These guys have been my lifelong best friends and are the reason I started a band. (notable fact 3/4th’s of Creta Bourzia became the later version of Don Caballero with drummer Damon Che)
Album credits: Mike Rock (guitar, backing vocals), Andy Wright (vocals), Jeff Kopanic (drums, backing vocals), J Robbins (bass, organ, backing vocals), Mario Quintero (guitar). Cover art by Sinc (Scott Sinclair). Band photography by Kevin Scanlon.
