This November 1st, Mild Chaos Records is set to release its first-ever compilation, Touch of Chaos Vol. I, a twelve-track lineup that showcases punk’s untamed diversity.
In a nod to 90s comps like Punk-O-Rama and Fat Music, founder Marc Kravitz—a fan at heart and DIY operator out of Orange County—has brought together a blend of punk’s subgenres under one banner. Just two days ahead of the official launch, we’re offering an exclusive look at this compilation through the voices of nine bands featured on it.
For Kravitz, this project is personal, a way of giving back to the scene that shaped him: “I don’t have a background in music. I’m just a huge fan of the punk scene, and this is me giving back.” His efforts reflect punk’s DIY ethos, with bands on Touch of Chaos chosen through grassroots outreach and a keen sense for artists navigating their paths independently.
“These bands are all hustling to make their way, just like I’m doing with Mild Chaos,” he notes. Each artist’s profile here is a testament to punk’s grit, from the Mexicali punk grooves of The Gringoz to the folk-streaked garage rock of Cowboy Destroy.
In this feature, The Gringoz, Numbskull Freakshow, Cowboy Destroy, Scarboro, Local Bylaws, MJ LaVine, This is a Revolver, Countless Thousands, and Grahzny dive into their thoughts on Touch of Chaos, discuss favorite comps that shaped them, and give a sneak peek at what’s next in their music.
Introduce your next project and/or share updates on what’s happening with your band.
The Gringoz: We’re currently finishing up a new 5-Track EP which is scheduled for a late-2024 release. We also have some live dates coming up in Mexicali, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. More info at thegringoz.com.
Numbskull Freakshow: We’re focused on the follow-up to Animal Noises, our 2023 EP – there will be more instrumentals (like our track Night of the Snake that you can hear on the Touch of Chaos comp.), as well as a bunch of punk tracks with lyrics/vocals. It’s looking to be on the heavier side, and we’re excited about it.
Cowboy Destroy: From Texas, living in Los Angeles. Folk stories with garage grooves. We call it Slop Pop. Are you ready for jokes with a dash of darkness? Then ride shotgun on this psychedelic trip of queer empowering garage rock, specializing in songs about sex, drugs, and broken hearts. Come see us live in Santa Barbara 11/1/24.
Scarboro: We’re currently finishing up new songs for our next L.P. with plans to head into the studio at the end of the year. After the hiatus we took we’re really excited to unleash our long overdue follow-up onto the world.
Local Bylaws: Local Bylaws is planning tour dates for 2025 and dropping singles from their upcoming record, Lost the Plot.
MJ LaVine: Since I am currently battling stage two Her2 breast cancer, I am trying to shift my focus to mostly writing and recording some new music. The guys and I will be releasing a few new singles soon across all streaming platforms! I look forward to being healthy and back on stage soon.
This is a Revolver: We are currently promoting our latest single, “House Orders,” which we released for this spooky season! It’s a song from the perspective of the Overlook Hotel from The Shining! We’ll soon be switching gears to recording and creating promotional material for our next single, which comes out in January 2025.
Countless Thousands: New album “Woke Moralists” is coming out as soon as we can get it out. Also, our singer is running for Burbank City Council and is favored to win. It’s pretty weird. MikeVanGorder.com
Grahzny: We are actively working on new material! The fun never stops! The next album will be a continuation of our journey, encompassing traits of the original foundation that is Grahzny, through mild metamorphosis as gear don Stay Off My Lawn and into a realm of some familiar but mostly new territory! It’s terrifying and exciting all at once!
Give your thoughts on the Touch of Chaos compilation.
The Gringoz: Stoked to be a part of a compilation with other rad new artists. Everyone involved in this project, from the label to the artists, are working out of pure passion and love of the music – no other motivation or strings attached.
Numbskull Freakshow: Marc at Mild Chaos did a great thing – getting these bands together and producing a well-rounded album that’s a party in itself. Psyched to be a part of it! We hope people find this record for years to come and get turned on to a lot of different fun bands like we did.
Cowboy Destroy: We honored to be associated with such dirty, filthy punks that we now bathe in garbage so we can fit in. Happy Halloween.
Scarboro: Having grown up during the comp era we were stoked to be part of this effort. The final product sounds exactly what the perfect punk comp should and we’re honored to be among a rad bunch of bands.
Local Bylaws: Touch of Chaos is such a much-needed throwback to the old comps I (Ginger) used to love. I remember discovering so many of my favorite bands through Punk-o-Rama and The Thing That Ate Floyd and Fat Music for Fat People and Hopelessly Devoted to You. And the same holds true here–it’s such a varied yet cohesive album, and it’s sure to be a gateway drug for future superfans of these bands.
MJ LaVine: It is so cool to be apart of Touch of Chaos’ first compilation album! I was honored and excited to be apart of something that aligned so much with my own creative upbringing. I grew up listening to mix cd’s either compiled from a record company or a friend and it helped expose me to so many different bands and genres.
When Chaos Records announced the compilation, if I remember right, a friend sent me the link or I saw a targeted ad on Instagram and I was like, “Heck yeah, I wanna do that!” Being on the artist side of a compilation album among so many other talented bands and projects is definitely a check off of the bucket list -I’m thrilled to be apart of it!
This is a Revolver: Touch of Chaos has been great for discovering new bands and sounds. In today’s musical landscape, where we’re inundated with new bands almost daily, it’s wonderful to have a curated, physical, compilation that collects some of the best bands out there today. We need more of this, to be honest!
Countless Thousands: This is how punk bands are meant to be – jammed up against one another. It’s going to be great.
Grahzny: Wow! What an awesome, eclectic lineup! We are thrilled to be on a comp. with so many awesome bands, displaying several levels of diversity in punk music. We couldn’t be happier to be a part of this awesome label and hope that we can be a part of more in the future!
Are there any other examples of some of your other favorite compilations that really stuck with you?
The Gringoz: Growing up before streaming services were available, buying CDs like Punk-O-Rama or compilations from Hostage Records was an easy way to find new bands that weren’t on the radio. It was like the Spotify algorithm before the iphone!
Numbskull Freakshow: Flex Your Head, that represented the DC hardcore scene, and This is Boston, Not L.A., that did the same for their scene, were two influential comps for the band.
You can really get up and running with these and tune in to a lot of great tunes – which is what’s so cool about compilations. Punk USA (Orchestrated by Ben Weasel for Lookout Records!) Is another stellar one that made a lasting impression.
Killer records. Check ‘em out!
Cowboy Destroy: Other than Now Thats What I Call Music Vol. 567? Our favorite comps are Dope, Guns, & Fucking in the Streets. All volumes are hot.
Scarboro: Punk Uprisings Vol. 2 and the Cinema Beer Nuts comps.
MJ LaVine: I used to -and still do, really love the “genre” goes punk compilations (pop goes punk, punk goes acoustic, etc…) I just thought it was so interesting to hear a song in a different way. I also feel like it does a great job of showcasing the band’s talent.
Another compilation that I really enjoyed was the Headbangers Ball that MTV used to put out. I discovered some really cool bands like ‘In Flames’ and ‘Lacuna Coil’ through just the second volume they released!
This is a Revolver: Punk-O-Rama, back in the day, was key to exposing a fresh audience to new sounds. When some of us first heard Volume 4, our musical lives were changed forever! Touch of Chaos can certainly be that for a kid somewhere out there!
Countless Thousands: Another Year on the Streets v1 by Vagrant Records was the first punk/alt CD our singer bought back in 1999 that brought him into rock and roll valhalla. Just so happens that our bassist Nic is on that comp (Automatic 7) and 23 years later cosmic forces brought us all together. Such is the power of radness.
Grahzny: Fat Music for Fat People was one of Rob’s favorites.
He also loved the two volumes of “Before You Were Punk”.
