Five Albums with Cobra: Chase Duncan

By Ray Cobra

Picture credit:Dan Mitchell

I’ll be honest right now. Artists like Chase Duncan is why I started doing Five Albums with Cobra. I’m not that sociable of a person, but when I do talk to people, it’s generally about music, as it’s one thing I know about and enjoy talking about. So doing this piece every few months or so gives me a chance to talk about music with musicians. And while doing so, we learn a little more about them. We get to be inside their head for a little bit. And also from time to time, I learn about a new artist, so that’s always cool.

A few months back I was at a local show, and the opening act was Chase’s new band, Chase Duncan & The Capsized, who have since have changed their name to Sink Faster. Anyways, their set was magical. A buddy and I instantly picked up on their sound: it’s a good mix of The Gaslight Anthem and Hot Water Music, a band that is near and dear to my heart, so I was a fan right away. Afterward, I went to chat with Chase to let him know how much I enjoyed their set, and I noticed his shirt. He was wearing a Gunmoll shirt, a band that I fell in love with almost 20 years ago. Amazing band. If you like bands like Hot Water Music, Leatherface, Bridge and Tunnel, or most bands that were on No Idea Records, then I would suggest checking them out. It was right then and there that I knew I wanted to do a Five Albums with him. So here we are.

Alkaline Trio – From Here to Infirmary

I saw them in ‘01 on tour with Blink-182 right around the time this record came out. It was my first punk rock show. They played “Private Eye,” and I was sold. I bought this record the next day at the mall and, in the next couple of months, every other record they had put out.

The Jezabels – Dark Storm EP

They create a huge wall of sound, and Hayley’s voice is so beautiful and haunting. It’s dark and moody and has a certain urgency to it. All of their records are great, but this EP is my favorite release from them.

Hot Water Music – A Flight and a Crash

I bought this record on blind faith from a review I read in a BMX magazine. They’re an obvious influence on me/us. There is so much passion and energy in everything they do; it’s impossible not to be drawn in. Best band to ever do it, in my eyes.

White Reaper – The World’s Best American Band

I saw them open for The Killers a couple of weeks ago at Express. Their songs are so catchy. They perfectly blend modern alternative with 80’s arena rock riffs and harmonized guitar solos. I’m here for it.