Batfoot!

Batfoot! is a Sydney-based punk and pop punk band formed in 2008, comprised of Craig Hughes (bass/vocals), Justin McLoughlin (guitar/vocals), Jimmy Campbell (drums), and Lucas Woods (guitar/vocals). With influences spanning Teenage Bottlerocket, Screeching Weasel, The Queers, Chixdiggit, and the Ramones, the band delivers a melodic, high-energy style they often refer to as “”ramonescore.”” Over the years, Batfoot! has toured alongside numerous notable acts from the global punk scene and garnered significant airplay and praise from outlets such as Triple J.

Origins and Formation (2008–2009)

Batfoot! was founded in Sydney in 2008. Their lineup features four long-time enthusiasts of classic punk, each of whom shares a love for the raw yet catchy spirit of 1970s and 1980s punk rock. The group united around a mutual desire to craft up-tempo, humor-infused, and vibrant material influenced primarily by The Ramones’ simple chord progressions and Teenage Bottlerocket’s modern twist on pop-inflected punk. Adopting the exclamation point in their name signaled their commitment to an exuberant live presence, with playful nods to both irreverent and comedic elements within the genre.

Early EPs: Melodic Tardcore and Utsukushii (2009–2010)

In early 2009, Batfoot! self-released an eight-track debut EP titled Melodic Tardcore, cheekily referencing the “melodic hardcore” style that underscores the band’s blend of speed and tunefulness. This EP came to the attention of Australia’s Triple J radio, where it received praise on the station’s Short Fast Loud program. Radio announcer Stu Harvey described the group’s music as “Simple fast melodic punk rock played in the vein of The Ramones and Screeching Weasel… Batfoot! is the best thing I’ve heard on Unearthed in 2009.”

Later that year, Batfoot! participated in a Nancy Vandal tribute CD/DVD, Vandals Voice, contributing a cover of “We’re Not Getting Any Nuder.” In 2010, their second EP Utsukushii emerged. Released on Japanese indie label SP Records, the record drew further international notice. Ben Weasel (Screeching Weasel, Riverdales) contributed to the sequencing of both Melodic Tardcore and Utsukushii, helping shape Batfoot!’s crisp sonic identity.

Brain Dead, Tours, and Additional Recognition (2011–2013)

In September 2011, SP Records announced Batfoot!’s upcoming debut full-length, Brain Dead. The album arrived on March 1, 2012, with production credited to Ryan Hazell at Ivory Lane Studios, mastering by Ben Feggans at 301Studios, and album art by Mike Foxall (of Nancy Vandal). Late Teenage Bottlerocket drummer Brandon Carlisle assisted with album sequencing at 301Studios, marking the start of a close link between Batfoot! and their influences within the global pop punk community. The release of Brain Dead cemented the band’s place in the Aussie punk pantheon, and Batfoot! indicated plans to craft a follow-up LP sometime in the second half of 2014.

Meanwhile, the band performed with an array of respected punk groups, including Teenage Bottlerocket, The Flatliners, No Fun At All, MxPx, The Dickies, Guttermouth, Frenzal Rhomb, and CJ Ramone. They also appeared at the 2016 Gingerfest in Canberra, an event celebrating punk music in Australia.

Holiday Covers, Cut the Cord, and Tribute to Brandon Carlisle (2013–Present)

In 2015, Batfoot! recorded a version of Mariah Carey’s holiday classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for Cleopatra Records’ Punk Rock Christmas compilation. Then, in May 2016, Bloated Kat Records (home to artists like Mikey Erg and House Boat) alongside Atomic Brain Records announced Batfoot!’s signing for an upcoming full-length album. Titled Cut the Cord, it was released on June 17, 2016, on CD and vinyl. The drums were tracked at The Studio in Newcastle, New South Wales, while Michael Ferfoglia oversaw production and engineering at Redman Studios, also in Newcastle. Mastering duties fell to Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado. Fox Trotsky created the album’s artwork, and the band included a cover of Mach Pelican’s “Dance in Chicago.”

Shortly after Cut the Cord landed, Batfoot! returned to the studio to record a version of “Repeat Offender,” originally by Teenage Bottlerocket. The track, once again mastered by Jason Livermore, was included on Skate or Fly, a 2016 tribute album to the late Brandon Carlisle. Released on December 23, 2016, via RTTB Records, Skate or Fly showcased Batfoot!’s deep connections to the international punk community and their admiration for Teenage Bottlerocket.

Musical Style and Influence

Batfoot!’s aesthetic is typically labeled “ramonescore,” referencing their tight, high-speed, but melodic guitar work underscored by quick rhythms and humor-tinged lyrics. They express unwavering love for The Ramones, plus modern pop punk acts like Screeching Weasel and Teenage Bottlerocket, bridging generations of melodic punk. Critical remarks from outlets like Triple J and fanzine-turned-website Rest Assured have applauded the band’s enthusiastic approach, with the latter proclaiming them “the kings of Australian leather clad punk rock.”

Band Members

• Craig Hughes – Bass/Vocals
• Justin McLoughlin – Guitar/Vocals
• Jimmy Campbell – Drums
• Lucas (The King) Woods – Guitar/Vocals

Discography

Studio Albums

• Brain Dead (2012)
• Cut the Cord (2016)

EPs

• Melodic Tardcore (2009)
• Utsukushii (2009)