Latterman

ByLets Go Punk
Latterman are a semi active punk band from Huntington

Latterman are a four piece punk rock band from Huntington, New York, who formed in 1999 and later became a semi active group that plays shows only from time to time.

Starting point and early releases

The band formed after the breakup of Five Days Late, a previous group involving Matt Canino, Phil Douglas, and Dan Sposato. The original lineup was Matt Canino, Phil Douglas, Dan Sposato, and Pat Schramm. In 1999, they put out their first demo and then self released their debut None Of These Songs Are About Girls in 2000.

Guitar changes and the next record

After Sposato left and the band went through a few replacements, they landed on Mike “MR” Campbell as a steady guitarist. With Campbell in the lineup, Latterman released Turn Up The Punk, We’ll Be Singing on Traffic Violation Records.

Deep Elm era and a key album

In 2005, Latterman signed with Deep Elm Records and released No Matter Where We Go…. Around the same time, Deep Elm also reissued Turn Up The Punk, We’ll Be Singing, which had been out of print.

Final studio album and the 2007 breakup

After No Matter Where We Go…, Campbell left and Brian Crozier took over on guitar. That lineup recorded and released the band’s fourth and final studio album, We Are Still Alive, in 2006.

On October 18, 2007, Punknews.org reported that the band had broken up. In a statement shared through Punknews, Canino said touring had started to feel repetitive, especially when it meant talking about sexism in punk every night and then dealing with comments that made the experience exhausting. She said she reached a point where she stopped calling those moments out, and that felt wrong to her. She described being tired, and said it stopped making sense for everyone in the band to keep going.

Reunion shows and later activity

In December 2011, Latterman reunited for four shows with the No Matter Where We Go… lineup. To line up with those shows, the band released “Our Better Halves,” described in the bio as an unreleased song that was the final recording the band ever did.

Since 2011, the band has played live only sporadically, with shows noted in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2018.

Related bands after Latterman

The bio notes that Phil Douglas and Mattie Jo Canino later formed Iron Chic and RVIVR, respectively. In 2015, Canino, Douglas, and Schramm formed Tender Defender, which some listeners view as a continuation in a similar vein. The bio also lists other projects members have played in, including Bridge and Tunnel, Laura Stevenson and The Cans, Daytrader, Pox, Shorebirds, Mutoid Men, and The Brass.

Sound and songwriting

Latterman have been described as a pop punk and post hardcore blend, built around fast tempos, forceful instrumentation, and shouted vocals. Vocal duties were shared by guitarist Phil Douglas and bassist Mattie Jo Canino, and the lyrics are described as political or socially conscious while aiming for a positive tone. One writer described the band’s hooks as the kind meant to be shouted by a whole room together.

The bio also notes that their music has been compared to Lifetime, another band from the Northeast.

Members

  • Phil Douglas, vocals and guitar
  • Mattie Jo Canino, vocals and bass
  • Mike “MR” Campbell, guitar
  • Pat Schramm, drums

Former members

  • Dan Sposato
  • Bryce Hackford
  • Brian Crozier
  • Ian Campbell
  • Jeff Cunningham

Discography

  • None of These Songs Are About Girls (self released, 2000)
  • Split 7 inch with Nakatomi Plaza (Rok Lok Records, BD Records, Sot Records, 2000)
  • Turn Up The Punk, We’ll Be Singing (Traffic Violation Records, 2002, reissued on Deep Elm Records, 2005; LP pressings noted on Yo Yo Records in 2006 and No Idea Records in 2011)
  • No Matter Where We Go…! (Deep Elm Records, 2005; LP pressings noted on Yo Yo Records in 2006 and No Idea Records in 2011)
  • We Are Still Alive (Deep Elm Records, 2006; LP pressing noted on No Idea Records in 2007)

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