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In this first episode of 2026, Justin and Mike break down the emotional rollercoaster that is the days of the work week & the punk, ska, emo, and hardcore songs that perfectly capture those feelings. From the dread and frustration of early-week Mondays to the chaos, relief, and reflection that we experience during the average work week, this episode connects music to mood in the most relatable way possible. We dive into how different days feel and why certain songs hit harder depending on where you’re at in the week. Along the way, we discuss classic and modern bands across punk rock, ska punk, emo, and hardcore, including NOFX, Goldfinger, No Use for a Name, Thursday, Turnover, Wednesday Night Heroes, Oakwood, The Hammerbombs, Left Alone, and Bitter//Washed. The episode also features what we have been listening to from bands like SexMex, First Day Back, Joint Pains, and Fontine, and a The Burnt Tapes.  Whether you’re looking for punk songs about burnout, ska songs that lift your mood, emo tracks that match mid-week anxiety, or hardcore energy to push you through the grind, this episode has you covered. It’s part playlist, part therapy session, and fully rooted in the sounds that make punk rock feel personal. Perfect for fans searching for: punk rock podcasts ska punk music discussions emo and hardcore playlists music based on moods and feelings punk songs for every day of the week Hit play, argue with our picks and don't forget to send in you list of the songs that get you through whatever day you’re stuck on.

Episode 118: Year-End Punk Rock Favorites It’s our annual year-end blowout episode! Mike breaks down some of his favorite punk rock, emo, pop punk, hardcore, Midwest emo, melodic punk albums from the past year. This one’s a doozy — packed with guest picks, special guest appearances, and a ton of music for you to listen to, discover, and hopefully fall in love with.  Featuring discussions and music from bands like: Brutalligators, Deforesters,Casper Fight Scene, Dave Hause  And The Mermaid,Teen Mortgage – Ultra sonic Dream,Sex Faces – Bad Vibes OST,The Vicious Cycles – Get Wrecked, Spiritual Cramp,The Hives, Ghost Factory – Socialist Trash, Night Committee – Your Plans Mean Nothing, Final Boss Fight, Coheed and Cambria, Creeper, Doug McLean , Arms Length ,Home Front, Tired Radio,Hot Mulligan,Elway ,Ravagers,AFI,School Drugs,Propagandhi ,Hazzerd,The Names of Our Friends,Seth Anderson,Unseemlier,Oh The Humanity,Sam Russo,Little Low, Mike Koop, JSM, Chixdiggit, Sketchy Records, Ways Away, We love year-end lists, so if you want to send yours in, please do. Half the fun is checking out bands we might’ve overlooked or totally missed, and your list might turn us on to our next favorite records of 2025 If your band is mentioned on the show and you’d prefer it removed, just let us know — no hard feelings. Everything we feature is purely to promote the bands and music we love and want others to check out.  You can find High Fives Punk Rock Podcast on most streaming platforms. Please subscribe, like, leave a comment, or whatever you’re feeling. Honestly though, the best thing you can do is tell a friend to check us out — that helps us way more than anything else. Find us online: Instagram: @highfivespodcast Upscrolled: @highfivespunkrock Substack: @highfivespunkrockpodcast High fives,Mike & Justin ✋

  Whether you're into punk, emo, Ska, shreddy metal, or DIY hardcore, one of the best ways to discover new bands is checking them out live. There is something special about a band that can make you fall in love with them without ever hearing them before and its one of those things that is centric to the music we love. In Episode 117 of the High Fives Punk Rock Podcast, Mike and Justin break down the bands they truly fell in love with only after seeing them live.  Have a listen to the episode and hear what bands did this for us and why? Featuring music and discussions about bands like Larry and His Flask, Kvelertak, Brand New Unit, Automatic 7, The Vandals, Protest the Hero, 3 Inches of Blood, Riot City, Gumm, The Mendozaz, Jimmy Eat World, Ben Quad, Ghost Factory, Mean Jeans, The Weakerthans, School Drugs, Elway, and Coup D'état. Check out the episode and get your lists in too  Special thanks goes out to Daniel for the list suggestion! 

Welcome to our Halloween Episode. Who doesn't love a great song to spook up your night? In episode 116 Justin and Mike go through their collections and pick a handful of punk rock songs to get your ready for Halloween. Featuring discussions and music from Alkaline Trio, The Specials, American Television, TBD, AFI, The Dahmers, Messer Chups, Touche Amore, Chixdiggit, The Browns, Night Court!, Pale Lips, Half Dizzy, Vic Ruggerio, Seth Anderson, Structure Sounds, The Caroyln  Unicorn Dogs, and more...  Make sure to check out this episode and send your list in too. You can find us @highfivespodcast  We would love to hear your favorite punk and punk adjacent songs get your ready for Halloween and if you are feeling up to it your favorite Halloween Costume or memory. High Fives Punk Rock podcast is a punk rock podcast featuring music and discussions about bands that we think you should check out so make sure if you find something you like you add the band to your collection however you consume music these days.    Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts

What’s the punk rock anthem that gets you out of bed, fired up, and ready to take on the world? In Episode 115 of the High Fives Punk Rock Podcast, Mike and Justin dive into their top picks for punk rock songs that motivate and inspire.  Features discussions of punk rock, ska, emo, hardcore, pop punk, and bands like NOFX, Rancid, Gorilla Biscuits, Brutalligators, Rise Against, Spanish Love Songs, Death of Guitar Pop, Dick Move, M.U.T.T., Dave Hause, The Eradicator, Saturdays At Your Place, Flinch , Have Mercy, M Krebs and Tired Radio. Make sure to check out this episode and send your list in too. You can find us @highfivespodcast  We would love to hear your favorite punk and punk adjacent songs that motivate you.    

In episode 114 of the High Fives Punk Rock Podcast Mike and Justin tackle the art of the short song. What makes a good short song? Why put out a short song? Do we even really like short songs?  Regardless most of our punk rock catalogs are filled with short songs, you know those ones under 2 minutes. Some of fast and aggressive. Some are funny. And some are just filler. This episode is our nod to those short kings.  Bands & Artists Mentioned: NOFX, SNFU, Operation Ivy, Chixdiggit, Gob, Origami Angel, Good Riddance, Arms Length, Coheed and Cambria, Houseboat, Burnt Tapes, Lot Lizards, Drought, The Chugs, Sam Russo, Fond Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and discover why the shortest punk songs sometimes make the biggest impact.

🎙️ Episode 113 – Campfire Songs (Punk Rock Edition)Welcome back to the High Fives Punk Rock Podcast! In this episode, Mike and Justin get cozy around the proverbial campfire to talk campfire songs—but with a twist. This isn't your typical acoustic guitar kumbaya moment. We're diving into the kinds of songs you'd want echoing when you are hanging around a fire chilling with some friends. 🔥 We explore the perfect soundtrack for late-night singalongs and sunrise melancholy, blending genres like punk rock, ska, emo, hardcore, and alt-folk. 🎶 Bands & artists featured in this episode include:Northcote, Against Me!, The Slackers, Hot Mulligan, Casper Fight Scene, Hepcat, Deforesters, Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties,The Almighty Defenders,Moral Bombing, Leisure Hour, New Swears, Get Dead, and Dan Andriano  Whether you’re roasting marshmallows, crushing some beers or just looking for music that speaks to your punk heart under the stars, this episode has something for everyone.   So grab a cold drink, pull up a chair, and join us for a playlist that’s equal parts cathartic and catchy. Don’t forget to hit Follow or Subscribe and get your list in too. Find us on Instagram @highfivespodcast

Looking for something new to listen to? Maybe you missed out on some of the releases so far this year. We know it is hard to keep up with everything in the digital age. Well guess what? We did some work for you?  and you are in your luck because episode 112 of the high fives punk rock podcast  is the annual half way through the year episode where we discuss some of our favorite punk and on brand releases for 2025 so far. So have a listen and then send in your lists of best punk , pop punk, ska , emo, hardcore, screamo, indie releases of the year so far. We can't wait to hear what we may have missed.  Features discussions about The Raging Nathans, The Last Mile, L.S.Dunes, Unseemlier, Cumulus, Propagandhi, Matty Grace, Little Low, The Kilograms, Sammy Kay, Joe Gittleman, Emma Goldman and the Capser Fight Scene.   Make sure to send in your lists to @highfivespodcast  The High Fives Punk Rock Podcast is a non profit / ad free podcast discussing punk, pop punk,emo,hardcore,emo,metal,screamo,thrash and everything in between and we hope you enjoy what we have to say and play and consider supporting these bands and artists anyway you can. 

In Episode 111, Justin and Mike step up to the plate—not to talk baseball stats, but to pick the ultimate punk rock walk-up songs! You know the songs players use as they head to home plate to smash dingers? We asked: What if those songs came from the world of punk, ska, hardcore, and skacore? Can these high-energy genres bring the heat? Spoiler: yes. Join us as we break down the tracks we’d use to make our entrance, featuring bands like: The Isotopes, Propagandhi, NOFX, The Raging Nathans, Goldfinger, Less Than Jake, Rat Boy, The International Noise Conspiracy, Crazy & The Brains, The Pietasters, RKL, and more. We’re talking punk energy, ska attitude, and walk-up anthem potential. It’s loud, fast, and a little ridiculous—just how we like it. 🎧 If you're into punk rock podcasts, music discovery, or just love making playlists with purpose, this episode is for you.

We did it! We finally made it to the end of the year based episodes and we are going out with 2010.  Justin and Mike dive into 2010, revisiting the albums that defined those years and left a lasting impact on impressionable lives. 🔥 Featuring discussions on Kvelertak, Off With Their Heads, Iron Chic, Smoke or Fire, The Menzingers, The Sainte Catherines, The Paperbacks, The Blacklist Royals, RVIVR and Bars of Gold. find out which records stood out and why they still matter to us. 🎶 Plus, hear what we’ve been spinning lately, including Dead Bars, Debt Neglector, The Last Mile, Matty Grace, Vicious Cycles, Hot Wax Find out Justin's answers to these burning questions 1.      What is a song from a soundtrack that was made better because of how it was used in the movie 2.      What is a song that everyone seems to like but you can’t stand 3.      What is a ridiculous song that you love? Could be funny? Just objectively bad? Or so out of left field? If you love punk, pop punk, emo, ska, skacore, hardcore—or just discovering new music—this is the punk rock podcast for you! Give it a listen, subscribe, and send us your own top picks!

We’re almost at the end of our journey through the years that shaped our music tastes! In this episode, Justin and Mike dive into 2008 and 2009, revisiting the albums that defined those years and left a lasting impact. 🔥 Featuring discussions on The Hold Steady, Gaslight Anthem, Teenage Bottlerocket, Propagandhi, The Menzingers, Red City Radio, The Dopamines, Broadway Calls, and Dear Landlord—find out which records stood out and why they still matter today. 🎶 Plus, hear what we’ve been spinning lately, including Coheed and Cambria, Quit Everything, Split Dogs, Deals Gone Bad, The Real Sickies, Knife Proof Earmuffs, and The Names of Our Friends. If you love punk, pop punk, emo, ska, skacore, hardcore—or just discovering new music—this is the punk rock podcast for you! Give it a listen, subscribe, and send us your own top picks!

Episode 108 is another nostalgia-packed trip back in time as Justin and Mike look back on the music that shaped them from 2006 and 2007 through the lenses of a couple of aged out punk rock kids. Both years seemed like a rebirth for both of us as we rediscovered our love for the genre we held so dear. So have a listen to the episode and find out why we picked these albums and songs as some of favorite from those years. Including discussions about Bad Religion, Municipal Waste, Gaslight Anthem, The Hold Steady, Tim Armstrong, The Loved Ones, The Copyrights, Against Me!, A Wilhelm Scream, The Bouncing Souls. Find out what we have been listening to like Bad Year , Hell & Back , Death By Unga Bunga, Allie Goertz , LS Dunes, Oh The Humanity!, Coheed and Cambria and WINONA FIGHTER.  If you are looking for a punk rock podcast or you like punk, pop punk, emo, ska, skacore, hardcore, hey you get the deal..give us a listen and get your list in too!  Quote There can't be two New Brunswicks  And don't miss three brand-new questions for Justin in our “Get to Know Justin” segment!

It's a new year and a new season of the high fives punk rock podcast. Justin and Mike jump right back into last year’s theme and discuss the years 2004 and 2005 through the eyes of some aging punk rock kids. Featuring discussions around some of our favorite albums and bands from those years. Justin goes a little mainstream and Mike tries to figure out what the hell he was doing but, in the end, we came up with 10 punk and punk adjacent albums we both could agree defined what we were listening to in those years. Have a listen and then send in your list.  We also get into the albums we have been listening to like Precursor, If Kansas Had Trees, Southtowne Lanes, Gob and Monster Rally.  Find out what is a comfort album for Justin and if we had any new year’s resolutions.  Featuring discussions about pop punk, punk rock, emo, midwest emo, ska,skacore, Canadian Music, CanCon,Calgary punk and I guess metalcore now. Hey it was 2004!  Don't pretend like you didn't dabble in the hot topic emo like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy you scenesters! Or maybe you screamed for Jesus like Underoath. Maybe you were just stuck in Calgary listening to Chixdiggit or The Buzzing Bees. Or discovering Pop Punk like Latterman or chilling to Bedouin Soundclash.

Join us for our year-end extravaganza, a deep dive into the punk, pop punk, emo, hardcore, melodic hardcore albums and sub genres that we couldn’t stop listening to this year. Mike's "vanity project" isn’t about declaring the "best of 2024" but sharing the albums  that brought joy, sparked emotion, and kept us excited about the genre we love. At High Fives Punk Rock Podcast, it’s not about the rankings; it’s about celebrating the music that moves us. So tune in and turn it up. Plus, we love hearing from our listeners—send us your lists, and we’ll share them with our growing punk rock community. We hope you enjoy the episode and find something worth adding to your collection. 

Hi and welcome back to the High Fives Punk Rock podcast. It is the last episode of the season and this one is all about the year 2003. So, let’s take a trip back in nostalgia for a time where myspace and scenesters ruled the musical landscape.  Justin and Mike look back on the albums and pop culture of the year through the lenses of a couple of aged out punk rock kids. Beyond the music, our hosts dive into 2003’s pop culture trends and explore how genres like punk and its various sub genres continued to evolve, often overlapping and influencing each other. And you get to hear Mike talk way too much about his love of the O.C. Featuring discussions about Stike Anywhere, Rancid, Lagwagon, The Exploding Hearts, Story of the Year, Saosin, Silverstein, Less than Jake, Joule and the Postal Service showcasing the year’s rich diversity in alternative music.  We discuss what we have been listening to including Ben Quad, The Shape of Punk To Come tribute album, No Doubt, The Implants, The Hammerbombs, the Dopamines, Lindi Ortega and Pizza Death.  Have a listen and then send in the 5 albums that you love from that year. We can’t wait to hear what you would pick.  And don't miss some new questions for Justin in our “Get to Know Justin” segment!