By Lauren Hyland & Tessa Nacke
Born out of a pure love for making music and pushing boundaries, local Orange County band No Current is a jolt of raw energy and unapologetic fun. Members of the band include lead singer Johnny Long, drummer Fisher Cotton, bassist Linus Lund and guitarists Luke Steadman and Gideon Griffiths. Fueled by passion and the tendency to ‘play fast,’ No Current is determined to make themselves known for their authentic, powerful sound.
Drawing inspiration from bands like Rancid, Nice&Swell and Johnny Cash, these Orange County teenagers have captivated audiences with their unorthodox blend of thrash, punk, ska and surf rock.
“[No Current] is nothing like everyone else’s sound,” Long said. “Everyone kind of sounds the same, but we have ska, punk, everything combined.”
No Current began in August, when Cotton put action to his lifelong dream of starting a band. Once the idea was out, the pieces fell into place. Small ‘jam seshes’ between friends turned into consistent practice, and their confidence and love for music grew. This confidence manifested itself into writing, as Griffiths and Steadman would craft rhythmic and danceable guitar riffs based on their freestyling sound.
This go-with-the-flow attitude is exactly what makes No Current one of a kind. As their stage presence grew, more began to take notice. They went from performing in parking lots to selling out venues such as the Cha Cha Dancing Gym and the Doll Hut.
“From the first show, and then [our most recent show] is a huge difference … the more we play our songs, the less we practice, [and] now we could play a show without even practicing,” Cotton said.
No Current’s shows are nothing short of electric. Filled to the brim with teenage angst, adrenaline and plenty of thrashing, the band’s ultimate goal is for the people to dance. And boy, do they dance. These self-proclaimed ‘Pitmasters’ let the music fuel them as No Current takes control of the stage.
For No Current, the community is what really makes it worthwhile. The band often plays with other local bands in the area, such as Mulholland Drive and Noisegate (to name a few). The energy that No Current exudes is nothing short of infectious, and audiences love coming back for more.
“You can just go on stage and start playing, and you never know what’s gonna happen,” Cotton said.
No Current’s 30 minute set list contains mostly original songs, all created and cultivated by the band themselves. Their most notable single, “Free the Youth,” is centered around the idea of letting teens live their lives, free from the pressures of parental expectations. No Current recorded “Free the Youth,” with Eric Blay of Eight Track Studios, and released it on all listening platforms on March 1.
Their ambitions extend beyond a single release, as the band is aiming to drop a complete album by summer. Several members also wish to branch out, growing both their musical talents and their opportunities.
“I definitely want to expand, to start more projects, and jam with new people. You meet so many people and connections are huge,” Griffiths said.
While No Current looks to the future, their goal and message has remained the same from the very beginning: have fun, play fast and connect audiences.
“You’re, looking at these bands … [and] if they can do it, we can do it,” Cotton said. “I think it’s like when people see we’re just having fun, we’re not taking 100% seriously. They’ll feel the same way.”
