Caught Fire

Some bands start with dreams of making it big. Caught Fire started with one goal: play Fest. Formed in 2022 in the sweltering St. Pete heat, they set out to do just that – and now, here they are.

They deal in fast, hook-laden melodic punk: equal parts Descendents caffeine jitters, Hot Water Music grit, and Cheap Trick-worthy hooks, all delivered with zero patience for filler. Their debut LP, Nobody’s Listening Anyway (out via Ashtray Monument), is a 14-track burst of frustration, disillusionment, and fleeting joy – because if you can’t fix the world, you might as well burn it down and have a little fun along the way.

Live, they operate with the urgency of a band that knows they’re not the reason you bought a ticket. So they rip through their set, leave no room for banter, and get the hell out of the way. By the time you realize you’ve been singing along to a song you’ve never heard before, they’re already waiting in line at the bar.