Each year, countless people attempt to form their first band ever, including many high school students. While many of these bands simply fizzle out by the time graduation comes around, Facejug found a path forward.
Facejug was formed in 2021 by Owen Bechtold, Rafael Wenslaff, Anthony Palomba and Sam Williams (ex-bass) as a classic rock band. They were all around 17-years-old at the time and had met each other at various times while attending elementary, middle and high school in Chico.
“Me and Owen were in a class together in junior year, and I had also played music with Raf before, just like randomly,” said Palomba. “[From there] we just decided that we wanted to start a band.”
Not long after forming, Facejug played its first show in Bechtold’s parents’ backyard. The band brought itself to the music scene instead of waiting for the scene to come to it.
Since forming, the music Facejug plays has changed considerably. Over time, the band transitioned from playing classic rock covers and some of its original songs to covering Deftones while introducing more originals. Eventually, metal and hardcore covers began to appear in the band’s setlists.
“We started covering heavier and heavier stuff and I think we all kind of liked how the crowd reacted to that stuff more,” said current bassist Beck Whittinghill, who joined the band in 2023. “From there, we started writing more heavy stuff to fit that vibe.”
Currently, Facejug identifies as “flaccidcore,” a term they created. The band initially had trouble putting a genre label on its music because it is hardcore adjacent but not quite hardcore. It lies somewhere between metalcore, hardcore and skramz. From this dilemma, the genre of flaccidcore was born.
“Our music is so all over the place that there’s no way to concentrate enough to get hard,” said Whittinghill.
While it’s difficult to put a finger on the exact genre of music that Facejug plays, you can expect to hear screamed vocals and technical, distorted guitar riffs at its shows. The band’s music is most heavily inspired by the chaotic riffs and jagged screams of Vein.fm, but also includes less direct influence from the melodic vocals and shoegaze-like ambiance of Loathe and the hulking breakdowns of 7ate9.
Facejug has experienced its fair share of ups and downs throughout its existence. At one point, the band had a short breakup because Bechtold thought that he’d be moving away, but ended up moving back two months later.
“We were like, ‘Facejug’s last show!’” said Bechtold.
Some of the members’ favorite memories with Facejug include cross-dressing for a show and Whittinghill’s first time playing with the band. Naked Lounge was packed during Whittinghill’s first show and he was the first person in the band to really move around on stage.
“[Whittinghill] got up there and started jumping around,” said Justin Topp, a friend of the band. “And then everyone in the band caught on.”
Given that Facejug has been together for so long, it felt appropriate to ask the members for advice for musicians who are just getting started. Bechtold’s main piece of advice was to keep going no matter what, while Whittinghill suggested showing up to as many shows as possible to make connections around the scene and not being afraid of starting with covers.
“Something that helps is finding people who are at the same level as you,” said Wenslaff. “I just think if your band has people who are really good and people who aren’t quite there, starting a band might be a little tricky because everyone needs to be on the same page.”
Whether it’s that all the members play at the same level or not, the band has always been able to evolve and adapt. From covering Alice In Chains as teenagers to shredding originals as adults, Facejug has consistently found a path forward that not only keeps the band together but also pushes it forward musically.
Those who are interested can keep up with Facejug through its Instagram account, where they post show announcements, band updates and concert photos.
Owen Messer can be reached at [email protected].
