Cliffdiver & Action/Adventure

Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, CLIFFDIVER is a band that defies boundaries, pushing the limits of their genre with every note. Formed in 2018, this dynamic group has been on a relentless journey of musical exploration, cementing their reputation as one of rock’s most exciting and innovative acts. In May 2022, CLIFFDIVER burst onto the scene with their electrifying debut album, unleashed via SideOneDummy Records. The record sent shockwaves through the industry, establishing CLIFFDIVER as a force to be reckoned with. Their distinctive sound, characterized by catchy guitar riffs, infectious melodies, and emotionally charged lyrics, quickly caught the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide. The band’s ascent continued as they embarked on a series of US tour s, sharing stages with industry heavyweights like Bowling for Soup and Less Than Jake. Their high-energy performances captivated audiences, earning them a dedicated fan base that grew with every show. The pinnacle of CLIFFDIVER’s live journey in 2022 was their unforgettable appearance at Riot Fest, where they left an indelible mark on the festival circuit. Their explosive stage presence and unwavering passion for their craft left fans clamoring for more. In 2023, CLIFFDIVER took a bold step by releasing a cover of X-Ray Spex’s iconic track, ‘Oh Bondage, Up Yours.’ The track featured the legendary Stephen Egerton of Descendents, adding a fresh twist to a punk classic. The collaboration showcased the band’s versatility and their commitment to honoring their musical roots while pushing boundaries. However, 2023 was also marked by a life-altering event for CLIFFDIVER. The band members faced a near-death accident that tested their resilience and determination. Emerging from the ordeal stronger than ever, they channeled their experiences into their newest single, ‘F.A.K.E.’ The track’s raw emotion and introspective lyrics struck a chord with listeners and garnered attention from major media publications. The summer of 2023 saw CLIFFDIVER hit the road once again, wowing crowds at Sad Summer Fest and securing support slots on Hot Mulligan’s headlining dates across the US. Their ability to connect with fans through their music and electrifying live performances solidified their reputation as a must-see act. As the year draws to a close, CLIFFDIVER is gearing up for a handful of tour dates to close out the year. After a year of ups and downs, they are more determined than ever to create new music that pushes the boundaries of alternative music. With their sights set on the studio, CLIFFDIVER is ready to dive headfirst into their next record, promising fans a sonic journey that will leave them hungry for more.

Action/Adventure shouldn’t be here. At least, that’s what the Chicago-based five-piece seem to think. They’re wrong – very wrong – but that’s the overriding theme of their debut album. That’s partly why they named it Imposter Syndrome – because when the band signed to Pure Noise Records, they couldn’t quite believe it. Even after they released their seven-track EP Pulling Focus in 2021, and even after that EP’s lead track “Barricades” went viral on TikTok, it didn’t feel real. After all, this is a label that’s put out some of their favorite albums by some of their favorite bands, and now they were a part of it. That sense of confused bewilderment was compounded by the timing of it all.
“For us,” says lead vocalist Blake Evaristo, “having a debut on Pure Noise is insane. Especially because, when “Barricades” blew up for us and we got all that TikTok clout, it happened during the pandemic, so we didn’t even play a show till nearly a year later. And I feel like in that time, we were having imposter syndrome, hence the title. It didn’t feel real.”
“And honestly,” adds vocalist/guitarist Brompton Jackson, “it still doesn’t even feel real. We’ve just been asking questions like is this real? Do we belong here? Is this even happening?”

Much as the band – completed by drummer Adrian Brown, bassist Manny Avila and guitarist Oren Trace – might feel that way, the facts are simple: it is real, they do belong here and it is definitely happening. But their imposter syndrome runs deeper than that, namely because they’re an entirely BIPOC band in the pop-punk scene, which automatically adds an extra layer of depth and uneasiness to everything. It’s what the TikTok video for “Barricades” was all about, and it’s an inherent part of their identity. That video was never meant to blow up, nor was it meant to be overtly political. It simply captured how they felt about who they were and was uploaded to TikTok by Jackson one day on a whim.
“It was the first video we put on TikTok,” says Evaristo. “Brompton made the account that same day, and to see it connect with people has been amazing. But we’re also here now to show that we’re more than that one song! We’ve had hate comments saying that we’re race baiting, which is so frustrating.”
“But we’re 100% not,” adds Jackson. “Me, Oren and Adrian have been playing music together for the past 16 or 17 years. We went to high school together and grew up playing music. Manny was originally  friends with Oren’s wife, and we found Blake on Craigslist. It was kismet.”
Still, Action/Adventure are acutely aware their existence is nevertheless important in terms of visibility. They’re just also keen to stress that their initial intentions were all music-focused, and that it’s chance, not design, that they’re all BIPOC.
“Those two parts have to co-exist on completely even playing fields,” explains Jackson. “One can’t really outshine the other. Growing up in the scene, I almost felt like a pariah – I could count the amount of other black people going to shows on one hand. One of them is Adrian! You’d always see the same four or five other black people at shows, so you get to know each other. So it’s important to not lose sight of that, but I also don’t want us to be a token band. We’re just a band. We’re a group of people playing music that we like to listen to and that we like to write – and we just all happen to be people of color. It was an accident, it wasn’t planned.”
“We just wanted to play music,” adds Brown. “We all played music individually and ultimately it just seemed easy to play that music together. And while you don’t see a lot of people of color doing this kind of music, not many people I knew in high school liked metalcore and pop-punk, so when you find those people you’re naturally drawn to together. I just wanted to create the feeling that I got when I saw bands play.”