Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa was alive with OC love and LA energy on August 9th when Goner arrived with a packed bus playing support for the SOMEHOWUNSEEN album release party. The night carried the feel of a LAW reunion, with Dakota Ethridge holding down the bass and his best friend Sublime’s Jakob Nowell was in the crowd showing support. Earlier in the evening, I caught up with Goner on his bus for a candid interview where he shared details about his next big step: headlining the first official live concert event in partnership with Swear Jar Presents, set for October 11th, 2025 at Dave & Busters.
Any new material ?
Yes! I’ll be playing some tracks from my EP. I’m not entirely sure if it will be out by then, but I’ll be performing the lead single [It Was All For You] tonight and more of the EP at the October 11 show. I’m planning to drop something by the end of August, and after that, we’ll figure out the rollout for the rest. I just really want to get it into people’s ears and share it live.
I write all my own music. When I was 18, I was working as a photographer and videographer, but all my life I’d been thinking, I want to be that person onstage, connecting with people. Growing up, I was trying to figure out what depression and anxiety even were. Then I’d hear someone singing or performing, and it was like they were speaking exactly how i feel. They didn’t know me, but somehow, they understood me completely. That’s when I realized I wanted to do the same for someone else—to let them know they’re not crazy, they’re not alone. You’re not insane for feeling things, that’s all normal. Even when it’s hard. Every day we go through so much shit, and new challenges pop up every day too. With the state of the world we’re in right now, we’re never prepared, but you keep pushing. You don’t cut it off, and shut down; you keep going because a year from now, whatever the time frame is, you’ll get to a point where living through all that was worth it. It just takes patience, and the belief that it’s possible.
Absolutely. I feel like everyone is constantly told to be complacent, to just agree with what’s handed to them, and that’s not how life should be. I’m not the type to tell anyone what they should do. You need to figure that out for yourself. You’re a grown adult. Human life and decency, when someone just wants to live and be happy, you know, how is that ever up for debate? I’m not going to lecture you on why I feel this way. I want people to care enough to figure it out on their own. It doesn’t resonate until you do the things for yourself.
As soon as he finished that last sentence, Goner’s manager, Reid Clow, stepped onto the bus with a quick announcement for the artist: “They’re about to announce you.” I picked up my camera, and we headed back into the venue. Later, I sat down with Reid to gain some insight. Here’s what he had to share. “It was a great night at the Tiki Bar connecting with old friends and new. Awesome to see Goner and Jakob link up too. A couple of weeks before that show, Goner told me we should do something we’ve never done before, and try to book a show somewhere unorthodox. He landed on Dave & Buster’s, where some of our buddies have been hosting raves. We got to sending emails and picking up the phone and made it happen. I’m proud of everything Goner has built and continues to build. It Was All For You out September 5th.” – Reid Clow, Manager, “Swear Jar Presents”
INFO: The first ever LIVE CONCERT at Dave & Busters on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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