If you’re feeling like punk rock has lost its edge or has become a nostalgic relic of the 2000s, you’re not alone. Enter: BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT, who is here to prove that the scene is far from dead and that there is still room on the stage for gritty guitars, Doc Martens and real rebellion. The Los Angeles-based rock band — made up of Colie Hutzler (vocals), Bardo Novotny (guitar), Brent “Beepus” Burdett (bass) and Colton Flurry (drums) — are on a mission to bring the punk spirit back into the mainstream with their upcoming record WHERE DID ALL THE BUTTERFLIES GO?
After signing with Verswire in 2020, BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT quickly earned respect from the music community with their first EP Boys Do Cry, released the following year. The band has since played major festivals across the world, including Lollapalooza and Warped Tour, giving them a platform to become one of the most noticeable rising acts in the scene. Now, BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT is ready to bring punk rock back to the forefront of the music scene.
BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT allows their authenticity to shine through in their music, which is what makes their presence so impactful in the punk, emo and rock scenes. Their sound is constantly evolving, but one thing always remains true, their art is a reflection of where they are at in life. “The shift in sound is actually just that we have more life experience,” Beepus explains. “Who we are as humans is translating into our sound as a whole. I think the rawness, the realness, the authenticity of the tones…we’re past trying to be polished. We just really want to throw our authentic selves out there in all forms.”
While BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT has built their sound off of the iconic bands that came before them like blink-182, Fall Out Boy and Green Day, they’ve also been inspired by a new wave of artists like Lola Young, jxdn, and 2hollis to incorporate modern production techniques that challenge traditional boundaries.
While working in the studio, the band integrated amps and pedals to create a more unique sound tailored to one of their live shows. “After the year we did [on tour] with jxdn and blink-182, we realized we wanted to make records that captured the same energy as the live show,” Hutzler adds. “We would often get ‘I’ve heard the records, but wow the live show is crazy.’ We wanted to get that same response out of people hearing the records as they do from the show.”
Their commitment to bringing the live show energy to the studio is what gives their latest singles “FEVER” and “SEX APPEAL” their edge. Starting as an early standout for the band, “FEVER” represents where the band is now. “I think I can speak for all of us that ‘FEVER’ does feel like what we are living right now,” Beepus says.
BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT are known for creating an atmosphere for themselves and the community when they perform. From the second they hit the stage, they command the audience, building an environment where everyone’s free to be themselves. They encourage fans to mosh, crowd surf and scream their hearts out while always looking out for each other. This type of energy is what tours like Warped Tour and idobi Radio’s Summer School Tour were originally built on. “I will shoutout something about the alternative scene in general, even though it’s aggressive, if someone falls, everyone picks them up. You could have a bloody nose or get knocked out, but everyone is gonna turn around and make sure you are okay. I just think that’s the coolest part of the rock scene,” Beepus says.
To read the complete article, read the full issue online or purchase a physical copy while supplies last.
Keep up with BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT: Instagram // TikTok // X // Spotify // YouTube // Website
