Enter Miller’s Garage
There’s a rare kind of electricity in the room when Strawberry Fuzz hits the stage. On May 14th at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz—just two nights before the release of their sophomore album Miller’s Garage—the band delivered a high-octane homecoming that felt like both a celebration and a statement: California punk is in good hands.
Strawberry Fuzz is made up of five distinct personalities who, together, create a sound that’s as much about community and chaos as it is about chords. Equal parts brotherhood and back-alley poetry, their music captures the current mood of a generation navigating post-pandemic malaise with equal doses of grit, humor, and heart. If Miller’s Garage proves anything, it’s that Fuzz is the loudest voice out of Venice since Dogtown had wheels.
I first crossed paths with the band in the winter of 2024 during the Red Hot Holiday Tour with Fishbone. Back then, their crew man Ringo warned me: “I’ll need a cup with me to catch my face as they melt it.” He wasn’t kidding. Frontman Colby Rodgers is a force. The band equal parts Hollywood Rose and The Germs with the weird warmth of Margaritaville, the band’s energy is hard to pin down and harder to forget. Six months later, the guys are tighter, louder, and more focused than ever.
I caught up with them backstage at The Catalyst after their support run with the Buzzcocks, two nights before what they were calling "Prom Night"—their official album release show. Guitarist and in-house producer Alex Arias was reflective about the process of making Miller’s Garage: “There was a focus and a sense of brotherhood that I think was freeing,” he said. “That trust lets you bring your honest self to the sessions.”
Lead Guitar Kris Miller echoed that sentiment: “You know the homework you need to do before you get into the studio. I know what Dash might be thinking about, or I’m less worried about bringing something new to Alex or Colby. There’s a shorthand now. It’s tighter. It’s family.” They’ve picked up lessons from the road, too. “Tour is a job,” Alex said, gesturing toward the crowd. “But this—this interaction, working with the audience—that’s where it all comes alive.” And alive it was. The Catalyst set was electric. The band ripped through new cuts and old favorites with a sense of joy that felt contagious. At one point, I found myself thinking, this is exactly what I want from my punk bands. No pretense. No posturing. Just unfiltered expression, joy, and volume.
Miller’s Garage, released May 16th, arrives on the heels of four buzz-worthy singles and the news that “East of the 405” will appear on the official Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 soundtrack. It’s a record steeped in brotherhood, built on raw instincts and even rawer emotion. “Way Too Fast,” “Green Room,” and “Burnt” don’t just sound like memories—they feel like the kind of songs that remind you who you used to be, and why that version of yourself still matters. For me, the album hit hard in ways I didn’t expect. It reminded me of playing THPS on a CRT in my childhood bedroom, bundled up with my sister over winter break. That person I was has changed, but the feeling hasn’t. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about this band, it’s that they’re chasing joy in real time—and they want you along for the ride.
If you want a little window into who these guys really are, I asked them to compare themselves to the Scooby Gang: Kris is Fred, Dash is Daphne, Alex is Velma, Andy is Shaggy, and Colby—of course—is Scooby-Doo. It fits. They're a crew of characters who balance chaos with heart. Strawberry Fuzz has big plans for 2025, and trust me: this is a band you need to see live. I’ll be driving 400 miles down the 5 to catch them again at Venice West in June—and I suggest you do the same.
