SFR045

The 1984 Draft

Best Friends Forever

August 6, 2023

Dayton, Ohio punk quintet The 1984 Draft, who released their latest LP on January 19th, 2023 via Poptek Records, Sell The Heart Records, and Engineer Records (UK), are excited to announce that Steadfast Records will release the album on limited edition cassette on August 4th.  

The album features collaborations with Susie Ulhrey (Pohgoh), Todd Farrell Jr. (Benchmarks, Two Cow Garage), and Sean Gardner (Kopaz, The Reciever, Winter Makes Sailors, Minnows) and ushers in the band's newest member, Cherry Fullam, on vocals. The tape includes two additional live tracks that were recorded by Patrick Himes at Reel Love Studio and the 7" version of “Two Cow Barrage.”
“I thought I had ‘Best Friends Forever’ completely written shortly after the release of ‘Makes Good Choices’,” said Joe Anderl, frontman for The 1984 Draft. “We began recording the record ourselves and then Chip’s board fried. That caused us to pause and then Covid hit. With the additional time at home, I kept writing so some songs were swapped out. We did not intend for it to take this long to release another full length but it is the card that was dealt and I couldn’t be happier. We were really lucky to have some of our friends make substantial contributions to this record.”

“This album continues a similar story as ‘Makes Good Choices’. I’m still writing songs about my family and life in general. This is my photo album of a period of time in my life. My kids continue to grow, I continue to evolve, and the world continues to be a mess. I think we cover a little bit of all of that on this record.”
For those unfamiliar with The 1984 Draft, the band is comprised of Anderl, guitarist Eli Alban, bassist Chip Heck, and drummer Justin Satinover. To date, the band have released a compilation track, a pair of EPs, three 7 inches (w/ Todd Farrell (Benchmarks) and Gordon Withers (Jawbreaker on Cello / J Robbins band), and an LP. The 1984 Draft have supported Radar State, Haymarket Riot, Hawthorne Heights, Extra Arms, Relaxer, Signals Midwest, Jon Snodgrass, Shane Sweeney, Ben Nichols of Lucero, Crooks on Tape, Dead Rider, Maps and Atlases, Vinnie Caruana of The Movielife, Anthony Raneri of Bayside, Geoff Rickly of Thursday, Six Gallery and more.

In 2022, The 1984 Draft released a split single with Todd Farrell Jr. (Benchmarks) via Poptek Records. The album was covered by New Noise Magazine, Ghettoblaster Magazine, The Book of Very Very Bad Things, Aversionline, and Jersey Beat
In 2020, The 1984 Draft released their Destination Breakdown single via Poptek Records. The album was covered by New Noise Magazine, Ghettoblaster Magazine, Punk News, Aversionline, and Big Takeover Magazine.

The 1984 Draft previously released their LP, Makes Good Choices, in 2018 via Poptek Records. The album received rave reviews from Ghettoblaster Magazine, Wannabe The Comic, A Diverse Sound, Soundblab, Oklahoma Lefty, Us For Once, Punk Music UK and more, and topped that year's "Best of the Year" at many other online outlets.

Their Heisman Trophy Winner EP was released via Gas Daddy Go! (the boutique label of former Guided By Voices drummer Don Thrasher) in November of 2015. They were also one of 24 Ohio bands featured on the 10th anniversary Aquabear Legion double vinyl compilation that year.

In 2014, The 1984 Draft released their EP, Bo Jackson Up The Middle, via We Want Action (84 Nash, She Bears, Tiara). The EPs were recorded at Popside Studio with Micah Carli (former guitarist for Hawthorne Heights), who also took up engineering and mastering duties on the Heisman Trophy Winner EP. Their Bo Jackson Up The Middle EP saw the light of day in advance of the release of an NFL Network documentary on the actual 1984 NFL Draft, in which the band is featured. NFL Films captured them live in the band’s hometown on January 10, 2014. The documentary aired on April 30, 2014 and continues to air each draft season on the NFL Network and followed print and web features on the band in Sports Illustrated, The Omaha World Herald, New Noise Magazine, to name a few.

The 1984 Draft = Joe Anderl- vocals, guitar. Justin Satinover- drums. Eli Alban- guitar. Chip Heck- bass.
Location = Dayton, Ohio

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