How Militarie Gun evolved from pandemic project to indie-punk force

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On a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Chicago’s Riot Fest, people were starting to gather for the music. Artists, industry insiders, and VIP guests were stepping out of their trailers and heading towards the main stage, eager to find a good viewing spot for the next band.

You usually see that level of energy from artists playing later in the day – either a local favorite or one of the headliners. It was surprising to see it from Militarie Gun, who were only the second band to play on the huge Riot Stage. Still, it wasn’t entirely a shock, considering all the excitement surrounding the band at the festival before their set.

Militarie Gun, formed in 2020 by Ian Shelton, has rapidly gained popularity among both established and newer fans of punk and hardcore music. Just in the past year, the Los Angeles-based band has shared the stage with iconic acts like Gorilla Biscuits, Alkaline Trio, and even had a scheduled performance with the Sex Pistols (which was unfortunately canceled due to an injury). They’ve also played alongside current leading bands such as Knocked Loose, Mannequin Pussy, Touche Amore, and High Vis.

Being on tour with bands like Manchester Orchestra and Knocked Loose, and even opening for Limp Bizkit, has really shaped how we approach performing. I remember when we toured with Manchester Orchestra, we’d start with a softer take on ‘Never F—d Up Once’ to draw the crowd in. We see ourselves as adaptable – we always want to be true to ourselves, but we also want to connect with the audience. We can play these songs in any style and it still feels like *us*. Honestly, the best performances happen when we’re inspired by the band we’re sharing the stage with. It’s not even about planning beforehand; it’s about watching them play and thinking, ‘We need to step up our game!’ That feeling? That’s the best thing ever.

What I find so compelling about Militarie Gun is their ability to evolve without losing what makes them special – it’s why they’ve gone from a beloved local band to an act with international buzz. They’ve often been pigeonholed as just another hardcore band, especially early on with EPs like “All Roads Lead to the Gun” and their 2023 debut, “Life Under the Gun,” but honestly, Shelton’s songwriting is just incredibly catchy and relatable – it’s clearly resonated with musicians, fans, and critics. He claims his lyrics come from a place of innocence, and while chatting over garlic shrimp and rigatoni vodka, he doubled down on that! But even if that’s true, there’s a real intelligence and authenticity to Militarie Gun’s music – both on their albums and EPs – that many bands strive for their entire careers.

Militarie Gun’s new album, “God Save the Gun,” blends exceptional songwriting with the band’s increasing confidence and musical range. While some might anticipate a continuation of their previous sound, this album delivers a collection of catchy, indie-punk anthems. The band, which doesn’t define itself by hardcore labels, sees this as a chance to explore new creative directions and fully embrace the music they’ve always envisioned.

Shelton explains they always aimed for a sound similar to Third Eye Blind, but he felt his vocals weren’t strong enough. He describes their songwriting process as simply trying to create memorable tunes, which often leads them to very straightforward ideas, while playfully referring to himself as not particularly sophisticated.

The band’s early sound was influenced by artists like Modest Mouse and the energy of the Touch and Go Records label. They were particularly inspired by the song “Alive With Pleasure” by Born Against, incorporating its noisy guitars and raw, shouted vocals. However, their main goal wasn’t to replicate existing sounds, but to constantly push themselves and find something new and exciting. According to the singer, this pursuit will likely lead them to create music that some people won’t like, as they’ll exhaust the elements that initially attracted listeners. He used to jokingly label the band as “hardcore” to provoke reactions, wanting people to question their self-description. But then bands like Turnstile gained popularity, and suddenly they found themselves considered part of that scene.

Shelton, the driving force behind Militarie Gun, explains that the band’s evolution happened almost in reaction to his expectations. What began as a solitary project during a break from his other band, Regional Justice Center, was never intended to become a full-fledged group. His move from Washington to Los Angeles was an attempt to distance himself from his previous musical work. While the band unexpectedly gained popularity within the hardcore scene, Shelton chose a different path. He abandoned the tough image he’d cultivated, worked on his singing technique after a vocal injury, and subtly introduced a softer sound with an acoustic EP and some more pop-influenced singles.

Even while working on “God Save the Gun,” Blake Shelton and his band – William Acuña and Kevin Kiley on guitar, Waylon Trim on bass, and David Stalsworth on drums – created an album that felt like a complete, cinematic experience, not just a group of individual songs. Shelton initially thought he was writing from the viewpoint of someone accepting hardship, but he soon discovered he was using that as a way to hide his own feelings and avoid being too honest in his lyrics. As he puts it, every song inevitably reflects his own perspective. The resulting album, “God Save the Gun,” is a 14-track journey that reveals Shelton’s personal thoughts and experiences through a clear, unfolding story.

The album begins with the line “I’ve been slipping up” and concludes with “If you want to keep your life, you’ve got to let it go.” Shelton explains that the songs follow a distinct journey, moving purposefully between these two ideas throughout the album’s different sections.

The first three songs explore the idea of looking for happiness in the wrong places, then shift to a more personal focus. The song ‘God Owes Me Money’ specifically deals with the impact of childhood trauma and how unintentional actions can hurt others, just as the singer admits to having done. It’s about causing harm through carelessness rather than malicious intent.

Shelton explains that “God Save the Gun” delves into a personal reckoning with trauma, but unfortunately draws the wrong conclusion – believing that experiencing hardship justifies harmful behavior, like becoming an alcoholic. He describes this as a manic episode at the record’s core, followed by a descent into depression and suicidal thoughts stemming from embracing self-destruction. The song “Isaac’s Song” offers a moment of recovery, and the album ultimately aims for a hopeful resolution.

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Although “God Save the Gun” feels like a new direction for Militarie Gun, it builds on themes explored in their earlier work, like “Life Under the Gun.” For frontman Nick Shelton, the band’s music has always been about understanding his own mistakes, recognizing broader problems, and trying to work through them – both personally and, hopefully, as a society. This blend of personal struggle and social commentary is central to Militarie Gun’s songwriting, especially when it comes to owning up to errors, seeking growth, and finding forgiveness in a world quick to judge past mistakes.

Shelton believes the biggest problem with today’s culture is the pressure to appear flawless. He feels people are quick to blame others to protect themselves from criticism, or ‘cancel culture.’ He’d rather openly face consequences for past mistakes than pretend he’s never made any, because living with secrets is what he finds truly frightening. He argues it’s more honest and freeing to admit wrongdoing than to try and maintain a perfect image.

Militaire Gun will be playing at Oblivion in Los Angeles this Thursday at 7 p.m. to celebrate the release of their new record, “God Save the Gun.”

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2025-10-16 20:01