Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 09/19/2025

The wait is finally over. Your favorite Indianapolis-based "fake emo" band, Summerbruise, has released their long-awaited record, Infinity Guise. This is the first project put out after signing with the legendary punk label SideOneDummy Records earlier this year. In true Summerbruise fashion, Infinity Guise, perfectly rides the line between self-deprecating humor and emotional turmoil. It's emo poetry for the perpetually overwhelmed, confused, and emotionally hungover.
Among the record’s collection of smart-witted and incredibly catchy tracks, is the standout song “Cookie Monster Snapback” featuring Tades Sanville of Hot Mulligan. This song is a rare departure for them, marking their first non-autobiographical song that the band has ever written since they started making music over a decade ago.
“I’ve always been hesitant to write about anything other than my own experiences, because no one can tell you don’t know what you’re talking about,” shared lead vocalist and lyricist Mike Newman. “This one was inspired by a kid I taught in my class who was a model student in almost every way but had already been completely convinced that the best way out of his tough living situation was to become a Top G or Sigma or whatever.”
Musically, the track was born from a joke that turned into something bigger than anyone anticipated. “We’re all half-jokingly obsessed with the song “Ants Marching” by the Dave Matthews Band, and started playing it but with midwest emo chords instead. Mitch said it sounded like a Hot Mulligan song, so I started screaming the lyrics in my best Tades impression, and one thing led to another.”
Formed in 2015, Summerbruise started as a smaller project from Mike Newman (he/him) and has since grown into a full band made up of Stanli Fryman (she/her) on drums, John Parkison (them/he) on bass, and guitarists Mitch Gulish(he/him) and Cora Kunda (she/her). They now affectionately refer to themselves as Summerbruise 2.0, and under that guise this new record is their first official release as a collaborative unit.
Since the beginning, Summerbruise has been both haunted and propelled by death, most notably by two separate and significant occurrences. The first was the death of Mike’s dad in January 2017 and the second was the death of his close friend some eight months later. Both occurring just after the release of Summerbruise’s first release, the seven-track Bummer Vacation. Following that album was 2019’s Always Something, 2022’s The View Never Changes and 2024’s Better Vacation which garnered an outpouring of support from fans.
Newman’s deep, personal fear of death is very much present within the fabric of this album, where it meets humor, absurdity, and genuine connection. Recorded at producer Nick Starrantino’s Deadend Studio on Long Island, these 12 tracks play tug-of-war between Newman’s own quirky vulnerability and the steady guiding hand of his musical co-conspirators.
The full track list:
1. Making It Worse
2. What Do You Mean 'Guise'?
3. Raptured Trax, pt. IV
4. Meet Hell Halfway
5. Never Bothered
6. VAN (feat. Carpool)
7. Rusev Day (Say Hi To Kate)
8. Man! I Feel Like A Dumbass!
9. Cookie Monster Snapback (feat. Tades Sanville of Hot Mulligan)
10. Bottle Episode
11. Sad Gimmick
12. Was The Grink There?
This November the band will be heading out on tour as part of the Fake Emo Fight Night Tour with friends dear Maryanne, MooseCreek Park and Oolong. They will be visiting cities across the U.S. including Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Austin, Dallas, Orlando, Baltimore and many more. Tickets are available for purchase online.
To stay up to date on all things Summerbruise, follow them at @summerbruise69.
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