ALL AGES
FEATURING PERFORMANCES FROM FIVE EIGHT & PINEYE, PLUS A SCREENING OF WEIRDO & Q&A WITH THE BAND
Hailing from the legendary music town of Athens, Georgia, Five Eight is a band that has turned personal chaos into cathartic rock anthems for over three decades. Fronted by the fearless and emotionally raw Mike Mantione—a self-described manic depressive whose songwriting pulls no punches—the band became a cult favorite by channeling raw nerves into razor-sharp emo-infused rock.
Formed in the late ’80s, Five Eight first made waves with their 1989 cassette Passive-Aggressive, a fitting title for a debut that blended ferocious energy with deep introspection. Alongside Mantione, the band’s long-standing core included bassist Dan Horowitz, guitarist Sean Dunn, and drummer Patrick “Tigger” Ferguson—a lineup that would help shape their early, incendiary sound.
Through lineup changes, personal battles, and shifting scenes, Five Eight has remained a band of uncompromising honesty and sonic fire—a lifeline for misfits, poets, and anyone who finds beauty in the wreckage.
WEIRDO: THE STORY OF FIVE EIGHT is a feature documentary about Mike Mantione and his band Five Eight’s rollercoaster ride of a career from mental institution to touring with their heroes, R.E.M. and beyond. Director Marc Pilvinsky (editor of TORN ASUNDER: WAGING ALEX GARLAND’S CIVIL WAR and director of many music videos) spent nine years chronicling the Athens, Georgia band’s ups and downs in an attempt to figure out how a band this good, for this long, can remain relatively unknown.
PINKEYE is a raucous punk band out of Asheville, North Carolina, born in the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a garage project in Black Mountain quickly evolved into a full-throttle, no-holds-barred force of rock. The trio—Scott Sturdy (bass), Chad Clay (drums), and Joe Hooten (guitar)—harnesses the untamed energy of ‘70s punk, with all three members sharing lead vocal duties and songwriting duties, crafting a raw, gritty sound. Influenced by the likes of The Stooges, Dead Boys, and MC5, PINKEYE blends old-school punk swagger with their own fierce edge.
In the years since, PINKEYE has become a fixture on the Southeast punk circuit, lighting up venues and building a reputation for their relentless live shows. They’ve shared stages with legends like Agent Orange, Pylon Reenactment Society, and Soul Asylum, spreading their wild punk gospel to anyone who’ll listen. With a DIY attitude and a relentless passion for their craft, PINKEYE’s no-frills approach to music is unapologetically punk—always loud, always in-your-face, and always ready to rock.
PINKEYE is set to release their highly anticipated second album on August 22nd, 2025. Recorded live in the studio and produced by Kevin Boggs at Loc Level Sound in Arden, NC, the album captures the band’s raw energy and unfiltered spirit with uncompromising authenticity. This release features standout collaborations with Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers, Myles Dunder from Dr. Bacon, and the queen of the NC underground-Hope Nicholls of Fetchin’ Bones & It’s Snakes, adding bold new dimensions to PINKEYE’s gritty sound. To celebrate and support the release, PINKEYE will hit the road on tour this Fall, bringing their explosive live show to fans across the region and beyond.
