INTERVIEW: "All We Have is Each Other": Loss & Life with blue.
- Olivia Smith
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
A pop-punk trio from Milledgeville gets real about the "undying" local scene
When faced with tragedy, it’s easy to feel alone. Though the wounds of loss may never totally heal, community and art can serve as a beacon of hope. Milledgeville’s own blue. knows this truth well, and they want you to know it, too. Together, Trevor Weaver (vocals/guitar), Tyler Brantley (bass), and Gavin Glover (drums) have created a head-banging, heartfelt pop-punk project you won’t want to miss.
Weaver cites the 2000s pop-punk movement and its subsequent 2015 revival as the basis of their sound. It’s not hard to see the connection: the throbbing bass, aggressive drum fills, and bold electric guitar are peak post-grunge. “It’s a ‘Basement meets blink-182” kind of vibe,” Brantley nodded. Other major inspirations include Heart to Gold, House & Home, and No Pressure, a side project from Parker Cannon of The Story So Far.
blue. goes way, way back. “I’ve known these guys my whole life almost,” Weaver said. During their high school years, Brantley and Glover were in a band with Weaver’s older brother, Chase. Their humble beginnings were like that of countless other bands: “None of us had any money,” Brantley laughed. “I think we all bought a bunch of cheap equipment off eBay.” With a $200 Radical drum set and headstock-heavy Austin P-bass, they learned the ropes and forged their creative futures. A young Weaver watched from the sidelines, but it wasn’t long before he formed his own project with the bandmates. Thus, blue. was born.
Under, well...blue lighting, the band rocked the stage at Atlanta’s Culture Shock on Saturday. They played through 2025’s And All Things Considered EP and several other hits from their discography. The set closed with crowd-pleaser covers of “Covet” by Basement and “Numb” by Linkin Park. With the sheer massiveness of the two tracks, it can be tough to do these songs justice, but the blue. crew knocked it out of the park.
blue.’s latest single, “I Should’ve Known,” dropped the day of the show. Listeners will notice that the track opens with Bill O’Reilly’s “We’ll Do It Live” broadcast crashout. “Literally just one day at practice, I was like, ‘We should start it with a clip,’” Weaver explained. “When we were in the studio, we played it and were like ‘This is it.’” Brantley revealed that they almost utilized a different viral news clip: Isiah Carey’s (aka The Angry Reporter) speech after swallowing a bug on air.
This kind of fun collaboration is typical for the band. Brantley noted that most songs come together in about 10 minutes, but according to Glover, the process is far from over: “Two months later, it’ll be a completely different song. It just morphs from there.” With recent releases such as “Bad Luck,” the band was unsatisfied with their original demos, so they reworked each track until they pass a special test. “[We ask ourselves] ‘If I heard this, would I be adding it to my playlist?’” Weaver chuckles. Glover shares a similar sentiment in his own listening. “[The drumbeat] is what I’m always looking for, because that’ll be the first thing to catch me. I’ll hear a new song and want to replicate it as best I can.”
Thematically, much of blue.’s music revolves around grief. They dabble in the “classic” angsty topics of their genre, but early losses in Weaver and Brantley’s lives influenced their art. “I've always wanted to write music that meant something to me and that could hopefully help someone feel like someone understands what they're going through,” Weaver commented. “Anybody who is going through grief, we just want them to feel like somebody can understand what they feel.” He considers it crucial to “come to terms” with grief as soon as possible due to its inevitability. “Sooner or later, you’re gonna feel that,” Brantley agreed.
This acceptance may not be able to erase the weight of tragedy, but it certainly can open doors for new beginnings. As isolating as grief is, it’s still a universal experience. Loss will impact us all at some point, and blue. reminds us to turn to community when it comes knocking. “It’s a very nice experience when someone says our songs mean something to them,” Weaver smiled. The band shared the story of a fan-turned-friend (coincidentally named Blue) who was deeply moved by their music, and they said that strangers in the audience continually come up to them and thank them for their music. “It’s a surreal feeling, y’know?” Glover nodded.
The local scene has been good to blue., and they aim to give back as much as they can. They shouted out Atlanta-based groups like GRUDGESTEP (TB: “Another one you can’t forget. We grew up with their drummer, Tyler.”) and Intension (TW: “These guys are freaking sick. We saw them at Porchfest, and they are 100% going to be out there one day.”). Brantley expressed that, though Milledgeville’s music community has shrunk over the years, he still takes great pride in where he’s from. “We all try to lift each other up and everything because we all basically come from the same background and community.” Weaver noted that the beauty of local music is found in its persistence—it exists as an undying art form. “If you can do it, it’s almost your responsibility [to do it],” he said. “If you are a musician, you need to be contributing to other people’s success as well because it goes full circle."
In terms of next moves, “I Should’ve Known” has a music video on the way, produced by fellow Atlanta music outlet Sacred Hearts Club. We bonded over our mutual connection to ASA friend and SHC founder, Myles Ranger: “Myles is a real sweet guy,” Weaver grinned. “He’s super great, and I’m excited to have the video out” More shows and music are on the horizon, with upcoming performances listed on their website.
As 2025 comes to a close, I asked blue. to look ahead: this time next year, what do they hope to have accomplished? “Certainly some Masquerade shows,” Glover smiled. “It’s so close, I know it. It’s a good feeling.” Brantley’s future with the band is a little uncertain, but for a very exciting reason. “This is probably my last full year of actually being in the band,” he announced. “I have a daughter on the way so I’m taking some time off.” The band is currently auditioning new bassists to fill in as his role shifts.
In addition to their gnarly sound and behind-the-scenes camaraderie, blue. stands out because of their philosophy. Their Spotify bio displays an endearing message: “We’ve always been there for each other. We want to remind people of their loved ones and serve as a reminder to be there for them. All we have is each other.” Weaver expounded upon the statement, offering a deeper insight into why the band does what they do. “Being there for each other is a very important part of life,” he concludes. “At the end of the day, when you get older, you’re going to have memories to look back on, and if you don’t have other people in those memories, it’s just not as meaningful.” Through their music and mission, blue. seeks to make the world feel a little less lonely.
blue.'s new single "I Should've Known" is out now.
Article by Olivia Smith. Photos by Mikey Smith. Please credit @mts2.photo or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.
