Full-time musicians can do more than just play in a band. Groups also need technicians to make sure their gear, mixes and AV are working at their best. This is a space that Josh Mathis occupies, for at least for part of the year.
This Reno drummer is known to local audiences from his time in the metal bands Walk Away Alpha (2010 to 2016) and Fervence (2017 to 2022), and the new ’90s-themed alternative rock cover band As If, which recently headlined the Sunday lineup of the Reno River Festival.
He’s also played for Bay Area band Cyborg Octopus since 2016, a role that he was recommended for by a close friend and the group’s former drummer, Jared Klein. (Previously a Reno resident, Klein now lives in British Columbia and drums for the Pennsylvania band Rivers of Nihil.)
When he’s not behind the drums, Mathis is prepping them for other artists. His most recent tech gig was his largest yet—for popular metal bands All That Remains and Born of Osiris on their East Coast and Midwest tour from late April through late May.
“It’s one of those things where you’re just like, ‘Why am I here?’ It’s all of these people who I’ve been listening to and I’ve loved forever, and I’m standing in a circle with them, and we’re talking about dumb shit,” Mathis said with a laugh. “Like, none of the conversations are smart. Everybody’s like talking shit and having a good time.”
Mathis was able to join the All That Remains tour through his friend Jeff Saltzman, who is the Massachusetts metal band’s current touring drummer. Mathis had toured as a fill-in drummer with two bands, Aenimus and Summoning The Lich, on a 2022 national tour with Saltzman’s main band, Allegaeon.
“I told Jeff before that I was thinking of getting into tech-ing,” Mathis said. “Especially playing the kind of music that I play, it’s not very conducive to having money. A tech gig is just way more money, and it’s way less stress than going out for six weeks with a band and having to learn all of their songs.”
Mathis had to set up, tear down and maintain Saltzman’s drum kit during the tour. He also had a special role during the band’s set, as he would begin and end computer playback for each of All That Remains’ songs during its set. The computer files that Mathis would run include count-in clicking for each track’s tempos, keyboard parts and studio-created sound effects.
“This was the first time I’ve ever done playback, and it was like a massive band, so I was terrified,” he said. “But it was super-easy. They made it so simple for me. It was literally just push space bar, push space bar.”
It also made for a fun in-tour joke that ended up on the bands’ social media.
“So many people would just take a picture of me and be like, ‘You’re crushing that space bar. You’re killing it,’” Mathis said.
Mathis pointed out that everyone on All That Remains’ tech crew has more than one role on a given day.
“I build the drums, but when we’re doing changeover (between bands), my job is towels, waters and setlists,” he said. “And then, checking the drum (microphones) and then checking the vocal monitors. So, all the stuff onstage, besides guitars and bass, is my responsibility for these guys. It’s kind of a lot of hats, but once you get in the flow of things, everything is just kind of like a sequence.”
Mathis said most of the tour venues seated 1,000 to 1,500 people, with two big exceptions: Welcome to Rockville in Florida on May 7, and Sonic Temple in Ohio, on May 16. Both are large, hard rock festivals with tens of thousands of attendees.
“You’re so focused on doing your job, and then I would finally get the band set up and would look up and see how many freaking people there were,” Mathis said. “It’s just like a fucking sea of people. I thought, ‘I cannot believe that there’s this many people here.’”
Mathis will be back on the road as a tech for All That Remains this weekend when they play a Warped Tour date in Washington, D.C. Cyborg Octopus is also touring in the West in July, with Mathis’ former group Fervence (who now live in Texas) joining them.
For a chunk of the summer, though, Mathis is decompressing, which is something he acknowledged can be difficult.
“Going home, it’s always great to see my wife (Melissa),” he said. “It’s always great to see my animals and stuff. But after a couple of days, it kind of just falls off a cliff. It’s like I just want to be by myself for a couple of days and just try to figure out what I need to do next.”
Punk band No Assumption brings the brotherly love
Before I tell you about the first EP from Reno band No Assumption, I have to spell out their family ties right up front. The group was formed by Rick Charles, bassist, and Tyler Charles, lead guitarist and Rick Charles’ younger brother. It also includes Landon Charles, drummer and Rick Charles’ son. Zach Coleman, vocalist and guitarist, is Landon Charles’ half-brother.
Got that?
“We just love playing music together and being able to hang out,” Rick Charles said. “It’s been really good for our family bonds.”
That good-natured fun comes through loud and clear on Dude, You Ruined It!, No Assumption’s four-song EP released on May 29 to streaming services (with CDs on the way for sale at shows).
Two songs, the title track and “Golly,” were recorded by Rick Spagnola at Dogwater Studios in Reno, while the other two—“Wendy” and “DTFMO”—are live recordings from their practice space, recorded by Just Punk Enough’s Andy Harrison.
“They were both so different, which I think is cool,” Coleman said of each session. “It’s just fun seeing how they both do the same thing in their own ways and the different sounds we can get from both of them.”
No Assumption’s recorded output so far is definitely in the melodic punk vein, but there are other influences in there, especially when they play more songs live. The group started in March 2025 and first started performing in September, including at all-ages spots like Holland Project and The Greenhouse.
“I think the one (genre) that has stuck with me is skate punk/emo,” Coleman said.
Said Tyler Charles: “I also think some of our stuff is more hardcore—some of the stuff we haven’t recorded yet. There are some elements of metal in it.”
This diversity in the sound helps No Assumption stand out among the many punk bands in the Reno scene, and it’s by design.
“We’re just really doing what we love and making the music that comes from our hearts,” Landon Charles said.
Added Coleman: “Yeah, I think we’re staying authentic and just making what comes naturally.”
The band’s next shows include Shoe Tree Brewing’s fifth anniversary show on Saturday, June 13, at their Carson City location and a soon-to-be-announced show with other punk bands in July at 4th St. Brewery/Coffee Bar. You can learn more about the band’s shows and music at its Instagram site.
Punk Rock Pride returns with more music
For its third year, Punk Rock Pride is expanding. This year’s event, put together by the Reno Punk Rock Flea Market, is from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 20, at Note-Able Music Therapy Services, 2590 Orovada St. There’s a $5 entry fee.
“I think it’s going to be grander in scale than it was last year,” said Johnny Simon, a board member for the Punk Rock Flea and one of the Pride organizers.
This means there will be more live entertainment than in past years. The lineup includes bands Hardcore Brunch, The Zines, Name Change Form and Creature Feature. There’s also a performance from Red Lip Rebellion—the city’s Rocky Horror shadowcast—and two burlesque groups, Metalesque and Dog Haus. Punk Rock Pride also includes art vendors, food trucks and live interactive art.
Simon said the event gives the Punk Rock Flea “an opportunity to provide a DIY space for queer artists here in town.” He added that the audience in past years has been diverse, from younger LGBTQ people to allies of all ages.
“We try to brand ourselves as inclusive—with the exception of intolerance,” Simon said.
To get more details on the event, visit the Reno Punk Rock Flea Market website.
All the news on the scene that fits
Which, admittedly, isn’t a ton for twice a month. But, hey … I still want to hear about your band, interesting show, album release or anything associated with the Reno music scene. Email me the details at markearnestwriter@gmail.com, or let’s be pals at my Instagram page.