News

New Jersey ska punk firebrands Joker’s Republic have premiered their powerful new single “Stop Killing Our Friends,” taken from their latest album The Hand You’ve Been Dealt, out now on Punkerton Records.

Originally sparked by a conversation following the Fort Collins shooting, “Stop Killing Our Friends” grew into something far broader and far more urgent. The song confronts hate-fueled violence head-on, pairing sharp lyricism with the band’s trademark high-energy ska punk sound.

For vocalist and lead guitarist Austen Gray, the track also marks a deeply personal milestone.

“This is the first time I’ve ever talked about my LGBT identity in my art, specifically the ‘B,’ so for me personally, in addition to being a plea for rationality and a call to stop hate-fueled violence, it’s also a way for me to make a statement about who I am in a way I never have before,” Gray explains.

The accompanying video reinforces the song’s message through carefully researched facts and statistics, underlining the band’s commitment to substance over slogans.

“We took our time to research the statistics and make sure we weren’t just talking out of our collective asses or parroting misinformation,” Gray adds. “All in all, I think this might be my favorite song on The Hand You’ve Been Dealt*, both from a lyrical and a musical aspect.”*

Known affectionately as the “Elected Representatives of the Joker’s Republic,” the New Jersey trio have built a reputation for explosive live shows and a modern take on ska punk that balances familiarity with unexpected twists. After the vinyl release of their 2023 album Necessary Evil via Ska Punk International, plus tours and festival appearances including Punk Rock Saves Lives Fest and Ska Punk International Fest, the band returned with The Hand You’ve Been Dealt — produced by Roger Lima (Less Than Jake, Rehasher) and mixed/mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer Eric Taft.

With touring plans stretching through 2026 and a fanbase proudly dubbed the Citizens of the Joker’s Republic, the band continues to champion their rallying cry:

“One nation under Ska — and together we will save rock and roll.”