Goodbye Academy is a three-piece band that started out as a project between Kris Ballard and Jake Shaver. The two became friends during their freshman year of college at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2017, and started the group under the name Up N’ Atoms, which relied primarily on acoustic tracks featuring the shared vocals of Shaver and Ballard. In 2022, the band gained drummer, Chase Chabaud, through what seemed like divine providence.
Chabaud “turned the attitude of the songs from wistful, introspective folk songs into expressive rock & roll,” saying, “It felt right to give the new project its own name, so we renamed the band Goodbye Academy.”
After spending the better part of three hours with the band recording a live session, it quickly became apparent that there was an innate chemistry between Ballard, Shaver, and Chabaud. Ballard, on guitar, gives an indie-alternative feel to their music. Shaver on bass, paired with Chabaud on drums, transforms their style into emo-anthems with songs like “Re: Demo” putting the core of the band’s sound into motion.
“Re: Demo” was Ballard’s first song released and his favorite to make. Chabaud said his was, “Ode to That Rat Bastard” because it was the first acoustic song that had their rock style applied to it. “It established an attitude that would carry through the production of the album,” he said. Shaver rounded out favorite tracks with the song “Coffee Filters” claiming it “has the most movement of any of [their] songs and some really fun handoffs between the guitar and bass.”
Goodbye Academy’s sound is reminiscent of early Fall Out Boy, mixed with the Front Bottoms, and the angsty storytelling of blink-182. They draw inspiration from a myriad of different acts including Fall Out Boy, Mom Jeans, My Chemical Romance, and Panic! At the Disco, to name a few.
“We… spend a lot of time together- writing and practicing in any downtime available,” the band said. “We’ll refine those ideas over one of our lunch practices and record a more put-together demo. At that point, we take it into our home practice space and try to record an updated demo with our full array of instruments.”
This album had about 30 to 40 contenders for the final cut, but after claiming to use the Rick Rubin method of starting with a bunch of songs and cutting the ones that don’t fit or aren’t finished yet, the self-titled album was finished with 13 tracks. The EP opens with a Monty Python impression done by Shaver saying, “And now, for something completely different,” which comes directly out of “Intermission (From Your Everyday Life)”. Something I absolutely loved about the group were their niche references and commentary on specific moments in popular culture.
“Flex Tape (New and Improved)” stuck out to me upon first glance from the title alone due to its silly nature. It’s clear Goodbye Academy has a lighthearted approach to the more serious topics they cover, such as depression, anxiety, and heartbreak. “Bisexual Lighting” was a concept unfamiliar to me before their music, and I cannot help but laugh at the implications of it. Shaver explained he had to fight for “Flex Tape” to be on the album in an anecdote before their set in the KLSU live room, and I’m glad it made the cut.
The energy in the room during the set was that of a group that loves to perform. They feed off of the energy of their crowd and thrive off of people passionate about music. After some successful open mic nights, the band landed a show in an entirely new market in Covington, sandwiched in between acts “Gosh Darn Dangs” and “Drug Money”. After playing to a crowd of around 100 people jamming out to their music, they immersed themselves in their music. “The vibes that night: immaculate!”
When releasing their album they said “it was surreal… a dream come true.” It took some time, starting recording in 2023, “but just bits and pieces at a time. The problem was we couldn’t get a congruent sound, track-to-track.” Those tracks became the EP “Last Minute Homework”, but there was more work to be done. “Through playing locally, we found a producer in the Baton Rouge area, Nick Maggio, and his place at Leaning Studios. Nick guided us from start to finish. He is a musician and is phenomenally talented in production. We were lucky to be able to partner with him for this record.”
You can hear the growth in the album in comparison to “Last Minute Homework”. Additions such as my favorite song, “SO LONG, SUCKERS!” Closely followed by the final version of “Drywall”, make the album. “SO LONG, SUCKERS!” Ends the album with a feeling of bittersweet nostalgia associated with growth that thematically ties the album in a neat bow.
I enjoyed their live performance immensely, laughing over a popped string during the recording, being in a room full of people who care so much about each other and the music they make together. I became a fan of theirs after listening to their self-titled album on repeat in preparation for their live room, and encourage you to do the same.
“We know that being a new and original act, only some people know us yet, but we hope people listen to and connect to our music. We all hope that you can relate to some of the lyrics and that they move you as well.”
