Biography

San Francisco based rock band Pardoner was forged by members Max Freeland, Trey Flanigan, and River Van Den Berghe, who stuck together realizing they had an artful, frenetic musical connection and a truly radical friendship. Laying their foundation in 2015 while attending San Francisco State University, but really cut their teeth playing punk shows in the Bay Area, sharing a stage with bands like Meat Market, The Umbrellas and Smirk. Pardoner’s music was singular in sound, with endlessly ripping guitars and pummeling drums, propelling catchy, fun, and lyrically thoughtful hits. As their music caught on, they released a handful of records and toured the country as extensively as possible. After a few lineup changes, Colin Burris joined on bass in 2019 Pardoner became an unstoppable force of rock and roll ecstasy. 
 Pardoner’s music runs the gamut with big 90’s hooks likened to Teenage Fan Club or Smudge, wiry Devo-tinged riffs, and at points, even edging into off-the-rails US hardcore territory à la Jerry's Kids and Void. This might sound like some slacker's deranged rock-fusion vision, but they pull it off with a seamless, concrete sound with hooks that worm their way into your brain like a Cronenberg parasite. The group creates the kind of music that fires you up enough to throw a lava lamp across the living room, or simply relax to with some close friends. Pardoner leaves an impression with their well-crafted songs, mind-melting guitarmonies, and experimental elasticity.