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The Story of Merchant Ships

I wanted to show some love to one of my favorite local bands I saw and grew up with in my hometown of South Bend, Indiana. I have seen Merchant Ships play and met all the members. I believe I had dinner with Jack and his family? (I may be misremembering that.) With all the research I did, I hope to have given a good run down of the band's history that is easy to follow and understand while paying respect to the boys and their work. If I messed up or missed something, let me know in the comments.
Thanks for watching my video. It means a lot.
TO THE BAND THEMSELVES: Thank you for watching. I hope to have represented your work in a positive light. Your art deserves a look at and there is always a story to tell. If you want me to take down the video, shoot me an email. Thank you for what you do and we all wish you the best.

Пікірлер: 132

  • @nicholasstutsman
    @nicholasstutsman2 жыл бұрын

    i loved this thank you

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    I hope to have told the lore in a clear and respectable fashion. Thanks for watching homie.

  • @zerx..-

    @zerx..-

    Жыл бұрын

    legend

  • @1vake496

    @1vake496

    Жыл бұрын

    the internet tough guy rises

  • @retrozz

    @retrozz

    4 ай бұрын

    mr steal your lunch money pulled up

  • @JaneSmith-so6hw
    @JaneSmith-so6hw Жыл бұрын

    This band is the sound of youth, energy, and the problems accompanying both.

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    I can see where you're going there!

  • @RowdyLpx
    @RowdyLpx11 ай бұрын

    Merchant Ships and Midwest Pen Pals helped me immensely in my healing from my mother twice abandoning our family. The pain that was expressed in Movies like Juno, Leaving Songs, and Bobby Markos Posi Talk reflected the same exact type of pain that I was feeling and when I first heard those songs it felt too coincidental and surreal to be true. Shoutout to Park Jefferson.

  • @CompletelyInadequate
    @CompletelyInadequate2 жыл бұрын

    Jack Senff is definitely a goat in the emo genre, he deserves to be on the mount rushmore without a doubt. He's been in Merchant Ships, Midwest Pen Pals, William Bonney, North Folk, and Knola just to name a few, all highly regarded and highly influential emo bands. Love this video, great stuff, incredibly jealous you got to see La Dispute so early on at local shows.

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    Dude, I was telling someone at work the same thing about him being on the mount rushmore of midwest emo! Glad you enjoyed the video. La Dispute had a certain energy I never witnessed before. Way more impactful then any of the warp tour bands I saw that year and the next two after.

  • @spiton

    @spiton

    Жыл бұрын

    And boy Rex.

  • @ianvalenzano7317

    @ianvalenzano7317

    11 ай бұрын

    Knola is one of my favorites

  • @Keeppdx82nd

    @Keeppdx82nd

    10 ай бұрын

    I mean, based off of what Jack said in that interview about being so influenced by Lions of the north sound. I would put Doyle Martin there too. His work in grown ups is unmatched in my book, and even though cloakroom is nothing like this genre, he still has my heart when it comes to emo.

  • @PravusTheKid
    @PravusTheKid Жыл бұрын

    Seeing how they signed under Empire Empire (one of my all time favorite bands) is insane

  • @wellsy_

    @wellsy_

    Жыл бұрын

    got so excited when i found that out, two of the best

  • @GHeinz
    @GHeinz2 жыл бұрын

    kind of crazy finding this in 2022. i met nick through super smash bros lol. to my recollection, somewhere in the mid-2010s he started showing up to local house tournaments/parties in west michigan. he was always a good dude to me. ironically, i was thinking about those days, really missing them, and listening to some midwest emo in my 3am nostalgia, and the rabbithole led me here. thanks for the video.

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    Throughout my research, I've seen mentioned he was (and I'm sure still is) a big fan of smash bros. Still love me some melee haha I'm glad you enjoyed the video thank you for watching!

  • @nicholasstutsman

    @nicholasstutsman

    2 ай бұрын

    yep still into melee

  • @EMOtiveHXC
    @EMOtiveHXC2 жыл бұрын

    Three things I think you missed: 1. "Ship Pals Garbage" there's a whole collection of around 25 alternate versions of songs and tracks that never were released for Merchant Ships and Midwest Pen Pals 2. Jack and Nick left Merchant Ships because they were straight edge. They caught Dwayne and Michael at a place where teenagers go to get high (Austin's House). 3. IIRC, CYLS got them to get back together. Other than that they probably missed the old band.

  • @JaneSmith-so6hw

    @JaneSmith-so6hw

    Жыл бұрын

    2. Is a pretty weak excuse, in hindsight.

  • @ashzerodude

    @ashzerodude

    Жыл бұрын

    (didn't one of them have a nazi tatoo or was that saetia?? All these bands went bad and had to cancel reunions bc of shit like that)

  • @JaneSmith-so6hw

    @JaneSmith-so6hw

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ashzerodude no relation, but I haven't heard that about a member of merchant ships. Not saying it's untrue tho.

  • @chopchop.goodbye

    @chopchop.goodbye

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ashzerodude That was Aaron Montaigne of Heroin

  • @user-lb4ew7gr2j

    @user-lb4ew7gr2j

    Жыл бұрын

    straight edge bros

  • @spaceman4805
    @spaceman4805 Жыл бұрын

    Absolutely love this bad, cried the first time I ever listened to "For Cameron"

  • @sangvinlucias5797
    @sangvinlucias5797 Жыл бұрын

    Im 28, i heard this band in 2010, and i never heard better band. Favorite and best band. Ever.

  • @deadinfebruary
    @deadinfebruary4 ай бұрын

    I would kill to be at a local show like these

  • @jameswasmynamo
    @jameswasmynamo2 жыл бұрын

    i was ready to drive 17 hours to go to that reunion show, bummer it didn't go through

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    damn! where were you going to drive from? I believe it was supposed to take place at The Well?

  • @vladimirrojas4804
    @vladimirrojas4804 Жыл бұрын

    Great memories, 2010-2012 last years at highschool, I was part of that little group of weird/rare/geek homies (I said weird cuz most of the students from public schools likes hear reggeaton and sh*ts like that, It's so damn rare find young guys hearing rock), a day finding some new music at KZread at that time, I discovered a group call "merchant ships" and damn it was so fn awesome hear the energy of this guys making music, most of his song described some sad parts, problems, etc. of my life and I'm pretty sure the people feel the same thing about this band, this video bring me great memories, ty brother PD: much love from Perú🇵🇪 to all my brothers and sisters to love this band, stay safe 🤘🏻(srry for my bad English)

  • @swagmoney6372
    @swagmoney6372 Жыл бұрын

    This band is one of the few that ever touched me so deeply

  • @isabellebread9773
    @isabellebread977311 ай бұрын

    thank you sm for this video i LOVE merchant ships

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    11 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed!

  • @deadinfebruary
    @deadinfebruary4 ай бұрын

    I absolutely adore Midwest Penpals

  • @Clowanda
    @Clowanda5 ай бұрын

    Also Midwest pen pals is just so fkn good

  • @joshuasickbert3682
    @joshuasickbert3682 Жыл бұрын

    love this, ty. breaks my heart i lived an hour away and never knew about this genre yet or this beauiful scene existing :/ then the reunion show a few years back got canceled . bleh.

  • @potatoid-0158
    @potatoid-01588 ай бұрын

    kinda crazy to see how legendary they became. i remember listening to for cameron when i was in middle school. i always thought i stumbled on some hidden gem and never shared them with anyone lol

  • @Clowanda
    @Clowanda5 ай бұрын

    I love merchant ships ❤

  • @burlingtoncoat1
    @burlingtoncoat1Ай бұрын

    the fact that i found “for cameron” right after cameron left me :,(

  • @j.parker25
    @j.parker25 Жыл бұрын

    i really love these 'story of' videos! hope to see more :)

  • @melancholyisok
    @melancholyisok Жыл бұрын

    i found these bands and songs in 2016~2017 and i will take this for the rest of my life. thanks for it :))

  • @Raitor33
    @Raitor3311 ай бұрын

    Great work! Absolutely demolisging band. Good Weekend is one of my fav emo songs of all time and Inside Jokes is still unmatched imo.

  • @tortaahogada9685
    @tortaahogada9685 Жыл бұрын

    This video is great!!. Listening dying from merchant ships, then movies like juno from midwest penpals, then the line "I wonder if she's heard those songs I wrote about her?" From sailor heart in "phone call #1" makes me appreciate Jack so much, musically and as a person, I can't stress how hard his music hits me. Fucking awsome. (Sorry for my english, not a native speaker).

  • @SarahxElizvbeth
    @SarahxElizvbeth7 ай бұрын

    it some ways it feels like a certain part of my musical life is somehow intrinsictly connected to jack projects. from designing some merchant ships merch, playing fill in bass once with them, playing RPMP and Cabana House, hanging out at the house (including when If A Bear Is Hungry got recorded), and playing bass on one of the Boy Rex albums. (and playing the first last WB show.) … jack changed the local scene as a kid and didn’t even know the impact he was going to have.

  • @painted_knee
    @painted_knee6 ай бұрын

    Woah, i started listening to them recently and immediately fell in love with their music. Thank you for sharing this story

  • @elmejorveranodemivida
    @elmejorveranodemivida2 жыл бұрын

    Great video! You reminded me of myself and my friends searching for merchant ship information on many blogs years ago. Good times

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hell yeah man! that's what I hope a lot of others feel also. I remember getting stoked when new updates came from local band's tumblrs.

  • @benjaminherrington8124
    @benjaminherrington81245 ай бұрын

    being a total outsider in this scene, i totally feel like i missed out on great experiences just because I was born a decade later and about 500 miles away haha, =)

  • @Daniel-oq7xy
    @Daniel-oq7xy11 ай бұрын

    This is great, I'm excited to watching your other videos on these bands I loved

  • @FREDSPASSWORD
    @FREDSPASSWORD Жыл бұрын

    This is so informative and well put together. I learned so many things and genuinely had my mind blown by a lot of the info in here. Thanks for this and great work!

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @cassiopeia3429
    @cassiopeia34292 жыл бұрын

    great video! merchant ships is one of my favorite bands of all time, hands down, and it's good to hear other people have such a passion for them!

  • @Jeffppuckett
    @Jeffppuckett2 жыл бұрын

    Well done! Thank you for putting this together.

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! It's always good to record history. I'm happy you enjoyed.

  • @Arty.m8907
    @Arty.m89076 ай бұрын

    Thank you I’ve been listening to them for years not religious but here and there but never got into the lore !

  • @roaddawwgg
    @roaddawwgg16 сағат бұрын

    There's a lot of videos for a small town like South Bend... Not as many videos were taken in Saginaw I think...

  • @roaddawwgg

    @roaddawwgg

    16 сағат бұрын

    I wonder if the members ever get back together and talk any more. My name's Nick and he looks JUST LIKE Mike ursuy two doors down from me. He was really good at piano but never went to shows

  • @bliccyy
    @bliccyy Жыл бұрын

    reminds me of marietta

  • @pbdparkbiz602
    @pbdparkbiz60211 ай бұрын

    It is so crazy to see this scene getting some attention. It was interesting times.

  • @herbertmorales333
    @herbertmorales333 Жыл бұрын

    I still can’t believe Lil B sampled Midwest Pen Pals

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    HAHAHA BASED.

  • @shilobuchnik9728
    @shilobuchnik9728 Жыл бұрын

    Terrific work, one of my fav bands :>

  • @hayestucker1040
    @hayestucker10402 жыл бұрын

    thank you, merchant ships is my favorite band.

  • @barryoffeastenders
    @barryoffeastenders11 ай бұрын

    0:15 Those denim hot pants, man 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤣

  • @lukehudson4482

    @lukehudson4482

    9 ай бұрын

    straight up! Jesus Christ.

  • @bloodvi4l
    @bloodvi4lАй бұрын

    This is amazing

  • @Tuuwa7
    @Tuuwa79 ай бұрын

    awesome video. thank you

  • @Karss
    @Karss Жыл бұрын

    Wow, this is crazy long live merchant ships

  • @car_guy25carlover28
    @car_guy25carlover282 жыл бұрын

    This is beautiful thank you 😊

  • @Karss
    @Karss Жыл бұрын

    Damn that ending is what I realized why I liked merchant ships

  • @emilyfay3843
    @emilyfay38432 жыл бұрын

    Great awesome video Kaz! 🥰

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! 🤗

  • @ethanksiazek5548
    @ethanksiazek5548 Жыл бұрын

    this guy is doing God’s work

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    HAHAHA I appreciate the comment and your support dude

  • @ready2die947
    @ready2die94710 ай бұрын

    Thank you

  • @importedtv
    @importedtv8 ай бұрын

    They weren’t committed. They could’ve been the next Saves the Day.

  • @lexus_offroad_adventures
    @lexus_offroad_adventures Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for putting this together.

  • @noecovolan4317
    @noecovolan43173 күн бұрын

    "I don't know much about screamo" and then proceed with citing the most obscure sreamo bands

  • @imliterallysostupid7781
    @imliterallysostupid7781 Жыл бұрын

    Great video man

  • @pilphantom
    @pilphantom Жыл бұрын

    damn i didn’t know two of my favorite bands have shared members… i knew the voice sounded familiar

  • @jommeez
    @jommeez10 ай бұрын

    the GOAT

  • @unjusttv6383
    @unjusttv6383 Жыл бұрын

    Dude good shit. I love merchant ships.

  • @ThePkFreeze
    @ThePkFreeze Жыл бұрын

    best part of high school by far

  • @plzineedtogowayrn6353

    @plzineedtogowayrn6353

    4 ай бұрын

    ong

  • @ZWillis12
    @ZWillis122 жыл бұрын

    Great video Kaz!

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you bro! I hope you are very well!

  • @ZWillis12

    @ZWillis12

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@KazonYT Same to you homie!

  • @MrChaoticPants
    @MrChaoticPants2 жыл бұрын

    Please more midwest emo video essays

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    I got more on the way :)

  • @plzineedtogowayrn6353
    @plzineedtogowayrn63534 ай бұрын

  • @flipflopin8442
    @flipflopin8442 Жыл бұрын

    Need some William Bonney love

  • @artstar5994
    @artstar5994 Жыл бұрын

    BEST SCREAMO BAND PERIOD...

  • @bbgunbryant4229
    @bbgunbryant42292 жыл бұрын

    Can you do a deep dive on the emo band Mallard

  • @jameswasmynamo

    @jameswasmynamo

    2 жыл бұрын

    hey nice they played my basement! not sure i could add much to this idea though. they played a great set, but went on their way (like the mallard..)

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    I looked into them yesterday after reading your comment. Loving their of the Thick project! I'll need to look into their lore but they are on the list.

  • @bbgunbryant4229

    @bbgunbryant4229

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@KazonYT I picked them because they have the same kind of cult following status like merchant ships

  • @scottdollenmeyer7799
    @scottdollenmeyer7799 Жыл бұрын

    You should do grown ups, more songs is easily one of the greatest albums of all time and it’s the band after lion of the north

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    TRUUUUUUUUUUUUTH! I listen to grown ups a lot. They are most definitely on the list.

  • @rezzydalunat1k
    @rezzydalunat1k Жыл бұрын

    I actually made that wiki about Jack Senff that you linked in the desc and submitted it to Wikipedia, unfortunately, it got denied and it got uploaded as an unofficial wiki. I hope I can get Jack an official page soon lol

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your contribution to the cause friend! That would be great, he deserves one.

  • @SundayLiquid
    @SundayLiquid Жыл бұрын

    Bro it's gonna be a major fucking bummer if you don't make a video on snowing.

  • @j.parker25
    @j.parker25 Жыл бұрын

    could you do the story of 'reasons'? their song 'i waited for you' is one of the most beautiful songs i've heard

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    Reasons comes up quite often. I’ve been meaning to look into them. Thanks for the suggestion!

  • @BillyRamirez
    @BillyRamirez Жыл бұрын

    1:30 Hooooooooly smokes. It took me about 11 extra minutes to watch this video because I just had to hunt down and listen to this EP.

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    Lion of the North. Legends.

  • @demarcykelfora
    @demarcykelfora Жыл бұрын

    great video :>

  • @hayestucker1040
    @hayestucker10402 жыл бұрын

    does anyone know about the Bola Fonja songs/EPs? it's mainly Jack and Nick, and the band We Are The Colossus, I know Jack was in that but idk who else was

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    kzread.info/dron/ck_6ufgQlbAmLG7Cquii_w.htmlvideos Here are some of the songs from Bola Fonja. Also some Park Jefferson goodies. Also, Here is something I just found. "Jack Senff: Bola Afonja was a collaborative effort between Nick and I at the end of 2008, maybe sometime in 2009 (early), but otherwise a long time ago (i think right before that EP with Luck and Long Term). Back when myspace was cool, a lot of scene girls/guys would post extremely ridiculous things on their profiles…and so, we copied and pasted what we thought was “too much” into Word, hit record, and Nick played guitar while I/we sang it. These are, for the most part, totally unrehearsed and recorded the first time we actually played it. Listening to it now I have no idea how they turned out this well, and I think it’s because of this band I’m still best friends with Nick. The Bola Afonja discography includes the LOVE EP, which has five of the above mentioned songs, and then the LOVE EP b sides, which includes a Puddle of Mud cover and three originals. Pretty sure this is the best improvisational acoustic music you’re going to find, and thank goodness it’s from your Merchant Broz" Hopefully you learn something cool from this!

  • @hayestucker1040

    @hayestucker1040

    Жыл бұрын

    @@KazonYT thank you! I love finding out things about them

  • @fuchsia4326
    @fuchsia4326 Жыл бұрын

    you forgot the secret side project william bonney

  • @thatclassypenguin
    @thatclassypenguin11 ай бұрын

    I love you

  • @mattt1585
    @mattt158511 ай бұрын

    That tumblr post @ 10:03 is that “next” band Jack’s referring to William Bonney?

  • @crebafurros
    @crebafurros7 ай бұрын

    I love this video, where did you find the blink 182 cover?

  • @crebafurros

    @crebafurros

    7 ай бұрын

    Nevermind I found it haha kzread.info/dash/bejne/o391mdiula7ff7Q.htmlsi=V-4CqbMvqITq6Bdb

  • @noluntas
    @noluntas2 жыл бұрын

    👏👍

  • @Lazzyrus
    @Lazzyrus2 жыл бұрын

    Hey just so you know, you forgot one little detail about that Podcast and that was that Jack had been in a band before Merchant Ships called "We Are The Colossus"

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes! Honestly, I debated on adding We are the Colossus before recording the voice over process but left it out because I solely wanted to capture Merchant Ships's legacy from the start. Now if I plan on working on a Jack Senff retrospective, we're starting there. Good catch! I love that podcast episode.

  • @Lazzyrus

    @Lazzyrus

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@KazonYT Can't wait to see that video!! Subscribed so I can see more video essays on my favorite underground bands.

  • @ncwrrn
    @ncwrrn10 ай бұрын

    Where is the Hospital they talk about skating at? Anyone know?

  • @DevinRyanVitek
    @DevinRyanVitek3 ай бұрын

    What happened to Dwayne?

  • @whatburnsneverreturns
    @whatburnsneverreturns Жыл бұрын

    Correct me if im wrong, but i dont think for cameron was ever released on cd, only vinyl and cassete tapes

  • @KazonYT

    @KazonYT

    Жыл бұрын

    www.discogs.com/release/6159197-Merchant-Ships-For-Cameron From this discogs page, the EP was released on cdr by the band themselves. There wasn't a lot printed I'm sure.

  • @Branchofsin
    @Branchofsin Жыл бұрын

    Who was the vocalist of this band?

  • @Branchofsin

    @Branchofsin

    Жыл бұрын

    Nvm it was Jack lol

  • @erickzavala1031
    @erickzavala1031 Жыл бұрын

    you should do father figure the band

  • @thenewweirdos4624
    @thenewweirdos4624 Жыл бұрын

    You mentioned MAKE ME??? no. Absolutely no way.

  • @syb552baez7
    @syb552baez7 Жыл бұрын

    He sounds like a better version of Corey Lockwood

  • @burdenofhappiness
    @burdenofhappiness Жыл бұрын

    Hey , not to sound racist or anything but this anyone what happened to black guy that was the drummer?

  • @spinjitzumasta
    @spinjitzumasta4 ай бұрын

    drinkinmusicisbetterthansobermusicunlessnooneleseisdoingit