Hardcore Punk Band DRAIN is Kicking Off Its Biggest Tour Yet in Dallas

Hardcore does not usually begin with coffee. But for DRAIN vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro, the most exciting part of launching the band’s biggest headlining tour yet will not be the size of the stages, but the mornings before shows.

“I get a month to hang out with my best friends,” Ciaramitaro tells the Observer. “We wake up and get coffee together every day. You don’t get that in normal life.”

DRAIN will kick off those morning coffee rituals with its “…Is Your Friend” Tour on March 19 at AM/FM (formerly known as Ferris Wheelers) in Dallas, along with a supporting lineup of No Pressure, Haywire and Secret World.

The North Texas date is particularly ceremonial, as it marks the beginning of the largest tour DRAIN has headlined, venue-wise. A stop at AM/FM is fitting for such an occasion, with the open-air venue’s stages sitting close to the crowd, allowing DRAIN’s sonic chaos to feel contained yet combustible.

“These are some of the biggest rooms we’ve ever done,” Ciaramitaro says. “Most of them are around a thousand capacity. Hardcore is bigger than ever.”

Formed in Santa Cruz, California, in 2014, DRAIN built its name through relentless touring and a live show that merges classic hardcore intensity with a distinctly positive ethos. Early releases like “California Cursed” as well as the band’s 2023 full-length, Living Proof, expanded the band’s reach without abandoning the genre’s core aggression. For years, the members balanced service industry jobs with self-booked tour runs, often driving themselves and selling their own merchandise.

“We were freaking out when we were getting a hundred dollars a night,” Ciaramitaro says. “That meant we didn’t lose money.”

The shift came while recording Living Proof and preparing for their first European tour. “We just full sent it,” Ciaramitaro recalls of the band’s creative process at the time.

That leap forward aligned with a wider explosion in hardcore. Bands that once packed cramped, DIY rooms were landing festival slots and headlining larger venues, and DRAIN found itself moving with that wave rather than chasing it. Now, they’re bringing their third record — which shares a name with the tour and was released in November of last year — to life with the help of a larger audience.

“It’s crazy that we can be the same band, play the same songs, and then also play these festivals,” Ciaramitaro says. “People can tell something’s happening.”

Still, the foundation remains rooted in the hardcore community — the upcoming tour package reflects that. DRAIN and tourmates No Pressure had discussed hitting the road together for years before finally aligning schedules. Haywire previously opened a handful of shows and left a lasting impression. DRAIN connected with Secret World, a band from Australia, while playing overseas. The “…Is Your Friend” run marks their U.S. tour debut.

For Ciaramitaro, Texas has consistently delivered some of the band’s most memorable nights. He jokes that Dallas sometimes looks slow on paper, only to erupt once the doors open.

“Every time we play Texas, it ends up being one of the best shows,” he says. “Everyone’s always been so good to us.”

The band’s past Texas visits have included first-time stops at Buc-ee’s and summer breaks at Austin’s Barton Springs between dates. The memories extend beyond the stage, but the energy in the room is what keeps the band coming back. As their tour begins in Dallas, the goals are still as straightforward as ever: bring along great bands, play hard and stay grateful.

As for how Ciaramitaro would describe DRAIN to someone unfamiliar? He keeps that straightforward, too.

“DRAIN is your friend,” he says.

DRAIN’s “…Is Your Friend” Tour kicks off March 19 at AM/FM Backyard. Doors for the all-ages show open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available now.