The Southern California band has been together in one form or another since 2015, blending psychedelic garage rock, punk, surf, indie, and improvisation into a sound that’s difficult to categorize but impossible to ignore. Their songs often shift gears unexpectedly, from melodic passages into explosive bursts of energy without warning.
Frontman Dylan cracked us up with this description:
“It’s like Teletubbies being shoved into a garbage disposal.”
We sat down with Dylan (vocals), Louis (guitar), Kelly (bass), and Joshua (drums).
Watch the full interview below:
A Name Nobody Expected to Stick
The band’s unusual name almost never happened.
Years ago, Dylan frequented Sam Ash Music, where a sound engineer handed him a long list of possible band names. Most revolved around “ash,” but one stood out: Yesterday’s Donuts.
At first, he dismissed it. Later, while starting another project, the name resurfaced.
“It kind of gives a backyard vibe,” Dylan said. “It makes you wonder what kind of music it is.”
That’s exactly what happens. People often expect indie pop.
Instead, they’re greeted with a wall of fuzz, frantic tempos, and controlled mayhem.
Songs Built Like Group Projects
While Dylan usually arrives with the initial idea, Yesterday’s Donuts isn’t driven by a single songwriter.
Nearly every song evolves through collaboration.
One member brings the skeleton.
Everyone else adds muscle.
“It’s kind of like homework,” Louis, the guitarist joked.
The chemistry is obvious. Songs don’t stay in their original form for long, and many evolve dramatically before they’re recorded.
One example came while recording “Spit In My Mouth.”
Originally written at a slower tempo, Josh the drummer, admitted he arrived at the studio frustrated after battling traffic and fueled by 2-3 cans of Celsius. Damn bro lol.
The result?
The band sped the song up dramatically, creating a version that better matched the intensity of the moment.
Sometimes the best creative decisions happen by accident.
Live Shows Where Anything Can Happen
If there’s one song that captures Yesterday’s Donuts live experience, it’s “Nowhere.”
Rather than playing it exactly the same every night, the band uses it as a launchpad for improvisation.
Every performance becomes something different.
“I’ll watch videos back,” Dylan said. “It’s always different.”
That unpredictability extends beyond the music.
Stage dives.
Hair whipping.
Rolling across the floor. Getting kicked by Kelly. BTW, wish we were there to see that!
The band’s performances have become increasingly physical over the last few years, inspired by local acts that showed them just how contagious raw energy can be.
“I don’t even remember much after a show,” Dylan admitted. “Then they’ll show me videos.”
Built to Last
Like many independent bands, Yesterday’s Donuts has been through a number of lineup changes. Drummers have exploded and Josh is 6.5 to join the band.
Momentum has stalled.
Recording schedules have shifted.
Yet through every setback, the core of the band remained intact.
The newest addition, drummer Josh aka J0nch, had actually been following the band for years before officially joining.
Now, with a new record nearing completion, the group feels like it has regained its momentum.
Their goals are straightforward:
- Release the new album.
- Play bigger festivals.
- Continue booking more shows.
- Keep writing.
“As long as we keep writing,” Dylan said, “it’s going to hit.”
Advice for Every DIY Band
When asked what advice they’d give other musicians dealing with setbacks, the answers shared a common thread.
Don’t stop.
Keep writing.
Keep networking.
Keep showing up.
Communication matters.
Dedication matters.
Most importantly, enjoy what you’re doing.
Yesterday’s Donuts aren’t trying to stand perfectly still under stage lights.
They’re throwing themselves into every performance, embracing the unpredictability that has become part of their identity.
And after nearly a decade together, they’re proving that sometimes the bands willing to embrace the chaos are the ones worth watching.
Period. That part.
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About C² (Christy + Chris)
Concert lovers turned creators. Highlighting creators, bands, stories, sounds, and places you need to know.
Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.
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