Rock ‘n’ roll could use some fresh fire. Burn The Jukebox happily obliges. The Pennsylvania quartet—Virginia Franks [bass, vocals], Ethan Cutillo [keys, vocals], Luke Vanchure [guitar], and Carter Dennis [drums]—craft infectious, yet intricate anthems anchored by deft musicality and massive melodies. Generating over nearly 1 million streams independently, earning acclaim from the likes of Melodic Magazine, and packing shows locally, the group lives up to the ambition of their moniker with a series of 2024 singles and much more to come.

“The name means a lot to us,” observes Virginia. “It’s very rock ‘n’ roll. If a band is playing live in front of you, you don’t need a jukebox. Just burn it.”

“The feeling is, ‘Out with the old and in with the new’,” adds Ethan. “That’s what we’re doing sonically.”

Hailing from the Wilkes-Barre area of the Keystone State, Burn The Jukebox initially formed in 2020 after a mutual friend introduced Virginia and Luke. They jammed for a couple of weeks, unlocked palpable chemistry, and cemented the lineup with the addition of Carter and Ethan. These four individual musicians nodded to a host of inspirations, spanning Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Strokes, Sleep Token, Title Fight, Primus, and Jacob Collier. In between high school classes, they upheld a diligent practice regiment. Simultaneously, they engaged a growing audience with “Reboot,” “Meltdown,” “These Are The Days,” and “Hello World,” amassing hundreds of thousands of streams in the process. 2023 saw the band drop fan favorites such as “Not Me Being Crazy,” reeling in 222K Spotify streams and counting. Melodic Magazine hailed the latter as “a no-nonsense, alt-rock bop that explores heavy emotional themes,” going on to rave, “This group of younglings … brings the heat.” Along the way, they supported DMF on the “Private Party Tour” and headlined countless shows of their own. Their personalities and respective musical preferences informed a distinct and dynamic signature style.

“We all enjoy a wide range of music, and we’re willing to try multiple ideas to find out what works,” Carter says. “We’re all great friends too, which makes it even better.”

“When we get together, the goal is to create relatable music,” Luke continues. “If you can connect to what we’re singing about, we’ve done our job.”

Burn The Jukebox kickstarted 2024 with “Turbulence” and “Sugarcoat” before leveling up again on “Homesick.” The track revolves around loose and lively guitar licks and an unshakable livewire groove. A chantable chorus takes hold, “I’m feeling kind of homesick, and it’s not gonna go quick,” giving way to a fret-scorching solo.

“Luke played this funky riff, and it sparked the whole song,” recalls Ethan. “It begins chill, yet it gets heavy. So, the vibe is a double-edged sword. In terms of the lyrics, you can interpret it literally. You’re feeling far away from home, but it could have a deeper context like you don’t fit in.”

In the end, Burn The Jukebox has ignited a new flame for 21st century rock, and it’s going to blaze bright for a long time to come.

“We just want to inspire as many people as possible,” Ethan leaves off. “If you’re our age or older, the message is, ‘Anything is possible’. We’re already pursuing our dream.”