Checkpoint’s first LP was a one-person project for Erik Scerba, but the Brunswick musician has brought the album’s joyous high energy to the local live scene with help from a northern suburbs supergroup.

Drift is a peppy prog album which doesn’t just wear its pop and rock influences on its sleeve; it screams them from the rooftops. ‘Teachers pt. II‘ is literally a list of musicians whose work has influenced and shaped Scerba’s world.

Which is not to say a single beat is derivative – Checkpoint has a distinct, modern sound which immediately befriends the listener.

The band will support The Antics at The Tote later this month ahead of a European tour. If you are yet to see Checkpoint live, MELMAG/the Merri Mirror got the band’s first performance of 12-minute epic ’10th Dimension Advertisement Apocalypse’ on tape at The Curtin in January 2024.

Live band members hail from projects including Carpet Burn (Amada – keys/bass), Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice (Miranda – drums), Dragnet (Tom – bass), Hobson’s Bay Coast Guard (Chris – electronic drums and vox, also Erik – guitar and lead vox), and Pinch Points (Jordan – guitar and vox).

Video and photos from the Curtin show are below.

Photos and video: Emily Jagot Kulich

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