Blind Choice

Lehigh Valley punk rock trio Blind Choice will make their debut at The V-Spot in Scranton on Friday, Feb. 15 at 9:30 p.m., which also marks the band’s 100th live show.

Comprised of Dylan Pysher (guitar and lead vocals) and Matt Habrial (bass) of Pen Argyl and Tanner Snyder (drums) of Moscow, the young group started playing together in March of 2017 when Snyder filled in for their drummer for a benefit concert. In the last two years, they have performed all over Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut, headlining shows and playing with national acts, touring bands, and local bands in Scranton, Stroudsburg, and the Lehigh Valley.

“We are super excited about 2019 and cannot wait to hit The V-Spot’s stage,” Tanner Snyder said. “We have so many upcoming shows, including with Another Day Dawns at One Centre Square [in Easton] for their album release party on Feb. 23.”

Blind Choice impressed a panel of judges and won last year’s local neXt2rock competition, sponsored by 97.9X, at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant, earning them a spot in the national competition.

The band released their latest EP, “Mental Scars,” a few months later, the follow-up to 2017’s “Firing Squad” and their second album recorded and engineered by Bret Alexander at his studio, Saturation Acres, in Dupont.



“These songs are personal to me. They are about friendships that I have had and real emotions that I have felt,” Pysher said about “Mental Scars.”

“Our sound is changing. It’s different from our first EP, and we are creating our own tone. We are all very proud of this EP. These four new tracks represent us and our combined style very well.”

Blind Choice recently received confirmation that their song “Balance on the Floor” from “Mental Scars” will be included on the 2019 Millennium Music Conference compilation CD. It was selected out of nearly 200 tracks submitted to the annual Harrisburg conference and showcase. It was approved by a review team that includes Tony Caravan, Adverteria; Jason Shaffer, Full Tilt Recording; Brian Cronin, Mirror Image Media; and James Brown.

“We are so pumped to be on this CD with artists from all over. It’s such an honor, especially being our first year at the conference,” Psyher stated. “It will be handed out to all artists and panels at the conference. We are also playing at the conference Friday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Blarney’s at Park Inn by Radisson Harrisburg West in Mechanicsburg.”

They’ve also been nominated for seven Lehigh Valley Music Awards, including Outstanding Album, Outstanding Video, Outstanding Youth Band/Solo (Not Associated with a School), Outstanding Singer/Songwriter, Outstanding Male Artist, Outstanding Youth/Teenage Performer, and Outstanding Punk Band/Soloist. The winners will be announced at the Musikfest Café in Bethlehem on Sunday, March 3.

Blind Choice’s 100th show at The V-Spot (906 Providence Rd., Scranton), which runs from 9:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., is 18+ with a parent or legal guardian and 21+ to drink. It is $5 at the door. “Mental Scars” is available now on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, CD Baby, and all their live appearances. - NEPA SCENE

Pen Argyl punk rock trio Blind Choice will officially release their new EP, “Mental Scars,” this Friday, Oct. 12 and debut some of their new songs live at Octoberfest at Electric City Harley-Davidson in Dickson City on Saturday, Oct. 13 with Another Day Dawns and The Holtzmann Effect.

The young rockers recently won the local neXt2rock competition, sponsored by 97.9X, at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant on Aug. 25, earning the right to compete in the national competition.

Comprised of Dylan Pysher (guitar and lead vocals) and Matt Habrial (bass) of Pen Argyl and Tanner Snyder (drums) of Moscow, Blind Choice submitted a song from their new EP, “Balance on the Floor,” to neXt2rock, along with 40 other local bands. After online voting, their track was picked as one of the Top 10 and they competed live, playing three original songs for a panel of judges – 97.9X radio host Mike Duffy, Gallery of Sound owner Joe Nardone Jr., and Motionless In White singer Chris Motionless – and receiving the highest score.

“Mental Scars,” the follow-up to 2017’s “Firing Squad,” is their second EP recorded and engineered by Bret Alexander at his studio, Saturation Acres, in Dupont. Working with the award-winning musician and producer is “always an amazing experience,” the band said.

“These songs are personal to me. They are about friendships that I have had and real emotions that I have felt,” Pysher said of the lyrics he wrote.

Together, they were able to put music to these lyrics that made it all come full circle.



“Our sound is changing. It’s different from our first EP, and we are creating our own tone. We are all very proud of this EP. These four new tracks represent us and our combined style very well,” Pysher added.

Breaking down the EP song by song, Pysher wrote “Balance on the Floor” about anxiety because he has dealt with it his whole life. He thought it would be therapeutic for himself and also help others who suffer from anxiety.

“I Don’t Exist” is about when you’ve been there for a friend or someone you’ve known for a while and they completely ignore you and don’t acknowledge you whatsoever, even when you’re making the most effort to be there for them. “Stormy Night of Stray” is about when you think that you could trust someone, but they won’t tell you the truth, even though you already know the truth and it hurts.

Similarly, “Old Good Friend” is about a close friend that you spent a lot of time and memories with, then they suddenly just seemed to efface themselves and change.

Blind Choice continues to form and develop their own sound with every new original song, not only incorporating punk rock, but the sounds of alternative rock and pop punk as well.

“Mental Scars” is available now on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, CD Baby, and all their live shows. They’ll perform with previous local neXt2rock winners Another Day Dawns and The Holtzmann Effect at Octoberfest at Electric City Harley-Davidson (1534 Scranton-Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City) this Saturday, Oct. 13 from noon-5 p.m. Then they’ll play with Stay Loud at Stage West (301 N. Main Ave., Scranton) on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 9 p.m.-midnight, followed by two shows at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill (120 Lincoln St., Olyphant) on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 9 during the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade.

Learn more about their previous EP, “Firing Squad,” here. - NEPA Scene

It’s music that’s too tough to die.

Also showing how punk rock continues to survive was supporting act Blind Choice, a trio from the Slate Belt who played speed punk that was still very melodic and accessible. Drummer Tanner Snyder was very much like Richie Ramone -- fast and unrelenting. Singer/guitarist Dylan Pysher also was worthy of note, and bassist Matt Habrial completed the sound. - Morning Call