Geoff Palmer (Geoffrey Palmer born January 17, 1980, in

Wakefield, Massachusetts Wakefield is a New England town, town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston, greater Boston metropolitan area, municipal corporation, incorporated in 1812 in the United States, 1812 and located about north-nor ...

, United States), also known by the stage name Geoff Useless, is an American musician from

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on ...

, now living in

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...

. He played bass and provided backing vocals for

The Queers The Queers are an American punk rock band, formed in 1981 by Portsmouth, New Hampshire native Joseph “Joe” P. King (a.k.a. Joe Queer) along with Scott Gildersleeve (a.k.a. Tulu), and John “Jack” Hayes (a.k.a. Wimpy Rutherford). With the ...

straight out of high school, and played guitar and did lead vocals for The Guts and The Nobodys. In early 2011, he did a

folk punk Folk punk (known in its early days as rogue folk) is a fusion of folk music and punk rock. It was popularized in the early 1980s by the Pogues in England, and by Violent Femmes in the United States. Folk punk achieved some mainstream success in t ...

solo project with other musicians around Portsmouth called The Geoff Useless (Band). Currently, he co-writes songs for, and plays lead guitar in, a traditional

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

/powerpop band called The Connection. The Connection's debut album ''New England's Newest Hit Makers'' was released in the Summer of 2011. It, and subsequent releases, captured the attention of Steve Van Zandt,

E Street Band The E Street Band is an American rock band that has been the primary backing band for rock musician Bruce Springsteen since 1972. In 2014, the E Street Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For the bulk of Springsteen's recordin ...

member and creator of the popular Sirius XM Radio Station, Little Steven's Underground Garage. Over about a one-year period, Van Zandt went on to name four Connection songs "Coolest Song in the World," putting each in heavy rotation to give the band continual nationwide exposure. Geoff signed with

Stardumb Records Stardumb Records is a small independent record label based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands that was launched in 2000. It is regarded as the best known European label specializing in 1990s-style pop-punk. History Stardumb Records started its operati ...

, on August 13, 2018. In 2022, Palmer added a twist to the Ramones tribute series by covering the infamous 1989 Dee Dee King rap album '' Standing in the Spotlight''. Released on Dee Dee's birthday from

. Dee Dee's wife, Vera Ramone, who the song Baby Doll is written for, provided a quote for the LP's hype sticker: "This tribute album to the late and great DEE DEE RAMONE/KING by GEOFF PALMER is just as fun and entertaining as the original from 1989. Geoff and his bandmates have done a fantastic rendition of "Standing in the Spotlight" with a fresh and updated spin. I'm sure Dee Dee would feel honored and proud by this kind gesture, just as I am. Many thanks from both of us! - Vera Ramone King (a/k/a Baby Doll)."

Biography

Palmer was born in 1980 in Wakefield, Massachusetts, and as a teenager became the bassist for the Portsmouth, New Hampshire

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band

. He played on the band's 1998 release's '' Everything's OK'' and '' Punk Rock Confidential''. Following his departure from The Queers, he was the guitarist/singer for The Nobodys, and then his longtime band The Guts. The Guts were formed by Palmer, along with bassist Nate Doyle and drummer Rick Orcutt, when they were students at Portsmouth High School. Originally known as She's a Guy, they changed the band's name to The Guts. They released their first album ''Sensitive side of The Guts'' in 2001. In 2003 they put out their second full length ''Say Goodbye to Fun'' and the EP ''So What If We're On DBD?'' After going on a hiatus, the band reformed in 2006, and did a worldwide tour, with stops in America, Canada, and Europe, adding Courtney Denison, of The Lanterns, as their second guitarist for the European dates. That year they re-released all their old material in a compilation called ''Sometimes You Just Can't Win'', and put out a new EP called ''Mucho Punk Rock N' Roll''. In 2007, the band played

Insubordination Fest Insubordination Fest was an American annual punk rock music festival held in Baltimore, Maryland, that usually took place over three days, in late June. The festival started in 2006 as a tenth-anniversary showcase for Insubordination Records, ...

, where in addition to doing a set of their own, did sets backing up

Screeching Weasel Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums) founded in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Pierson (music ...

singer

Ben Weasel Benjamin Foster (born April 8, 1968), also known as Ben Weasel, is an American musician best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock band Screeching Weasel. Early life Foster was born in 1968, and was raised in Prospect Heigh ...

, and former Queers singer Wimpy Rutherford. CD/DVD sets from the show, of The Guts, and Wimpy Rutherford with The Guts, were released on

Insubordination Records Insubordination is the act of willfully disobeying a lawful order of one's superior. It is generally a punishable offense in hierarchical organizations such as the armed forces, which depend on people lower in the chain of command obeying orders ...

in 2008. That year they would also release what would be their last full-length album, ''Let it Go'', which was recorded at

Butch Vig Bryan David "Butch" Vig (born August 2, 1955) is an American musician, record producer, and songwriter who is the drummer and co-producer of the rock band Garbage. Producer of the diamond selling Nirvana album ''Nevermind'' (1991), Vig also pro ...

Smart Studios Smart Studios was a recording studio located in Madison, Wisconsin. It was set up in 1983 by Butch Vig and Steve Marker to produce local bands. The studio produced bands such as Killdozer, The Smashing Pumpkins, L7, Tad, Nirvana, Hawthorne H ...

. Geoff Palmer released his first solo album ''Don't Stop'' in 2010. Palmer started The Connection in 2011 with Brad Marino. The band has toured Europe twice and has gained an avid following in the

Power Pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a subgenre of rock music and form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, ...

musical genre, playing shows with The Flamin' Groovies, Mark Lindsay, Richie Ramone, The Figgs, Muck and The Mires, the legendary

Paul Collins (musician) Paul Vincent Collins (born 1956) is an American writer, author, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his work in the power pop groups The Nerves, The Breakaways and The Beat. Biography Collins was born in New York Ci ...

The Nerves The Nerves were an American power pop trio, formed in San Francisco in 1974 and later based in Los Angeles, featuring guitarist Jack Lee (musician), Jack Lee, bassist Peter Case, and drummer Paul Collins (musician), Paul Collins. All three memb ...

and The Paul Collins Beat. The Connection's song "

Seven Nights to Rock "Seven Nights to Rock" is a classic rockabilly song written by Buck Trail, Henry Glover, and Louis Innis. It was originally recorded by Moon Mullican on January 26, 1956, and has been covered by a number of diverse artists. History "Seven Nights to ...

" was picked by

Steven Van Zandt Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin. He has appeared i ...

and his SiriusXM radio show "Little Steven's Underground Garage" as the "Coolest Song in The World" for the week of August 12, 2012. The band went on to receive "Coolest Song" honors and saturation airplay three more times over the next year with the original Marino/Palmer compositions "Comes 'n' Goes," 4/7/13, "Crawling From The Wreckage of A Saturday Night," 7/8/13, and "Girls In This Town," 9/1/13. In early 2014, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum selected The Connection to perform at its 11th annual "It's Only Rock and Roll" Spring Benefit to "an exclusive audience of 1,000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame VIPS." The event will take place at Cleveland's Public Hall (Auditorium), the same venue at which the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony sometimes is held. Daryl Hall and John Oates are slated to perform later in the evening. Proceeds from the May 10, 2014, event go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's music education activities. In 2012, Palmer founded Collector's Club Records with fellow New England musician

Kurt Baker Kurt Baker (born 7 October 1988) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a fullback or wing for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR). Between 2008 and 2022, Baker played for the New Zealand Sevens team in 233 World R ...

. The label has released albums and singles by The Connection, Baker, and Wimpy and The Medallions, which features the original vocalist for

Wimpy Rutherford. In November 2013, Brad Marino, Geoff Palmer ( The Connection) and Kurt Baker recorded a two-track CD as The New Trocaderos. On March 3, 2014, the New Trocaderos track "The Kids" was named a "Coolest Song In The World" on SiriusXM radio show "Little Steven's Underground Garage". In September 2014, the trio recorded a second New Trocaderos EP entitled "Kick Your Ass." On January 4, 2015, the song "Dream Girl" was named a "Coolest Song In The World." This was the thirteenth time (including four Kurt Baker "Coolest Songs" and one Kris Rodgers "Coolest Song") that a song featuring Palmer went on to receive "Coolest Song" honors. On August 13, 2018, Geoff signed with

and released five albums with them to date.

Discography

The Queers

*'' Everything's OK'' –

(1998)

Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an American independent record label in Van Nuys, California. History Hopeless Records was founded in 1993 by Louis Posen. The label's artists are generally considered to fall under the genres of punk rock, pop punk, post-ha ...

*'' Punk Rock Confidential'' –

(1998) Hopeless Records *"Split 7inch with The Adam Age" (2009)

Asian Man Records Asian Man Records is a DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established in May 1996. History Asian Man ...

The Nobodys

*''I've Been Everywhere'' – The Nobodys (2000)

Suburban Home Records Suburban Home Records and Distribution is a record label based in Denver, Colorado, United States. The label was founded in 1995 by Virgil Dickerson, and is known for focusing on vinyl releases and bands in the pop-punk and alt-country genres. Its ...

JJ Nobody and The Regulars

*"Rock 'n' Roll Doesn't End At 2:00" (2001)

The Drunken Cholos

*''Livin La Vida Loca'' – The Drunken Cholos (2001)

The Guts

*''O.F.S.C.'' (Single) (2023) *''Sensitive side of The Guts'' (LP) (2001) *''Say Goodbye to Fun'' (LP) (2003) *''So What If We're On DBD?'' (EP) (2003) *''Sometimes You Just Can't Win'' (Compilation) (2006) *''Mucho Punk Rock N' Roll'' (EP) (2006) *''Stickin' With It'' (split w/ The Prozacs) (EP) (2007) *''Let it Go'' (LP) (2008) *''

2007'' (Live) (2008) *''

2007'' (w/ Wimpy Rutherford) (Live) (2008) *''A Safe Return to the Forest'' (split w/ The Jizz Kids) (EP) (2009) *''Songs Of Freedom'' (LP) (2012)

Solo

*''Tell Me What – EP'' – Geoff Useless (2009) Livid Records *''Don't Stop'' – Geoff Useless / Geoff Palmer (2010) Livid Records *''This One's Gonna Be Hot – Vinyl EP'' – Geoff Palmer (2019) Vinyl (

) *''Pulling Out All The Stops'' LP – Geoff Palmer (2019) Vinyl (

)/ CD (Rum Bar) *''Many More Drugs – Vinyl EP'' – Geoff Palmer (2021) Vinyl (

) *''Charts & Graphs'' LP – Geoff Palmer (2021) Vinyl (

)/ CD (Rum Bar) *''Standing in the Spotlight'' LP – Geoff Palmer (2022) Vinyl / CD (

) *''An Otherwise Negative Situation'' LP – Geoff Palmer (2023) Vinyl / CD (

) *''Live At Punk Rock Raduno'' LP – Geoff Palmer (2024) Vinyl - Punk Rock Raduno Records *''Kodak Flash'' 12 inch EP – Geoff Palmer (2025) Vinyl (

)

Geoff Palmer & Lucy Ellis

*''In Spite of Ourselves'' single – Geoff Palmer & Lucy Ellis (2020) *''"Your Face is Weird"'' - album – Geoff Palmer & Lucy Ellis (2020) vinyl Stardumb / CD Rum Bar

The Connection

*''Stop Talking EP'' – The Connection (2011) Fun With Asbestos Records *'' New England's Newest Hit Makers'' – The Connection (2011) Collector's Club Records *'' Seven Nights To Rock EP'' – The Connection (2012) Collector's Club Records *''split with The Cry'' – The Connection (2013) Mooster Records * "The Connection" – ''The Connection'' (2013) King Yum Records * " Crawling from the Wreckage of a Saturday Night" – ''The Connection ''Collector's Club Records * "Let It Rock" – ''The Connection ''(2013) King Yum Records * "Wish You Success" – ''The Connection ''(2018) * "Just For Fun" – ''The Connection ''(2016) * "Labor of Love" – ''The Connection ''(2015) * "A Christmas Gift For" – ''The Connection ''(2014)

Kurt Baker

*"''Rock N Roll Club''" CD/LP (2023) (

Wicked Cool Records Renegade Nation is a music and entertainment company founded by Steven Van Zandt in 1999. The company focuses on artist management, production, live events, and distribution. It is also the parent company of Van Zandt's independent record label ...

) *"''Anchors Up''" 45/EP (2023) (

) *"''Keep It Tight''" 45/EP (2021) (

) *"''After Party''" –

CD/LP (2020) (

) *''Rocking for a Living'' –

CD/LP (2011) *''Want You Around'' – 45

(2012) Jolly Ronnie Records *''Brand New Beat'' –

(2012) CD/LP Collector's Club Records *"Girls Got Money / Yeah? Yeah!" 45 –

(2013) Collector's Club Records *"Dance With Me Tonight / I Don't Wanna Get Involved" 45

(2011) Torreznetes Entertainment *''Play it Cool'' –

CD/LP (2015) *''The Lost Weekend EP'' –

(2017) *"''LIVE AT SALA Z''" –

CD/LP (2024) Hundreds of Records

KEWPID

*''TUNNEL OF LOVE b/w STAR CROSSED EP'' – (cas)single (2021) Memorable But Not Honorable Tapes

Wimpy and The Medallions

*''Still Headed Nowhere'' – Wimpy and The Medallions (2013) Collector's Club Records

The New Trocaderos

*" Money Talks / The Kids" (2013) *'' Kick Your Ass'' EP (2014) *'' Frenzy in the Hips'' EP (2015) *'' Thrills & Chills'' LP (2015)

References

External links

Geoff Palmer Bandcamp
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Geoff American male singer-songwriters American folk singers 1980 births People from Portsmouth, New Hampshire Living people The Queers members 21st-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American male singers Singer-songwriters from New Hampshire 20th-century American singer-songwriters 20th-century American male singers People from Wakefield, Massachusetts Singer-songwriters from Massachusetts