Joyce Manor is Still the Best at This: “I Know Where Mark Chen Lives” and the Magic of Album Seven

There is a specific kind of magic in a Joyce Manor song. It’s that blink-and-you’ll-miss-it burst of energy that somehow feels like it contains an entire lifetime of nostalgia and neurosis. With their new single, “I Know Where Mark Chen Lives,” the Torrance, CA legends aren’t just retreading old ground—they’re proving that after seven albums, they still own the throne of modern pop-punk.

Their new record, I Used To Go To This Bar, finds the band in a fascinating spot. Produced by Brett Gurewitz (the Bad Religion mastermind and Epitaph Records boss), the track manages to bottle the lightning of their early DIY days while adding a layer of veteran craft. It’s short, it’s sweet, and it still has that jagged “bite” that makes a Joyce Manor song instantly recognizable.

More Than Just a “Scene” Band

If it feels like Joyce Manor is everywhere lately, it’s because they are. We’ve seen them pop up on John Mulaney’s Everybody’s in L.A., hit the road with Weezer, and pull off a massive sold-out run at the Hollywood Palladium.

For those of us who have been following them since the early 2010s, seeing Mark Hoppus hop on stage to perform “Heart Tattoo” felt like a literal passing of the torch. Selling out the Long Beach Arena wasn’t just a hometown win; it was a definitive statement that Joyce Manor has graduated to the “generational great” category.

Why It Works

What makes I Used To Go To This Bar feel so vital is that it doesn’t feel like a band trying to stay relevant. It feels like a band that has mastered their own language.

Gurewitz’s production helps the band tap into new melodic veins without sanding down the edges. They’ve always been masters of the “two-minute masterpiece,” and this new single is a masterclass in how to be catchy without being cheesy, and loud without being messy.

The Verdict

Joyce Manor has reached that rare “royalty” status where they no longer have to prove themselves, yet they’re still playing with the hunger of a band in a garage. I Used To Go To This Bar is the culmination of everything they’ve built: it’s fast, it’s California to the bone, and it’s a reminder that no one does it quite like Barry Johnson and company.