Cigar

***Starting in 1996, Cigar could’ve been a major contender in 21st century punk. Pennywise’s Fletcher Dragge was taken by the trio’s love of melody and straight-up acceleration, which led to the band aligning themselves with SoCal label Theologian Records for their Dragge-produced debut album, 1999’s Speed Is Relative. For the next six years, Cigar (who were named after the winning racehorse in the 1995 Breeders Cup Classic) lived the punk life by relocating to San Diego, appearing on some skate-punk compilations and videos while waiting for their lane to open. And during that time, the members’ lives began to change, from creating families to exploring other musical interests. Fast forward to 2022, Cigar made a comeback with their highly acclaimed Fat Wreck debut The Visitor. With the overwhelming demand for The Visitor on vinyl, we decided it was only appropriate to revisit Cigar’s 1999 cult classic, and finally give it the treatment it deserves.