With an emotionally-charged new record and two upcoming U.S. tours, Los Angeles emo/pop-punk outfit Good Terms is gearing up for a big year. We caught up with Brian McShea, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist, ahead of their run with Youth Fountain to talk about their latest album Burnout, the band’s evolution, and what it means to stay honest in music—even when it’s uncomfortable.

Credit Sam Laponis

You guys are about to hit the road, right?

Yes, sir. Our first date is next Wednesday, so we’ve got about 10 days. We’re heading out for a month with Youth Fountain, then after a short break, we’re back out with Emery.

Cool. Let’s talk a little about the band and the album. How do you think Good Terms’ exploration of identity, alienation, and burnout resonates with listeners who might be going through similar experiences?

You know, it’s been an interesting journey for us. These are really vulnerable songs—which was always the goal—but it’s still a different feeling when you actually release them. You wonder, “Man, I hope this isn’t just my friends and family saying, ‘That’s a weird thing to share.’”

But we’ve been getting real feedback from people saying they’re going through the same things. There are a few key themes we explore on the record. For example, our guitarist Zach—who also produced most of the album—wrote songs like Old Friend, Mask, Mir Mir, and Hear Me Out, which all deal with his estrangement from family and confronting inherited family habits. It’s about reconnecting and figuring out what those relationships look like now.

As for my own contributions, a lot of my songs are framed through my former weed habit—something I had for about 10 years—but they really speak to the broader themes of growing up, dealing with anxiety, and trying to find my place in the world.

I’m super grateful for the response. People have told us these songs resonate with their own experiences—whether it’s feeling lost or dealing with family struggles. Zach’s even had some pretty deep conversations with fans over at the merch table. It’s meaningful, even though it sucks to know people are going through tough stuff.

Going back to the themes of Burnout—how do you think your exploration of identity and burnout connects with people on an emotional level?

People have been reaching out—in the comments, at the merch table—and sharing which songs hit home for them. That’s a huge relief, because, again, we set out to write vulnerable, honest songs. But there’s always that moment where you’re like, “I hope this doesn’t come off weird or overly personal.”

There are a couple main themes. Zach wrote several tracks—Old Friend, Mask, Hear Me Out, and Mir Mir—that deal with his experiences of being estranged from family and trying to rebuild those connections while breaking cycles of inherited behavior.

My songs tend to explore things through the lens of my past weed use, but ultimately they’re about feeling anxious, growing up, and finding direction. And it’s been incredible to hear from people who relate—some are former or current stoners, others are going through family issues. It’s just powerful to know it’s resonating.

What does it mean for Good Terms to push the creative boundaries with Burnout, and how does that reflect your growth, both musically and personally?

Thanks for saying that—I appreciate it. Our first record was more about learning to be a band. With Burnout, we took everything we learned and tried to elevate it. For instance, we’re a triple-guitar band, but we hadn’t really leaned into that before. And this time, we also let outside-genre influences in.

Halfway through the process, we were like, “You know what? Let’s not hold back.” We added an indie-pop song with synths and a dance beat. There’s even a banjo in one track. Toward the end, the guys let me throw in a 2.5-minute guitar solo with a key change and jazz fusion section!

I worried it might sound like a sampler platter—but Zach had a production vision and really tied it all together. People have told us it’s a wild ride, but still cohesive, and that’s exactly what we hoped for. We love emo, pop punk, post-hardcore, metalcore—you name it. We’re trying to find a way to blend all that naturally, without it feeling forced.

So you’re celebrating your birthday on tour?

Yep! Both of us are. Zach’s birthday is actually the first day of the tour—May 28th in Sacramento. Mine’s on June 5th, and we’ll be driving through Texas to Atlanta that day. Probably 15 hours in the van!

How do milestones like that add meaning to the tour and your performances?

Honestly, we’re the kind of band that leaves it all out there on stage. We’ve all played a lot—Zach, Geo, and I did the cover band thing for years. I still play in a wedding band sometimes to pay rent. Ivan’s had a ton of experience too. So when we get to perform our own songs, it’s something we’re all deeply grateful for.

To be growing another year older while doing this—touring the country, talking to people about our record—it’s a dream. I wish I had a show on my actual birthday like Zach, but even spending it in a van doing what I love? I can’t complain. I’m just grateful.

Burnout contains a mix of contrasting emotions—angst, joy, regret. How do you think music captures such a wide range of human feeling?

That’s the beauty of art—music in particular. There are so many art forms, but music is the one we’re fluent in. It’s always been there for me. I was an angsty kid in middle school. One day, my best friend didn’t sit with me on the bus, and I heard Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams—and I just thought, “That’s me.” That was the beginning.

Over the years, I’ve experienced so many emotions, so many genres. And all of us in this band have been through that kind of journey. Different art forms can move you in different ways, but music—especially punk rock—has its own vibe, context, and emotional weight.

Joy and regret exist across all genres. But how they’re expressed in country music is different from how they show up in our emo/pop-punk world. Sometimes, it’s not even deliberate. I’ll just feel something, pick up a guitar, and something real comes out. It’s amazing when it resonates with others the way it does with me.

Catch Good Terms at Goldfield Trading Post located at 1630 J Street. in Sacramento on Saturday, May 28th. with Youth Fountain. Their latest album Burnout is available now, and new single Progress drops May 21.

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