Tucson’s Life Hoax formed by chance, relocation, and a shared drive to get plugged into a new scene. Guitarist/vocalist Josh Paynter calls the current lineup “the version that matters,” even if it wasn’t the first. “It’s mostly a story of two Joshes from different countries and cities who both landed in Tucson with no contacts, but a strong desire to get involved with local music,” he explains.
That connection started online: “JD and I connected over Reddit, of all things,” Paynter says. When drummer Josh Day mentioned he was “a one-band kind of guy” moving to Tucson in a few weeks, it all clicked. Bassist Nick Laguna, already a staple in the local scene, rounded out the lineup. “He’s an extremely sweet person, a great bassist, and has been playing locally for 15 years,” Paynter adds.
The band calls what they do "Sonoran Post-Hardcore," and it's on full display on their recently released EP, Slow Burn:
Musically, Life Hoax live in the space between genres. “We’re unavoidably angular because of what we grew up on,” Paynter says, pointing to simple but confident riffs, active bass lines, and tight, hook-driven songwriting. Labels don’t bother them. “People say we’re post-hardcore. We believe them. We’re not tough enough to be hardcore,” he jokes. The songwriting always starts with immediacy. “Our North Star is always finding a hook. If you have a good chorus and middle eight, the rest is icing on the cake.” Their influences range from Fugazi and Queens of the Stone Age to Jimmy Eat World, Protomartyr, and Trapped Under Ice. “Lately, I can’t stop listening to the new Militarie Gun record. It’s so fucking good,” Paynter says.
All of Life Hoax’s recordings have been handled by Ty Engle at Engle Studio. “Everything we’ve done was recorded, co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Ty,” Paynter notes. “He was one of our first connections in Tucson and has been instrumental for us. We’re extremely loyal.” Lyrically, Life Hoax keep things intentionally open-ended. “The songs come from a more literal place for me, but we want listeners to find their own meaning,” he explains. Tracks like “Quiet Lines” explore unresolved relationships, while “Fixed Draw” centers on the band’s core idea. “Life is a hoax. A pageantry or some kind of theater,” Paynter says, noting the song’s “twinge of cynicism toward organized religion.”
Looking outward, Paynter sees Tucson’s scene as a work in progress. “It feels a little disjoined in a post-COVID world,” he says, but stresses the importance of mutual support. “If you can’t cheer for your peers, what the hell are you even doing?” That ethos goes beyond music. “Support your local bands. Just do it,” Paynter urges. “Go to a show. Say hello. Buy a shirt. Foster some community.”
With two new singles, “Cactus Eater” and “The Hymn of Two Guns,” on the way, Life Hoax are focused on genuine growth. “They feel like a level-up to us,” Paynter says. “We can’t wait to share them.”
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Life Hoax on social media: Instagram
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