Call it a Career

The Hextalls are a pop-punk band from British Columbia who built their reputation on being gleefully unserious. Formed in Kamloops in 1998, the group began almost as a joke, named after frontman Devin Tanner’s favourite goalie, Ron Hextall. Though Devin isn’t related to the fiery Philadelphia Flyers netminder, he was such a fan of his aggressive style that he “all but legally adopted” the name. What started as tongue-in-cheek fun quickly grew into a cult favourite, with the band embracing a simple mission: write fast, catchy songs that are as funny as they are infectious. Their lyrics bounce from Pac-Man and Xbox meltdowns to Shania Twain, Tina Turner, horror movies, hockey, and beer—anything that fits their playful worldview.

Reviewers have often compared them to fellow Canadian pranksters Chixdiggit as well as the Ramones, Screeching Weasel, and Teenage Bottlerocket, but The Hextalls have always leaned into their own brand of nonsense. Jason, writing in 2010, put it best: “If you’re looking for serious music with a strong social or political statement—this isn’t it at all. But if you want to dance around like an idiot who’s eaten too much sugar, check these guys out.” That sense of carefree fun carried into their live shows, where the energy was less about pit bruises and more about grinning, sweaty chaos.

After splitting in 2002 when Tanner moved to Chicago, the band reformed in 2006 after he returned to the Pacific Northwest. The reunited lineup—Devin “Hextall” Tanner on vocals and guitar, Jeremy “JJ” Justice on guitar, Jimmy “The Con” on bass, and Nicole “Nikki” Stixx on drums—carried the torch into a second era that included festival appearances such as Insubordination Fest in Baltimore, along with a run of well-loved albums. Call It a Comeback and Get Smashed cram dozens of goofy, hook-laden anthems into thirty-minute whirlwinds, while Play With Heart, released on Valentine’s Day 2015, proved they were still brimming with cheeky energy and sing-along charm. Their records have become collectors’ items, often issued in quirky limited runs on multiple colors of vinyl—a perfect match for the band’s playful spirit.

More than two decades on, The Hextalls remain true to their original goal: keep it fun, keep it catchy, and never take themselves too seriously.
-Robert Williston

Devin “Hextall” Tanner: vocals, guitar
Jeremy “JJ” Justice: guitar
Jimmy “The Con”: bass, backing vocals
Nicole “Nikki” Stixx: drums

Written and performed by The Hextalls
Recorded, mixed, engineered, and mastered at Profile Sound Studios