Bringing the hooks, looks and books since 2022
Genre: Alternative Punk/ Lit Rock
Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
For Fans Of: Rise Against, Green Day, Origami Angel, Fall Out Boy
Adult Book Club is a literate and high-energy alternative punk trio from Madison, Wisconsin. Blending catchy choruses, intricate guitar riffs, and literature-inspired lyrics, Adult Book Club uses classic novels--like Dune, Catcher in the Rye, and Brave New World-- as a lens to reflect on modern life, society and personal identity.
Formed in 2022 at the Madison Music Foundry, the band—Charles Donovan (guitar), Greg Kernisan (bass), and Luke Stanton (drums)—has been steadily growing a local following through their dynamic live shows and growing library of songs. Since 2023, Adult Book Club has released two EP's (Chapter I and Chapter II), and is working on a full-length debut due in 2026. Their most recent single, "Annihilation" (based on the Jeff Vandermeer novel of the same name) was released in August 2025.
Discography:
Single: “The End of the Line” (2023)
EP: “Chapter I” (2023)
EP: “Chapter II” (2024)
Single: "Annihilation" (2025)
Promo Gallery
Music Highlights
The lead single off Chapter II, Catcher in the Rye is a fan favorite that showcases the band's signature catchy hooks and intricate guitar leads, with lyrics about seeking personal meaning in a sea of phonies.
Inspired by the Kazou Ishiguro novel of the same name, Never Let Me Go is the first track from Chapter I, with an earworm chorus and themes of nostalgia and coming of age.
The musical lovechild of Rise Against and Iron Maiden, Watchmen reflects on the anxiety caused by public figures who use their power for mass manipulation and chaos.
Based on the Jeff Vandermeer novel of the same name, ANNIHILATION is one of Adult Book Club's most energetic songs yet, capturing the frenetic terror of being sent into a strange wilderness on a mission with no return.
