The Go Ahead Punk Original Music Project and the ‘Punkly’ Brand…
First, meet “Punkly”, the loveable, heart-shaped punk rocker character that epitomizes and represents the essence of the punk-rock writings, musings and overall personality of songwriter, producer, drummer and performer Frank Sardella… me!
Punkly started as just a “made-up” character, but as I continued to write for this project and produce songs and demos, I realized that Punkly’s emanation of love, angst, punk rock and personal, deep love and conviction in the expression of musical inspiration was more than a character, but a caricature! The very, hand-drawn character I made was, actually, a self-caricature, an autobiographical icon (if you will) of all I am about. And we look a little alike too! (lol)
The Punkly Character Represents Me in All My Attributes and Aspirations…
In my drumming, songwriting, producing, performing and recording I exude a certain creative joy that intends to be received with a resounding and reflective satisfaction, inspiration and enjoyment. It is an elevated feeling I have always gotten from music that I wish others to experience as it’s so much more enjoyable in the company of others.
Punkly is comical, satirical, sarcastic, loving, pining, whining and just good fun. He is unafraid to express pure observation of life and he uses his and others experiences, as well as imagination to write humorous, relevant and significant fiction which inspires feelings of motivation and love of life, even when looking at the downsides to life’s situations.
Punkly also represents how I don’t take life too very seriously and a certain insouciance and flippancy toward life’s endeavors, trials, tribulations and triumphs. He signifies that we can sing and celebrate in the face of success or failure, triumph and victory or utter tragedy. Music is the key expression line and it lifts no matter the subject matter.
As a final note, I first drew Punkly one day and later realized I was actually looking in the mirror. He is a self-reflected artistic representation of me and all my attributes.
Tap an album cover to visit that album page
These albums are displayed in order of release. The order is (1) Whining and Pining, (2) First Prize Idiot, (3) Opening Act, (4) It’s Showtime, Baby!, (5) Oohs Aahs & Nah Nah Nahs, (6) Two Heads Better, (7) 9 Ways From Sunday, and (8) Have a Punkly Dunkly Christmas. You can click or tap any album cover to go to the album page or use the menu above, both of which feature them in order.
My Go Ahead Punk Project Album Demos
The album demos, in order, start with the freshman effort “Whining and Pining” and continue with my “coming of age” in modern punk rock writing, “First Prize Idiot“, then naturally progressing into the third in the sequence, “Opening Act“. As if that weren’t enough, a new level of writing was reached in 2023 with a record to follow, “It’s Showtime, Baby“, one of my catchphrases before each show I play on stage behind the drums. (Something I, confessedly, lifted from another musician in 2004 of his similar statement at the beginning of his wedding video.)
And, naturally progressing further into an entirely new level of inspiration and “digging deeper” with far less effort, 2024 quickly saw the formation of a 5th album entitled, “Oohs, Ahs & Nah Nah Nahs” which was my original title before my first record demo spilled over its 12-song watermark with songs that embody the “ooh-ah” spirit of the genre!
And then late 2025 came and so did a barrage of songs that came from left field, in yet a new, exponentially higher level of expression. That album is “Two Heads Better” and represents what will likely become a separate project and band in its own right!
Further descriptions of each album can be found on each album’s page along with a player and lyrics too! (Click on each album cover above or select the album title from the ‘Album Demos’ tab in the main menu)
As a bonus, the one Christmas song I’ve written, “What Christmas Means to Me” (no relation or connection to the popular Christmas standard of the same title) was included in a collection called “Have a Punkly, Dunkly Christmas“, an ironic “Christmas EP” of three songs, two of which are only metaphorically related to Christmas and attested respectively “not a Christmas song” in their titles, included on the first and second albums. These two are “Taking Down Christmas (Not a Christmas Song)” and “My Christmas Eve (Also Not a Christmas Song)” IN late 20924 I also wrote another original (actually a Christmas song) Christmas song in “All Wrapped Up” which is now featured on the EP.
In order to hear the evolution of development, it is recommended to listen to these albums in their order of future release, (1) Whining and Pining, (2) First Prize Idiot, (3) Opening Act (4) It’s Showtime, Baby! and (5) Oohs, Ahs & Nah Nah Nahs (6) Two Heads Better (7) 9 Ways From Sunday and (8) Have a Punkly Dunkly Christmas. The order of the songs on each album has also been diligently planned so it is best to simply “press play” on each player and let the album play in order, following the lyrics for each song as you scroll down.
And if you’re feeling extra festive and adventurous, maybe listen to the 2 additional Christmas songs on “A Punkly, Dunkly Christmas“.
Punkly Isn’t a Mask; It’s Me! But Who Am I?
I’m Frank Sardella. I’ve been a drummer all my life. I’ve been a songwriter for almost as long. I have evolved into a full-blown producer, and I keep finding new levels of creativity for each.
For decades, I’ve had songs I’ve needed to get out. Not just “out there” but out of my head and, quite literally at times, out of my dreams, into the hands of anyone who would listen! My song ideas and inspiration come from everywhere in life and every moment of every day, even while I sleep. I often wake up with the idea for the next great song and write it, full-length, within hours. Sometimes the song itself played in my dream.
But my songs are not just from my own experiences. So many stories surround me in life. I’m keenly aware of what’s going on around me, happening in real-time, on-screen, on TV and everywhere I look, watch and listen.
I love telling stories using music, rhyme, rhythm and melody, with words, plays on words, dualities of meaning and all-around, metaphoric “horseplay” in the genre that drives Go Ahead Punk. These are demos of the albums I am creating as part of this project, a collection I am proud to present.
Despite all odds against it, being an advanced drummer at a young age who yet wished for more, that someday I would overcome the impossibility of being a songwriter despite not knowing any other instruments or music theory beyond rhythm, (finally) I’m able to communicate to the world through music! I even play guitar and bass and sing leads and harmonies too on all my projects.