The Sturgeons

Home
United States
Arcata, CA
The Sturgeons

Surf Punk Thrash Metal
Humboldt County, CA Guaranteeing a crowd-surfing, beer-tossing good time, these bottomfeeders are a pit shark’s wet dream.

Disrupting the peace of California’s Redwood Coast since 2015, The Sturgeons have forged their own psychotic brand of surf thrash that hooks new fans at every show. They’ve left a mythic trail of noise complaints, evictions, and ambulance lights in their wake, and show no signs of slowing. If, somehow, you’re unsatisfied, treat yourself to a custom butt plug at the merch table. Stoking the searing heat of this steamy engine is drummer Seth Mattingly, Humboldt County’s most subversive substitute teacher. With a blend of brutality and sophistication, Seth’s polyrhythmic proclivities will take you to a school where everyone’s in detention and homework is done with a brick. Nurse by night and guitarist by rite, Matt Schweickert-Stary knows well how to prepare his audience for death by leaving them no choice but to live out loud. Demented melodies, crushing riffs, and face-melting solos keep the people screaming for more, and he’s got plenty to give. As mad a frontman there ever was, Red Reaper abandoned a lucrative career as a Funeral Director and answered the call to provide a soundtrack befitting end-stage capitalism. His chainsaw tone and machine-like fingerwork dish up a trance-inducing elixir, while his incendiary vocals roil the crowd into a lawless froth.

10/31/2025

Haunt Away

"Closed rehearsal" only applies to the living

See you at Savage Henry 10.31

10/28/2025

Death of a Journalist
Our choices have consequences.

Chapter Eight - Interview With A Du***ss: Presented by the delightfully deranged escapees of the Alfred Hitchcock Memorial Sanitarium for the Criminally Defiant; a plea to remember to bring your notes to the meeting.

**kice

10/20/2025

Friday, Oct. 31, 2025

Savage Henry
415 5th St., Eureka, CA

Join us.

#666

08/25/2023

Happy Birthday!

We received a video request from a very special Sturgeon who is turning 8 YEARS OLD this weekend! Word is they like the whammy bar on Red's bass, so here's some whammy bar and whammy pedal AT THE SAME TIME.

After we made the video, we decided to share it for anyone who needs a reminder. If anybody has a problem with you doing what makes you happy, send them our way and we'll take care of the rest!

08/21/2023

Sturgify your life!

From the numbers we're seeing, the track 'Call Death' is a crowd favorite. Thank you to everyone who has been enjoying our music!

Our album Figure It Out is available on Bandcamp and streaming platforms, link in bio.

08/16/2023

Be like Barbie!

Warning: Listening to The Sturgeons lyrics may cause rejection of authoritarian hierarchies, recognition of impermanence, and a newfound will to walk your own human path.

08/15/2023

Happy National Relaxation Day!

Only two weeks left to check out The Sturgeons show flyers and butt plugs at in Eureka. Don't miss this match made in heaven!

Let their friendly, helpful staff get you looking and feeling your best!

223 2nd St, Eureka, CA
(near 2nd and D)

08/14/2023

Headless Horsemen

Here's a shot of the fretwork behind the Call Death outro! We love how these harmonies sound demented and majestic at the same time.

Demestic?

Majented?

Streaming now. Link in bio.

08/12/2023

We all are Columbine!

Here's a bit of backstory on why we covered Columbine High School Alma Mater on our album.

Fellow band nerds will recognize the name Frank Ticheli!

We home this recording helps inspire others to take action and make change in how we run our schools and the country at large.

The full track is streaming now. Link in bio.

08/10/2023

Attention Humboldt musicians:

The Sturgeons are excited to announce that we are seeking a new drummer! We need someone with excellent chops and rhythmic integrity, and the ability to play a wide range of styles rooted in punk and metal with the occasional curveball.

Our rehearsal space is in Arcata, and has a sweet kit available should you choose to use it.

Goals for the next year or two include weekend runs to regional clubs a couple times a month, and a new studio album!

This is an opportunity to hop on board a well-oiled machine that plays really fun and challenging music, with lots of creative freedom and room for experimentation.

Be warned, fans will yell things like "THE STURGEONS SUCK!" and "F**K MACHINE!" at you in public, as well as divulge extremely personal information related to their use of certain toys.

Hit the DM's if you think you can handle it!

08/09/2023

Happy trails, and godspeed!

Seth appeared to us out of a thick fog in the doldrums of December 2021, and helped a plague-weary S.S. Sturge get the wind back in her sails. We were impressed with how quickly they learned our catalogue, and their razor-sharp sardonic wit kept us on our toes. Of course, change remains the only constant, and the time has come for us to once again go our separate ways.

Thank you, Seth! For your creativity, adaptability, kindness and communication. The Sturgeverse is better for your having been a part of it.

Everyone do yourselves a favor and follow on IG to witness Seth continue to thrive both behind and in front of the drums!

📸
(Pictured here is the moment Seth paused a photoshoot and told us to step the f**k aside while they delivered a masterclass in being blisteringly hot. We were awestruck, we were taken, we were served.)

08/08/2023

Use plenty of l**e and take your time!

The Sturgeons are blessed to be August artist of the month at Good Relations!
We picked out some of our favorite show flyers from the past to decorate the walls, so you can enjoy some artwork and take a trip down memory lane while stocking up on necessities.

Our famous custom butt plugs are on display and available for $25!

Thank you to the all-powerful Dr. Melinda Myers for providing Humboldt residents with a fun, safe, and educational lovers' boutique since 1983!

Be good to yourself and head down to 223 2nd St, Eureka.

Store hours:
Sunday - Thursday:
11am - 7pm
Friday & Saturday:
11am -8pm

Address

Arcata, CA

Website

http://linktr.ee/thesturgeonssuck

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Sturgeons posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Sturgeons:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Arcata?