Kansas City’s The Eradicats Turn Personal Eating Disorder Recovery Story Into Bubble-Grunge Anthem “I Ate a Sandwich”

Kansas City bubble-grunge quartet The Eradicats have released their new single “I Ate a Sandwich,” a heartfelt and deeply personal track that reveals a more vulnerable side of the band while maintaining the catchy hooks and playful spirit that define their sound.

Known for their witty humor and unconventional subject matter — from overeager friendship pursuits to legendary stunt horses — The Eradicats have built a reputation for turning life’s oddities into infectious punk songs. But with “I Ate a Sandwich,” the band takes a more intimate approach. The song tells the real-life story of bassist and co-vocalist Kristi’s journey through eating disorder recovery, centered around a small but monumental moment at a teaching conference lunch.

What might seem like a simple act becomes a powerful milestone in the song: eating a boxed-lunch sandwich for the first time in years without fear.

Driven by bright melodies, punchy guitars, and the band’s signature mix of sincerity and humor, “I Ate a Sandwich” captures both the anxiety and triumph of doing something that once felt impossible — proving that pop-punk can be both goofy and deeply meaningful.

Formed in Kansas City, Missouri, The Eradicats feature Kristi (bass, vocals), Josh (guitar, vocals), Chris (guitar), and Justin (drums). The band first made waves with their debut EP Best in Show, which blends the wild energy of the Pixies, the clever wit of They Might Be Giants, and the infectious urgency of ’90s pop-punk with a dash of ska.

Critics have praised the band’s unique balance of humor and heart. The Punk Site called their music “equal parts witty humor and energetic punk rock,” while Punk Rock Theory noted the band’s knack for turning everyday awkwardness into “punk rock gold.”

With “I Ate a Sandwich,” The Eradicats expand their range without losing the playful charm that fans love — delivering a song that’s equal parts catchy, courageous, and cathartic.

Fans can also catch the band live on May 1, 2026, when they share the stage with ska legends The Toasters and Kansas City street punk favorites The Uncouth at miniBar in Kansas City, MO.

Stream here:

Artist Statement

I knew I had a problem when I cried on the floor in the pasta aisle at the mere thought of eating spaghetti. But it took me another couple of years to walk into an eating disorder clinic and ask for help.

I’ve been working with a therapist and dietician for just over a year now and it has transformed my life. I’ve spent the last decade being afraid of food, feeling I had to earn any food that I ate. I’ve lived in a body that I believed morphed and changed in drastic ways with just one bite of food or one skipped workout.

“I Ate a Sandwich” is a true story about a teaching conference I was attending last spring. I knew there would be a boxed lunch and I decided I wanted to try and eat it. This is something I never would have considered before treatment. I would have just brought my own “safe”, eating disorder approved food. But I’d been in recovery for a few months and I wanted to try eating lunch like a “normie”.

I prepared with my therapist and dietician in the weeks coming up to it. We planned for what would be in the box, what I would feel, what I would feel comfortable with and what the eating disorder would try and have me do. I went into that lunch with a lot of trepidation, but also the support of people who understood what this meant for me.

The lunch was exactly what we’d planned for, a sandwich, an apple, a bag of chips and a cookie. The cookie wasn’t happening, not there yet. The chips were also not my concern. One battle at a time. I opened the sandwich and examined the situation. It was your basic sandwich, turkey, slice of cheese, lettuce, and a lot of bread. It would have been easy to take the cheese off. It would have been easy to remove the top part of the bread. But as my dietician taught me, that’s not punk rock. The punk rock thing to do is eat the sandwich, do the scary thing. And I did. I ate a sandwich. A whole real sandwich. I didn’t even take the cheese off. No one at the table even suspected I was unaccustomed to eating sandwiches. I text my dietician in that moment because I was proud of myself.

The whole experience became this song and it means a lot to me because it’s goofy and fun, as our music tends to be, but it’s also deeply serious and I hope it can resonate with anyone else who may be struggling with an eating disorder or body image disorder.

— Kristi, The Eradicats

Upcoming Show
The Toasters / The Uncouth / The Eradicats
May 1, 2026
miniBar — Kansas City, MO

Get Tickets here.