POSTS TAGGED : garage rock

Introducing: The Bug Club

The Bug Club are the creative trio of Sam Willmett (guitar/vocals), Tilly Harris (bass/vocals) and Dan Matthew (drums), from the little-known rock n’ roll hotbed of Caldicot, Monmouthshire.

Together they craft tight-knit, catchy and memorable tunes; sometimes blistering, fiery and fierce and other times, melodic and playfully addictive, and always fizzing with humour and riffs-a-plenty – attributes on display in abundance on their wonderfully titled debut EP Launching Moondream One.

Propelled by a relentless, driving energy, it ones with ‘Check Mate’ as it stomps along with a swagger and fiery attitude as raucous riffs buzz through lashing of scuzzy fuzz, all adorned with sweet harmonies and hooks you could hang your hat on. On the other hand, ‘All Of The Scariest Monsters Live In London’ offers the first taste from the other side of their personality; that prediction for melodic and playfully addictive pop. A mellow and melodic ditty, it skips along a playful beat while a bright strum illuminates the woozy and breezy vocals the cruise above – it is a hazy and dreamy beauty. Meanwhile, ‘We Don’t Need Room For Lovin’ falls between the two, something of a bridging point between the boisterous and playful bounciness, as does closer and title track. A brilliant and utterly addictive EP that will have you going straight for repeated plays time and time again.

Launching Moondream One is out now on Bingo Records.


Total Rubbish – ‘Someone Else’s Dream’

Philadelphia trio, Total Rubbish, have garnered a serious rep for solid psychedelic garage rock gold throughout 2020 and culminating in debut EP, Triple Negative – a tour de force of psych-rock.

The trio are back with another single called ‘Someone Else’s Dream’. Lifted from the EP and much like the previous singles – ‘Honey Ryder’ & ‘What’s Your Damage?’ – it ekes out a sweet spot between forcefulness and ear for melody, coexisting in a sea of dense atmospheric tones and swirling riffs. ‘Someone Else’s Dream’ sees dreamy vocals float breezily above the buzzing riff, crunchy guitar, slo-mo swagger and rich melodic allure – and all bathed it a thick layer of fuzz and distortion. Yet again, the inappropriately named Total Rubbish have served up an irresistible slice of dreamy yet swaggering psych-infused rock.

Tune in to ‘Someone Else’s Dream’ below now:


Leggy – ‘Taffy’

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Next month, Cincinnati trio Leggy will release a new album, Let Me Know Your Moon.

It was announced in mouthwatering fashion with expansive, gritty and anthemic indie rocker ‘Eden’ last month, and they are back, sharing another new track from the forthcoming record called ‘Taffy’. Leggy continue their trend for irresistible garage rock with a punky edge, ‘Taffy’ is a gloriously frenetic and chaotic swirl of noise. It skitters as drums slam, guitars buzz and generally fizzes with a boisterous energy before abruptly crashing to ground. ‘Taffy’ tip-toes between light and dark, teetering between harsh and melodic, a perfect companion for Veronique Allaer’s initially nonchalant reflections of self-doubt which swell powerfully with an emotive, compelling intensity. Phenomenal.

Listen to ‘Taffy’ below – Let Me Know Your Moon is out on March 8th via Sheer Luck Records.

Les Big Byrd – ‘A Little More Numb’ (Tapetown Session)

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Among other things, 2018 saw Scandinavian Psych/Spacerock outfit Les Big Byrd release their superbly named second album Iran Iraq IKEA – coincidentally it is one of the finest record titles of any year.

With their LP still fresh in the memory, the Swedish foursome have shared a brand new video of a vital session performance of album standout ‘A Little More Numb’. Recorded shortly before a Danish show, the band took time out to visit Aarhus based Tapetown Studio, and rattled through a furious live session. The outcome of which is a sweet and simply astounding blend of parts Kraut, Psych and Spacerock, with proto-punk, garage rock, and punctuated with moments of pure pop brilliance. It is like an unholy but beautiful coming together of Spiritualized meets Jonathan Richman; and that is mighty company to be in no matter who you are!

Listen to Les Big Byrd’s ‘A Little More Numb’ Tapetown Session below and you can check out the album Iran Iraq IKEA here.

Rally Club – ‘Space’

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Beginning life with a series bedroom recordings in 2015, San Diego foursome Rally Club specialise in a melodic brand of indie-pop that is both instantly likeable and likely to have your head bopping from the get-go.

Their latest single ‘Space’ is a perfect case in point. You’re immediately sucked in, powerless to resist the tantalising allure of jangly hooks, surf-pop riffs and garage rock reverb. This is easy on the ear, chorus-drenched melodic indie-pop that rides on the wave of something that is fantastically infectious. A light dusting of fuzz adds a sense of sun, sand and summer to a song that is all at once, rousing yet beautiful and somewhat mildly melancholic but oozing coolness. This is the kind of musical gem that should set all those who cross paths with it, tongues wagging in appreciation of its sheer marvellous.

Tune in to ‘Space’ below now:

Why Not – ‘Pink Hat’

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‘Pink Hat’ is the lead single from Minnesota outfit Why Not‘s second LP, ‘Spring Cleaning’; penned for release on March 21.

The Minnesota trio – Joshua MacGregor, Isaac Dell & Henry Breen – decidedly deadly dexterity in the math-rock meets ’90s indie/garage-rock stakes. Simultaneously intense and nonchalant, Why Not rifle through a rumbustious realm of relentless riffs, ratcheting up the energy only to slow to a meander, bob and let vocals momentarily resonate before bursting into life once again. It is fierce and furious but with a subtle and seductive catchiness sewn in. Its allure is neigh on impossible to resist and as an opening intro to the forthcoming new record, it promises great things.

Do yourself a favour, listen to ‘Pink Hat’ below now. ‘Spring Cleaning’ is out on March 21.

Hey Baby! – ‘1-800 WEED’

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Aussie indie surf-punks Hey Baby! like to play fast, jangly and energetic tunes and put on live shows that never take themselves too seriously.

Born from the bedroom demos of a Blue Mountains teenager, the Brisbane foursome’s debut single ‘1-800 WEED’ delivers all that and more across a two-and-a-half minutes of infectiously catchy and lively garage-rock. Inspired by frontman Kacper Majchrowski’s experience of an Uber-esque delivery service while travelling in San Diego, it’s delivered as a tongue-in-cheek call to legalise marijuana in Australia. Musically, it’s a whirlwind of fast-paced, energetic and punk-tinged garage rock sound, bursting with rhythm, catchy Strokes-esque guitars, frenetic drums & the snottiness of Fidlar.

Listen to ‘1-800 WEED’ below: