In a bash and a bang, Chicago power pop band, Bash Bang, are no longer with us. But, they haven’t left us without anything to sink our teeth into. Their September 21st release, Awoooooga, is an 11-track album that clocks in at a touch over 21 minutes, which essentially means its begging for repeat listens.
The album kicks off with a (bash) bang with lead track, “S.O.S.” Shannon’s lyricism here is super narrative and incredibly relatable (“your voice annoys me, going on and on and on and on”). In the second verse, Mike harmonizes with Shannon, and at the chorus, the rest of the band joins for backing vocals, offering the song some solidity as Shannon screams.
“Literal Million” features Mike on vocals this time around, and there’s something about the excessive “L” sounds in that phrase that make the hook super catchy.
The rest of Awoooooga is just as catchy as the first two tracks, and it’s guaranteed to send you spiraling into an existential crisis. “Nothing Happens When We Die” crushes your beliefs from start to finish, laughs with you, and encourages you to live without fear of consequences. Bassist Gabe Michalski takes the lead on “Everywhere I Go”, singing in a slow, woozy style, although it’s nowhere near slow and woozy at the chorus. “Introvert” is a song for the, well, introverts of Chicago. If you’ve ever averted eye contact with someone or stayed home just because, this song it for you.
Bash Bang goes from near doo-wop to a screaming punk explosion in the flip of a switch. Their dynamics are killer, their energy is unstoppable, and their lyricism is so relatable I’m almost concerned that the Bash Bang crew has been watching my every move. The group’s name is entirely befitting of their sound, and this album rips every literal million times I listen to it.
Bash Bang is Mike Martello on guitar on vocals, Shannon Candy on guitar on vocals, Gabe Michalski on bass, and Ben Karas on drums.