Modern pop culture, be it music, movies or television, thrives on the nostalgia of our past, a revolving door of ideas and sounds. And as music trends more towards the blissful, sentimental pop tunes – Tennis, Cults, Washed Out – the notion of dirty garage punk and distorted lyrics seem laughable. Portland, OR.’s Grrrl Friend take those common tropes and turn them on their head, creating grimy rock ‘n roll that might have a steep learning curve, but ultimately rewards listeners with hypnotic and expansive punk landscapes.
Formed after lead singer and guitarist Duffy Rongiiland moved to Portland on a whim, Grrrl Friend have been met with a barrage of local love and support, both from fans and label mates. Grrrl Friend belong to the Gnar Tapes family, a musically incestuous group of some the most talented musicians on either coast. “They are super standup guys,” Rongiiland says of Gnar Tapes, “they believed in us and helped us out when there are hundreds of great bands here to put out.” With the exposure of the label, Grrrl Friend finally had a home, along with the perfect audience to mature with. “The Portland noise and garage scene is thriving right now and it is super close knit. It’s as strong as the Bay Area or Brooklyn,” Rongiiland added, the perfect spot for Grrrl Friend’s sometimes experimental, but always punk rock sound.
On their newest album “Happening Now”, Grrrl Friend craft an album that both excites and remains consistently impressive. It’s as easy to finish the album in one sitting as it is to turn on the minute and a half long “I Explode” and throw your head side to side and then move on. “All White People Look the Same (To Me)” is the antithesis of “I Explode,” an exhaustive instrumental track that’s hypnotic and brilliantly achieved. These different shifts on the album, from quick to slow, chanting to mute, all combine for an album that’s uniquely charming for a punk rock outfit. “Happening Now” certainly isn’t for everybody, but on songs like “By a Thread,” an echoing pop punk single, or the album’s closer “Not Happening Now,” there is something for everybody to love.
So as many bands, and their fans, turn their attention to accessible and nostalgically-inclined noise, Grrrl Friend are innovative and forward reaching in their goal to be purely rock ‘n roll. “Happening Now” may not sound like what’s now, but Grrrl Friend have an idea of what punk rock is, and if nothing else, listeners should respect them for sticking to their convictions.
Connect with Grrrl Friend – Facebook / Bandcamp / Last.fm / Gnartapes
