In the great words of others and a sentiment shared by us: Check out the Rock And Roll Rumble if you want to find your new favorite band. Like we did! Or two or three. That said, we’ve decided that we’re going to do our best to promote some of our personal faves post-Rumble prelims so as not to look biased and that starts now with us begging forgiveness having been so, so late to the Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight party. Because what a party it is! And what a party you should join!
The latest collection of songs, Exit Fire, dropped last July and collects 4 raucous ditties that were released previously on their own as singles including “UnNatural Love” which is probably, in our opinion, the best example of GS&TME for beginners with its’ crunchy guitars from Shae and Ronan Fahy, vibrant rhythm section led by Killian Carcosa’s driven bass lines and Nick Mehos’ drums that are big on Groove with a gargantuan presence, and Shae’s magnificent voice setting the Gretchen Shae standard if you will.
In our Rumble blurb we mentioned Social D and the Return Of The Living Dead soundtrack as a template but that’s just skimming the surface of what else lies within as Misfits and TSOL tendencies also spill out along the way as well. “The Business Of Broken Dreams” exudes that kind of feel with a clashing of acoustic and electric guitars and sporting a lush chorus and then “Sleepwalking” is like Punk Rawk Go Go’s… who were born out of Punk so maybe Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight is the sound of Belinda Carlisle & co. staying that path instead??? “Red Light Green Light” offers something else entirely with a constant thumping and throbbing from Mehos and Carcosa as Shae’s voice shines in the soaring chorus.
Their latest release, “Skeleton Closet” is the perfect soundtrack for Spooky Season and an inevitable ear worm beyond that with Carcosa’s robust rumble galloping alongside Mehos’ steady sticks as Shae’s voice reveals itself to be a revelation in the way it ebbs and flows with the sweet turning to saucy and this strained howl that perfectly echoes the budding storm approaching from the rhythm section and Shae and Fahy’s guitars.
Still not sold? Then howzabout a cover of ‘Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry” which, when you think about it, seems tailor-made for Shae’s unique pipes. And if that doesn’t sell ya then ya might wanna think about the life choices and circumstances that have led you to this massive failure today.
Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight has a lot to consume over on Bandcamp right now which you can find by heading here. To keep up-to-date on all things Gretchen Shae, including being in the know on some just announced live dates, follow them across their socials by clicking here, here, or here.