
Midwest emo is alive and well with the release of Pug Loop's Point Chamberlain yesterday. This band has caught my ear ever since I moved to Traverse City. Folk punk at its best and most "90s" sound-wise, the album evokes reminiscences of bands like Hum and Modern Baseball, but with a definitive updated and original feel.
I'm a huge fan of the "Nosebleed" single released on April 19th and the accompanying music video. The classic DIY production quality of it is a look I miss. The track itself features an addictive melody and the echoing vocals during the bridge give it a haunting vibe. Nick Spencer and Emma Kelly are an extremely impressive creative duo.
Spencer’s voice rings with the trademark emotional power of the genre and the guitar work is borderline grunge. “All the ways I ghost you could never come quite close to all the things you left me with” is the lyric of the album for me in the song “The Loop” which also features a killer bassline.
“Lover’s Lake” is another song that stands out for me with its catchy guitar strum. Its lyrics tell a story and highlight the fantastic songwriting that this band has to offer. Following that is the distortion-heavy “Chainsaw” which I feel is the most punk-rooted on Point Chamberlain.
Closing out the album is “Ouija” and it truly is a perfect ending. “Don’t try to swallow it whole” feels like a message the listener has to decode. It urges us to play the whole album over and over to decipher not only the personal meaning to its narrator, but also what it means for us. Layered vocals bring us back to the emo of the early aughts and Pug Loop does this incredibly well. It’s nostalgic, but still sounds fresh, which is a perfect balance. What more can I say? I’m a fan.
You can catch Pug Loop at the Point Chamberlain Album Release Party at Eugene’s Record Co-Op tonight, May 4. Doors open at 7PM and the music starts at 8. Trillium Groove and John Piatek will also be performing. Tickets are $10.
Check out Pug Loop on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, BandCamp, and by visiting https://pugloop.square.site/
Jennifer Patino lives in Traverse City and loves music! Visit her blog at thistlethoughts.com