The Margaret Hooligans – Main Street Zulus (2024)
Sugary sweetness with layers of pink bubble gum clinging to a kaleidoscopic haze of whimsy – The Margaret Hooligans isn’t that. No licks of devastatingly sweet but definitely devastating in a really good way. Sending your head spinning without any sugar rush, pounding in your ears and setting you off on a sublime ride of chaos; this is The Margaret Hooligans.
For the past three years or so, I have placed myself in the US-based duo’s drive of awesome insanity and not regretted a single moment. ‘Feedback’ had me hooked, ‘Doggie Pizza Crust’ kicked it into high gear, and Meg Cratty’s vocals oozing into 9 o’clock Nasty’s ‘Bird Of Happiness’ brought together two of my favourite bands. The latest addition to The Margaret Hooligans repertoire is ‘Main Street Zulus’.
Following the well-received single ‘Alley Cat Stomp’, ‘Main Street Zulus’ is almost four minutes of pounding drums rattling through your brain. A bold combination of bongos wrap around a scorching guitar bringing an alternative rock edge to the, well I really can’t categorise the melody. Drums hit you from every side and you might consider a feeling of being tossed from pillar to post; however, an inherent flow emerges with rhythmic beats and the guitar bursting with mellifluous intensity. Add Meg Cratty’s distinctive throaty vocals and you have one of those songs that carry you off in a giddy haze but simultaneously have a lurking darkness.
A distinctive feature of The Margaret Hooligans is the alignment of thought-provoking themes with organised melodic chaos. The band explains:
“This song [‘Main Street Zulus’] imagines the inner monologue of a woman forced to endure the worst blind date ever. The online dating world is fraught with people trying to put their best face forward which means there is frequently a bit of exaggeration. This song takes that idea to its extreme and imagines what it would be like to be stuck on a date with someone who has completely misrepresented who they are.” – The Margaret Hooligans on ‘Main Street Zulus’
In addition to the single, The Margaret Hooligans released an official music video for ‘Main Street Zulus’. You can view the music video below and on their YouTube channel.
Find out more about The Margaret Hooligans on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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