Bandaid Brigade – Perfect (2022)
Yacht punk? Yacht… punk? Christopher-Cross-meets-The-Buzzcocks? Two genres that are so disparate only one band would think to combine them: Bandaid Brigade. It’s one thing for a group to combine two genres and quite another to make it sound good. Bandaid Brigade do one better: they make it sound awesome.
Bandaid Brigade is a UK collaboration between Zach Quinn of PEARS and Brian Wahlstrom of Scorpios and Gods of Mount Olympus. (Paul Rucker and Chris Fogal round out their lineup by providing drum, vocal, and guitar services). The duo’s self-described yacht punk is an absolute delight to listen to. Punky guitars and vocal performances combine with glammy lyrics, production, and stomping piano to form one of the best earworms I’ve heard all year.
‘Perfect’ started out imperfectly. Brain Wahlstrom explains, “luckily, due to our miscommunication skills, we accidentally showed up two days early in New Orleans to record the album. We all of a sudden had a few days off to get acclimated to the city and write a few more songs in Zach’s living room. Rucker had this one in his back pocket, it was perfect.” More bands should engage in some mild miscommunication if the results are as fun as ‘Perfect’.
Bandaid Brigade is not the duo’s first time around the songwriting block, and it shows. ‘Perfect’ could have been a good single with its amusing lyrics and memorable melody. They break the standard single mould and close out the song with engaging rhythm changes, a rippling bass line, and a wailing guitar. The group’s songwriting and instrumental skills turn a fun song into a fantastic song.
‘Perfect’ is the final single before Bandaid Brigade’s sophomore album Sex Is Terrifying hits the shelves on August 26 via Xtra Mile Recordings. The band also released tour dates. Throughout September and into early October, they will hit cities in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. Labelmates Skinny Lister support them for the second half of the tour. I wish I lived in Europe so I could catch a show. That’d be perfect – just like their latest single.
For more from Bandaid Brigade, visit their official website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, and YouTube.
