Bargain Bin Heroes – Waiting For So Long (2023)
Influenced by the likes of Blink 182, Less Than Jake, Rancid, Operation Ivy and many more 90s pop-punk/pop-rock groups, US-based Bargain Bin Heroes is a group you will not easily forget. Forging elements of punk with a banging horn section, the talented quintet have you ready for the mosh pit with their ska style. Described as having music that “oozes blood and sweat…” (Edgar Allan Poets), Eric (lead vocals and bass), Rob (guitar and vocals), Jimmy James (drums), Aaron (vocals, trombone and xylophone), and Amanda (saxophone) are a force to be reckoned with. The latest addition to their discography is the EP Waiting For So Long.
Following the single ‘Jumping The Shark’ (included on the EP), the six-track Waiting For So Long is a passionate blast of ear-drum-bursting music. Bargain Bin Heroes’ debut EP, Waiting For So Long explores complex issues of vulnerability, self-worth, self-doubt, relationships and the state of society in the 21st century. Then again, the complex issues are coupled with lighter-hearted tunes showing the lads and lady can be serious but also chilled. While this is their second release in 2023, it is also a return to the scene following the “Covid years”. Many bands took a step back at this time, but Bargain Bin Heroes were one of those groups honing their sound and preparing for something spectacular.
Signed to Havoc Underground for this release, Waiting For So Long was a (sort of) DIY project. Recorded at a home studio but then sent along to be mixed and mastered by Roger Lima from Less Than Jake, Bargain Bin Heroes bring a sophisticated, layered slice to innocent, raw tones with a live band feel.
So, we know the group has a reflective, introspective lyrical theme navigating different areas of life, but what about the melody? Bold, brash and abrupt from the beginning, Bargain Bin Heroes have you jumping about from the first note. The combination of Eric’s gruff vocals, guitars and horn section brings warmth to the music. Amanda’s saxophone enhances the eclecticism of Waiting For So Long and brings a mature sassiness with her.
While the group opens with a frenzied track, they quickly dip into a calmer pace – although still upbeat and toe-tapping. As with Amanda’s saxophone, Aaron’s trombone brings another dimension to the passionate beats. A strong leaning toward bands like Sum 41 and Blink 182 is evident, but Bargain Bin Heroes appear to have a sound that is utterly inimitable.
I wouldn’t say Waiting For So Long is soothing, but there is a chilled-out groove flowing through the sonic tapestry. Slithering in through your ear, rocking about your cranium and leaving you breathless, Bargain Bin Heroes is an experience you will never forget!
For more from Bargain Bin Heroes, check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
