The Margaret Hooligans – Driver! (2024)
Dynamic. Bold. Diverse. Confident. Whatever you wish to call them, The Margaret Hooligans are slap-bang, in-your-face, pay-attention-now musicians not to be ignored. From punk to hard rock, grunge and even some psychedelic musings, the US-based duo bottle various genres and sprinkle the collision of emotions and melody on the adoring masses. The last time we encountered Meg Cratty (vocals, electric ukelele and electric lead guitar) and Mr Strontium (drums and percussion), there was an anguished lament bemoaning a heart-tearing breakup in ‘Royal Octopus Canal’; however, the pair bring it all back (but retain grittiness) in the profound and poignant single ‘Driver!’
The Margaret Hooligans may have a melting pot of melodies in their discography but there is an essence that makes them distinguishable – a pulsating rambunctiousness. Be it ferocity in a soothing pop tune or the pounding aggression of punk, you can always expect The Margaret Hooligans to hit you between the eyes. Following the singles ‘Royal Octopus Canal’ and ‘Sammy wasn’t a good boy’ (a collaboration with dream-pop group I Am The Unicorn Head), ‘Driver!’ sees a shift from brooding rock to upbeat, punk-inspired alternative rock.
A band whose music must be felt instead of heard, stepping into The Margaret Hooligans’ ‘Driver!’ is like heading off on a mad journey with a questionable driver. No revving or “Do you have your seatbelt on”, the new single blasts forward with Cratty’s electric guitar taking hold. The car breaks on percussion bumps in the road shaking from one side of the car to the other. Swirls and sweeps, dips and flying dives, the hard-hitting rock melody keeps you bouncing about (I guess you needed a seatbelt). Interestingly, while the melodic insanity spins your head, Cratty’s soothing vocals incite gentleness and calm to counteract the madness.
A memorable taxi ride, ‘Driver!’ has you wobbling once you step outside and run away; however, a more profound theme catapults the single to greater heights. A social narrative on the prison industrial complex in the USA, The Margaret Hooligans tackle provocative issues in their moving melodies. The band explains:
“’Driver!’ is a damning look at the monstrous prison industrial complex in America that has been fuelled by capitalism, racial injustice and increasing wealth disparity. Meg invokes the use of the phrase “Attica” for the chorus echoing Al Pacino’s use of it in Dog Day Afternoon…Cratty sings it here to remind us that conditions in these for-profit prisons are still terrible…”
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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