Indie rock band Stray Mullets launches album this April 26

Indie rock band Stray Mullets launches album this April 26

by rick olivares

Indie rock band Stray Mullets will unveil their debut album, Melodies for Maladies, this coming Friday, April 26 at Mow’s in Teachers Village, Quezon City.

And I for one am excited. 

The Stray Mullets are a band that wears their influences on their sleeve, even their album sleeves. The three members have adopted personas ala virtual band, Gorillaz.  Most recently, indie rock band Pedicab adopted this “alien” look that they utilized on stage during shows to promote their recent album, Remuda Triangle. 

The album cover reminds me of the work of American satirical cartoonist Robert Crumb; a surefire attention grabber.

Joaquin Negra (aka JM Naceno) plays guitars, Ichivan Chan (aka Ivan Garcia) is on bass while Johnny Barracuda (aka JP Concepcion) sings lead vocals while playing the drums. And Melodies for Maladies in a manner similar to the Gorillaz’ self-titled debut, is a paean to their influences.

Visuals aside, the Stray Mullets make sure they deliver a fun debut that reminds me of what rock music is all about – a loud expression of life. 

The eight-track album is a raunchy rock and roller and never lets up. Melodies for Maladies opens with “Fine Lines” and an intro lick that is straight out of SoCal 80s rock or even ZZ Top. 

“Losing My Mind” which is about the relationship between comic book villains the Joker and Harley Quinn has that punk energy ala Stiff Little Fingers. 

Then they do an uber-cool re-make of 80s Pinoy Punk band, Private Stock’s “Hype’s Cool”. 

The second to the last song, “Keep Your Hands Clean” is what Johnny Barracuda says his attempts to write a psychobilly song ala the Cramps. And they do a great job of it that I had to chuckle. And for some reason, I thought of that scene in the old film, An American Werewolf in London, where the upbeat version of the Marcels’ “Bue Moon” just when the creature of the night attacks two tourists. 

And Barracuda’s husky and throaty vocals give it a different edge. 

The album reminds me of American New Wave band the Romantics or the great local crew Rizal Underground when dropped their self-titled debut in the 1990s. It was rock and roll laced with rockabilly, punk, and even blues influences. And the Stray Mullets’ Melodies for Maladies is in the same vein in terms of vibe, but the lads – Joaquin Negra, Ichivan Chan, and Johnny Barracuda – infuse it with their own energy and madness.

It’s a solid debut. And check out this Friday at Mow’s along Matalino Street or through their Facebook page. Joining them in their launch are Alienmonk, Irrevocable, the Geeks, the Shocking Details, Brain Twins, and Tao.