Two punk rock bands from the West Coast of the US, The Drowns and The Last Gang, have teamed up to release a special split 7in featuring a new track from each.
Although they reside on the same side of the country, it was while touring Europe together that the idea to release a split was born – motivated by mutual friendships and appreciation of one another’s music.
Both bands are known for both their hard-rocking style as well as socio-politically conscious lyrics, so they’re a perfect fit for the 7in, which pairs The Drowns’ Subculture Rock ‘N’ Roll with The Last Gang’s Pleaser.
The Drowns are punk scene veterans who got together in 2017 to try their hand at creating something new, and came up with an energetic and heartfelt brand of streetpunk.
A promising debut album, View From The Bottom, was released by Gunner Records in 2018, and they followed with the excellent Under Tension (reviewed here) on Pirates Press in early 2020.
They released a six-track EP Lunatics (reviewed here) last year, and started 2023 by releasing a split single with German punks Plizzken.
Most recently, they collaborated with ‘new queen of punk‘ Suzi Moon on a raucous cover of The Sweet’s glam classic Ballroom Blitz for a digital single which was given away on a free flexi at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas.
The Last Gang were formed in Los Angeles by singer and guitarist Brenna Red in 2007, and have been through various personnel changes, with Red being the only consistent member.
They self-released their debut album, Employee’s Picks Vol. 1, in 2013, and began to break out from their LA roots in 2017 with a British tour and a single on Fat Wreck Chords.
Picked as one of 18 artists to watch in 2018 by Alternative Press, they released their second album, Keep Them Counting, that year, and a third, Noise Noise Noise, followed in October 2021.
On Subculture Rock ‘n Roll, The Drowns – who are returning to Rebellion Festival in Blackpool this summer – celebrate the joy and enthusiasm of music.
Meanwhile, on Pleaser, The Last Gang veers into darker territory, examining a toxic culture of superficial and unattainable beauty standards.
With cover art by renowned punk tattoo artist Hannah Blu, The Drowns/The Last Gang split 7in is available to pre-order now from Pirates Press Records HERE.
