One of my favourite bands, Seattle street-punks The Drowns, have announced another split 7in single, this time with London punk scene stalwarts Wonk Unit.
The pairing of the two bands comes via a common link, former Wonk Unit guitarist Simon Short, who now plays with The Drowns after moving to the United States.
While many might assume there may be some bad blood between the bands, in fact it is quite the opposite.
Wonky people
“Simon Wonk moved to the States, it was very sad and we miss him, but he did start telling me about this cool band he’d met with a similar ethos to Wonk,” said Alex Brindle Johnson, singer and main songwriter for Wonk Unit.
“We like people who are nice. The Drowns are nice, no bullshit people. Wonky people.”
The friendship between The Drowns and Wonk Unit goes back a few years to their first-ever UK tour. “Alex from Wonk helped us book our first full UK run, which was huge. Then we shared one of the greatest curries we’ve ever had, and became fast friends,” said The Drowns frontman Aaron Rev.
Each band brings a new song to the table for the 7in, which will be released by Pirates Press Records in July. The Drowns song is The Beast, while Wonk Unit’s offering is entitled Rebecca.
For The Drowns, writing The Beast was straightforward: it’s a rock ‘n’ roll political protest track penned by co-frontman Andy Wylie.
They recorded it with producer Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys, Bouncing Souls), who was also the man at the controls for their critically acclaimed 2020 album Under Tension (reviewed here).
Split singles
The Beast is their fourth single of 2023, after sharing sides with Plizzken and The Last Gang, and recording a cover of The Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz with labelmate Suzi Moon.
Wonk Unit’s song Rebecca takes a much darker tone that many will relate to, as Alex reveals it’s about what he calls “the hopeless tragedy” of addiction.
“Watching loved ones suffer, all the pain it causes. Finding that rockbottom switch that somehow rewires your brain and you truly know that enough is enough.”
“I think it’s important to be open about addiction, to show people that life can truly be beautiful without that poison. I’ve only known true happiness through sobriety.”
The track was recorded live and lacks many of the production techniques usually found on Wonk Unit songs. It’s their first new music since 2021’s eighth album Uncle Daddy. They’re no strangers to split releases either, having shared 7ins with Raging Nathans, Slaves and The Menstrual Cramps.
Both songs bring something different and exciting that will take the listener on a roller coaster of emotions.
Both bands are touring extensively this summer – including a Rebellion date for The Drowns and an appearance at their own WonfFest for Wonk Unit – and will have copies of the record on their merch tables soon.
