The Putz - Too Little Too Late

Duuuuuuuude! The Putz, who've long been a band I would place in the top tier of present-day pop-punk, have unleashed what could very well be their best album yet! Out now on Mom's Basement Records, Too Little Too Late is their fifth album and first in four years. At first, this may come off as something a little different for The Putz. It leans more to the the snottier, more aggressive side of pop-punk and less to the "pop" side of pop-punk. But when I look back over The Putz's body of work, I realize that this band has always excelled at snarky three-chord punk blasters. The ratio of hate songs to love songs may be a little higher on this release, but essentially this is a vintage Putz effort. When it comes to pulling off a fuck-off attitude yet keeping the songs totally fun, no band can top The Putz. Billy started writing this album during peak lockdown times, so of course his lyrics reflect a great deal of frustration and dissatisfaction. But this is by no means a "dark" album. Billy, Dougie, and Pat are operating at a master class level in the fine art of channeling intense negativity into triumphant songs that will have you bobbing your head, tapping your toes, and shouting along until all your troubles melt away. Songs rage against everything from your asshole boss to douchers named Chad to people who never shut their mouths to haters of punk rock to chowder heads to whiners to pharmaceuticals to your scumbag friends to a refrigerator devoid of beer. Mixed in are some Ramones-based rockers like "Teenage Hand Grenade" (reminding me of superstar label mates the SUCK) and a couple of absolutely perfect pop-punk love songs, including the masterpiece "I Hope You Stick Around" (featuring Leah Putz on lead vocals). Put it all together, and you've got everything you could want from a pop-punk record. You know Mom's Basement Records ain't messing around! 

Of course there are a whole lot of bands out there that worship at the altar of The Queers in their early to mid '90s peak years. Most of them are enjoyable to some degree but come off like obvious copyists. The Putz, on the other hand, remind me of why I loved all those Queers records but don't sound like they're trying to be The Queers. A lot of that has to do with Billy's unique, authentic appeal as a vocalist. With every word that comes out of his mouth, there's no doubt you're buying what he's selling. And of course you won't find three other musicians in the world who are more perfectly suited to playing this kind of music. This band includes my favorite living drummer and a guitarist who recently released the best pop-punk album in a decade. But much love is also warranted for the author of these songs. It takes an incredible amount of smarts to write great songs this dumb, and it's high time that the genius of Billy Putz be acknowledged.

-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/too-little-too-late
https://momsbasementrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-putz-too-little-too-late
https://open.spotify.com/album/0BS6XHVdTngrEJHevdiIpn
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock
https://www.instagram.com/the.putz/
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.instagram.com/momsbasementrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords
https://www.tiktok.com/@momsbasementrecords

The Putz - On and Up and Out

With the exception of a Christmas single in 2022, The Putz had not released new music in four years. So it's a joy to have a new EP from one of the best pop-punk bands in the business — with more to come very soon! On and Up and Out is almost a concept record. So much of pop-punk as a genre exists because people break up with their significant others and want to wallow in misery. On this EP, Billy's songs essentially flip that idea upside down. On and Up and Out explores the silver linings of relationships meeting their demise. The cliché in the aftermath of a breakup is to say, "It was for the best." And that's usually bullshit. But sometimes it's not. Sometimes a bad breakup is an opportunity to reclaim your life and your freedom. Sometimes it's an escape from a toxic situation. Sometimes being alone is less miserable than being with someone who makes you miserable. The Putz is one of those rare bands that can get away with sticking to a defined musical style, and these four songs demonstrate why. This is pop-punk by the book — executed to perfection and (as the liner notes say) "guaranteed to get your toes tapping and fingers snapping." What more do you need! Enjoy these tunes now, and be on the lookout for a new Putz full-length coming soon on Mom's Basement Records!

-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/on-and-up-and-out
https://ibuyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ibr029-on-and-up-and-out
https://www.mbnhrecords.com/product/the-putz-on-and-up-and-out-7
https://www.ibuyrecords.it/prod/the-putz-on-and-up-and-out/
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock

Classic Pat - "Sadie Hawkins Dance"

One cool thing that happened to me in 2023 was that I got really stoked on pop-punk again. Of course I've always liked pop-punk. This was the type of music that got me into punk rock in the first place way back when. But this past year, it just felt like I was into pop-punk way more than I'd been in a long time. And that momentum carries over into 2024. Classic Pat has released a couple teaser singles for his forthcoming solo album on Mom's Basement Records, and I am totally obsessed! I guess this is not surprising since his band The Putz has been a longtime favorite of mine. But man oh man, this latest single "Sadie Hawkins Dance" is what I live for: pop-punk that's super-poppy but also heavily influenced by traditional rock 'n' roll. Plus you have to love a song that tells a story! I imagine John from Mom's Basement laughing like a diabolical cartoon super villain when he heard this — realizing that he had one of the greatest pop-punk songs ever written in his possession. Hit up Classic Pat's YouTube channel to hear "Sadie Hawkins Dance" and "She Don't Care," which sounds like the best Queers song in years. The full album will be out soon! 

-L.R.

https://www.youtube.com/@ClassicPatTV

Mike and Pat - "That Zombie Stole My Girl!"

Out today just in time for Halloween is the exciting debut single from the eagerly anticipated super(natural) duo Mike and Pat! Mike and Pat is not a popular fruit candy. Nor is it a comedy team from the '50s or a pair of rival cheesesteak moguls. Rather it's a joint venture between Mike from Vista Blue and Pat from The Putz. That sounds like a dream tandem on paper, but I've been cautious about seeming dream tandems ever since Joel Embiid & James Harden floundered in consecutive post-seasons and Yuengling Hershey's Chocolate Porter came out tasting like watered-down Yoo-hoo. Yet apparently the third time is the charm as members of perhaps my favorite two pop-punk bands have come together to knock their debut release out of the park. "That Zombie Stole My Girl!" is a splendid shot of monstrous pop-punk goodness that tells the story promised in the title (wonderfully depicted in Johnny Badgrammer's cover art). Horror and heartbreak in the same song? What fun! I couldn't have imagined this single getting even better on the B-side, but somehow it does! "I Like 'Em Tall, Green, and Rotting" tells the same story as the A-side but from the point of view of the girl. And hearing her tell the story, you just can't blame her for falling for that zombie. Far from just another gimmicky horror-punk act, Mike and Pat are here to teach us valuable life lessons. One person's heartbreak is sometimes another person's magical romance. And if a zombie can find love, certainly that means there's hope for everyone. All in all, this is an A+ pop-punk tune and an A+ horror tune, and you can hear the distinctive presence of both Mike and Pat coming through in a major way. Man, those harmonies are to die for. Bonus points for the Oxford comma! Have a happy Halloween, and be sure to make Mike and Pat part of your festivities!

-L.R.

https://radiantradish.bandcamp.com/album/that-zombie-stole-my-girl
https://open.spotify.com/album/14XYv28ugo75oFZEldGqyG

Classic Pat - La Bamba

Now this was a super cool idea! Classic Pat (guitarist in one of my favorite bands, The Putz) has covered the La Bamba movie soundtrack in its entirety! It's the second installment in his Why Not? series (he previously covered Tiffany's self-titled album from 1987). The La Bamba soundtrack was an absolutely crucial album in my musical education. In 1987, I was 16 years old and still a classic rock/metal kid. After purchasing the La Bamba tape and listening to it daily, I became fanatical about listening to oldies radio and learning about early rock n' roll (the rest is history, I suppose). And of course I became a huge van of Ritchie Valens, who remains one of my favorite first generation rock and rollers. Because I listened to that soundtrack so many times, returning to it now is like catching up with an old friend. Classic Pat does a great job with these songs. His renditions are faithful, yet they've also been punked up a little. And that makes perfect sense when you think about the way '50s rock n' roll and doo wop influenced so many pop-punk bands. As groups like The Beatersband are demonstrating today, pop-punk and early rock n' roll belong together (pun fully intended). And Pat's interpretation of this material acknowledges that. His version of Valens' "Donna" fits in just as nicely alongside The Young Hasselhoffs or Vista Blue as it would on an oldies playlist. I've often claimed Buddy Holly as the true father of pop-punk, and this album's version of "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" evidences that idea fully. Pat's take on "La Bamba" (which, as arranged by Valens, would massively influence garage rock and punk) is totally killer. While "Why not?" may be the concept, this album is no joke. If you grew up on the La Bamba soundtrack (and movie) as I did, this version will give you warm feelings. But anyone who loves timeless and tuneful rock n' roll should enjoy the heck out of this release. 

-L.R.

https://classicpat.bandcamp.com/album/why-not-vol-2-la-bamba
https://open.spotify.com/album/5BLOSL3S02ghrddKt4Os8b
https://theputz.bandcamp.com/

The Putz - Ho Ho Ho, Let's Go!

Holding strong to my vow to limit my reviews of Christmas music this year to no more than four, today I fill my third slot with the first new music from The Putz in two-and-a-half years. I'm going to come in under budget! Seriously, there was no way I was going to be ignoring new tunes from one of the best bands in modern-day pop-punk! Ho Ho Ho, Let's Go! is the second in what I hope will be an on-going series of holiday-themed EPs by The Putz. 2018's Mad Monster Party has become my #1 Halloween go-to, and now Ho Ho Ho, Let's Go! offers five great tracks worthy of consideration for my Christmas playlists going forward. The style of the songs is exactly what you'd expect from The Putz: textbook pop-punk done right. And while this is a Christmas-themed EP, it's not annoyingly merry or festive. The title track has all the makings of a new seasonal standard. It revisits the timeless theme of eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. It's a classically kid-friendly tune that grownups will love too because, hey, a Ramones influence is almost always a recipe for a good time. For those less enamored with the holiday spirit, the cynical "Bah, Humbug!" will hit the spot. "(I Need) Eggnog" is not so much about eggnog as it is about needing a stiff drink to survive the drama and dysfunction of family gatherings. Who can't relate to that? "Mission: Mistletoe" imagines the ultimate boss move: throwing a Christmas party and inviting only girls.  

Ho Ho Ho, Let's Go! is available on limited 12-inch vinyl (in two colors: red and black). And when I say limited, I mean it's almost sold out. Considering that amazing Ricky Racket artwork, I can see why you'd want a physical product of this EP. When it comes to any release by The Putz, the best policy is to buy now and ask questions later. This band hits it out of the park every time. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/ho-ho-ho-lets-go
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock/
https://www.instagram.com/the.putz/

The Putz - Rise And Shine

I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but I'll say it again. When it comes to Ramones via Lookout! Records inspired pop-punk in 2020, The Putz is as good as it gets. Today the Indiana trio releases its fourth album Rise and Shine on two of the best labels out there: Eccentric Pop Records and OUTLOUD! Records.

The Putz is one of those pop-punk bands that manages to be totally obvious about its influences while still infusing its music with its own style and personality. Much of that is owed to Billy Putz being such a likable vocalist. Even when he's singing not-so-nice things, he sounds like a guy you'd totally want to hang out with. And as a songwriter, he excels at writing three-chord pop songs that are catchy and totally fun to sing along with. I've always maintained that writing really good simple songs is one of the hardest things to do in music. It's only perceived as easy because bands like The Putz make it seem so effortless! On Rise and Shine, Billy Putz, guitarist Patrick McVay, and drummer Dougie Tangent flawlessly execute the fundamentals of great pop-punk. You won't hear a tighter trio in this genre of music. And when it comes to finding that sweet spot between pop and punk, these guys hit it bang-on. Rise and Shine is an absolute blast, and it comes out firing with one of the strongest 1-2-3 opening sequences I've heard on a pop-punk record in a while. "Cut the Shit" is snotty, high-spirited, and straight out of the early '90s Queers playbook. "She's a Brat" is upbeat and super poppy - always a winning formula in my book. "Laserblast" is The Putz doing what The Putz does best: making a fun sing-along out of putting some insufferable asshole in his place. But while this album does revisit the snotty theme on a couple of tracks ("Grow Up" is especially fantastic), I like that we encounter the many different moods of this band. "You're the Kind of Girl That I Like" shows the sweeter side of The Putz, while "Another Autumn" is tinged with longing and sadness. "Invitation Only" touches on the classic pop-punk themes of feeling uncool and unaccepted. The title track clocks in at over four and a half minutes (an eternity in pop-punk music!) and delivers a very serious message about making the most of your life. Closing number "All The Time In The World" is a sentimental love song that reaffirms my long-held contention that all great pop-punk can be traced back to Buddy Holly.

Rise and Shine is everything I could have wanted from a new Putz album. It doesn't try to fix what isn't broken. You know who the influences are, and you probably own all of their records. Yet at the same time, this album features a cool variety of songs and shows a definite progression from the band's earlier work. And beyond all else, it's just really damn good. You could say this album is a throwback to the heyday of pop-punk. But my hot take is that right now is the heyday of pop-punk. Get your mitts on Rise and Shine while supplies last!



-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/rise-and-shine
https://eccentricpop.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-lp-the-putz-rise-and-shine
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock/
https://www.facebook.com/OUTLOUDrecords
https://www.facebook.com/EccentricPop/

The Putz - Shut Up!

In my book, The Putz is one of the best pop-punk bands out there. It's been a while since The Indiana trio's last release, the phenomenal Mad Monster Party EP. Billy, Patrick, and Dougie have done us all a solid and made their new EP available as a free download over at Bandcamp. In terms of the pop-punk fan base, Shut Up! has a little something for everyone. It leads off with the upbeat "One and Only", a feelgood love song made even brighter by Cassie Oh's jubilant keyboard contributions. This is my favorite track of the bunch - which is no surprise given the way I lean to the pop side of pop-punk equation. "Suit and Tie" is quintessential buzzsaw pop-punk that reflects on the importance of not wasting your life on soul-crushing endeavors. That seems like a very timely message at the moment. At just 73 seconds, it gets the job done with zero excess. "Shut Up, Kory" is bang-on snotty punk in the Screeching Weasel/Queers vein - something The Putz always does exceptionally well. And of course you know "Swallow My Pride". Sure, you could argue that covering the Ramones is a tall order since it's literally impossible to top the original. But honest to goodness, The Putz do a really cool and satisfying version of a classic here. When I finished listening to this EP and took off my headphones, I shouted "That was fun!" - which I suppose would have been perfectly acceptable behavior if there had actually been another person in the room. But that pretty much sums up this record. It's a blast! Shut Up! reminds me of the days when I would run to the mailbox in hopes that a new 7" from Mutant Pop Records had arrived. If you love pop-punk, this EP will be an absolute treat. And if you don't like pop-punk, there's no way in the world you've read this far! Where did I put my leather jacket?



-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/shut-up 
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock/ 

The Putz - Mad Monster Party

You could say I'm a little late getting to this Halloween soundtrack from The Putz, but wouldn't that imply that horror should only be a seasonal pleasure? To quote the Dead Kennedys: "Why not every day?!"

I'm not always a fan of "horror" punk, but I sure am a fan of The Putz. This is my third time reviewing this band, and Mad Monster Party has helped me realize why I'm not a big horror punk guy. A lot of horror punk explores the darker side of the horror genre, whereas I'm more into the goofy/fun side. I like monsters the best when they're drinking and dancing instead of murdering. The Putz have fully explored the fun side of horror on their latest EP. Basically these are typical pop-punk songs, except the protagonists are monsters instead of people. The title track is like a pop-punk version of "The Monster Mash" - an upbeat ode to all of your favorite creatures getting down. Come on: who wouldn't want to party with Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolfman, and Frankenstein's monster? Elsewhere, songs cover such topics as The Invisible Man's girl troubles, The Creature From the Black Lagoon's tremendous surfing prowess, and vampires needing to maximize their partying time. Yes, this is the type of horror that I can relate to! Thematic as it may be, Mad Monster Party is pretty much in line with every other Putz record. This is Ramones/Lookout! Records influenced pop-punk done to complete perfection. If you can make it through even half of "Mad Monster Party" without wanting to sing along, you just might be dead inside. And of course a song about an aquatic creature had to be Beach Boys inspired! Ya gotta love it! The Putz in my humble opinion are up there in the top tier of present-day pop-punk bands. And with Matt Drastic producing, there was no way Mad Monster Party wasn't going to be totally great! I wholeheartedly recommend it for your year-round listening pleasure.



-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/mad-monster-party 
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock/ 
https://www.eccentricpop.com/ 

The Putz - Clinically Inane

The Putz is a pop-punk band for people who love pop-punk. While that might sound like a statement of the obvious, you probably get what I'm driving it. The Putz isn't trying to re-invent a genre of music or mess with a successful formula. If you hate pop-punk, this is not a band that will turn you to the dark side. What the Indiana trio does do is carry the torch for the kind of pop-punk that I (and perhaps you) loved back in the '90s - when every new album from Screeching Weasel or The Queers was an event not to be missed. As far as I'm concerned, the best pop-punk never strays far from the Ramones' master blueprint. Of course that can be a double-edged sword. No one wants to listen to a straight-up copy of the Ramones. But if you can take that basic influence and put your own stamp on it, it's hard to go wrong. The Putz is one of those bands that totally gets what makes pop-punk great. Its new album Clinically Inane is out on Eccentric Pop Records - pretty much THE label for today's premiere pop-punk bands. And with Joe Queer producing the record, you know exactly what's coming!

Clinically Inane is The Putz's third LP and first since 2014. If you were expecting the band to sound older, wiser, and more musically evolved after all of this time, you don't know The Putz! The band is back with 14 more tracks of wonderfully stupid three-chord punk that you'll be itching to crank loud and sing along with. This record is just pure fun from start to finish. And with an average song length of less than 1 minute and 45 seconds, these guys sure aren't messing around! No, The Putz isn't offering you anything new here. But if you have a soft spot for textbook pop-punk executed to perfection, this is the record for you. Billy's vocals are the perfect mix of snotty and likable, while Dougie is one of those drummers who was seemingly born to play this kind of music. And with smooth vocal harmonies being such a crucial component of quality pop-punk, I appreciate that The Putz have those down pat. With material ranging from classic Ramonesy sing-alongs ("I Don't Wanna Go") to upbeat buzzsaw pop ("My Baby and Me") to blistering fuck-yous ("Blast Off!", "Glue Your Mouth Shut") to apocalyptic tales of love ("When The World Ends") to clever odes to dumbness ("My Missing Mind"), this album runs the gamut of the styles and themes that are essential to the pop-punk genre.

If I had heard Clinically Inane when I was 25, I would have run out into the street screaming for joy. The present-day version of myself is only slightly less stoked. This record stacks up quite well with the pop-punk albums I so dearly loved in my youth. While the quantity of bands playing old school pop-punk may have dwindled over the past couple of decades, the quality certainly has not. Good on Eccentric Pop for providing a home for the next generation of true believers!



-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/clinically-inane 
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock/ 
https://www.eccentricpop.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/EccentricPop/ 

Return of The Putz!

If The Putz seems like the perfect name for a pop-punk band, then it makes total sense that this Indianapolis trio has made one of the best pop-punk albums of recent years! Out on Eccentric Pop Records, Knock It Off throws it back two decades to the heyday of leather jacket punk. Building on a foundation of thumping power chords, two-part harmonies, punchy bass lines, and eternal Ramones worship, The Putz prove that pop-punk will never need to be reinvented as long as it's flawlessly executed. Billy, Tyler, and Dougie are one hell of a tight combo, and they bash out those three chords with thundering power and crisp precision. By all means this is a band following in the footsteps of The Queers and Screeching Weasel - a legacy these guys fully embrace without coming off like uninspired copycats.  
Knock It Off is great fun for a couple of reasons. First of all, the energy and enthusiasm of The Putz's buzzsaw attack could win over all but the most fervent haters of pop-punk. And perhaps even more importantly, the material is so genuinely good that refraining from singing along becomes a near impossible task. If you can resist the urge to join the chorus to "That's Okay" or "Lunatic", I might have to ask you to turn in your Chuck Taylors. With songs topics such as fast food, procrastination, crazy girls, and malfunctioning brains, The Putz have clearly endeavored to make a textbook pop-punk record. Yet I don't get the sense that I've heard this album 500 times before. The Putz add their own style to the mix - and there's something distinctly Midwestern about these guys' humor and unpretentious attitude. Even when the influences are obvious ("Two Strikes"), I don't feel like I'd be better off just listening to my well-worn cassette copy of My Brain Hurts.

Sometimes a good record is just a good record, and sometimes a good record makes you want to go out and see a band live. I'd definitely put Knock It Off in the latter category. I can just tell that The Putz are the kind of live band that will put a huge smile on your face. They will be touring extensively across the U.S.A. this month in support of this new album - and you will not want to miss them if pop-punk is your thing. If your record shelf is full of titles by bands like the Riverdales, Teen Idols, and Lillingtons, Knock It Off belongs right there with 'em. Vinyl is limited to 250 copies, so hop to it!



-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/knock-it-off
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock
https://www.facebook.com/EccentricPop