Review: Upset – ’76

Upset
’76

Lauren Records
Street: 03.31
Upset = Potty Mouth + All Dogs / Joyride!

It’s always been great for me to find all-women rock bands who play music like they don’t give a fuck about you or what you think of them. Upset’s pop-like vocals from Ali Koehler (Vivian Girls, Best Coast) shine as she strides through every song, as if telling you a story on a walk through the city with her own soundtrack. But the secret to the group comes in the trio behind her—the mix of Rachel Gagliardi (Slutever), Lauren Freeman (Benny The Jet Rodriguez) and Patty Schemel (Hole) form a fantastic quick-paced dirty rock trio that put a lot of high-profile bands making the same music to shame. ’76 is short and sweet—there isn’t a lot of glam, there’s not much for solos, and there’s certainly no big-band feel—but that’s what makes it so fucking awesome. This is a group that could play your house show, drink your beer, make you fall for them and then knock you out on the porch before leaving town—and this album captures that feeling perfectly. –Gavin Sheehan