Perfectly imperfect – that’s one way to describe Los Angeles based punk act, The Regrettes. Writing songs that proudly bear a brazen and unabashed attitude in the vein of acts Courtney Barnett or Karen O – with a pop aesthetic reminiscent of 50’s and 60’s acts a la the Temptations or Buddy Holly – the LA based four piece create infectious, punk driven tracks.
Lead by outspoken frontwoman, Lydia Night, and comprised of Genessa Gariano on guitar, Sage Nicole on bass and drummer Maxx Morando, the group have left the LA rock scene floored, managing to capture the hearts of jaded rock critics while opening for acts like Kate Nash, Jack Off Jill, Bleached, Pins, Deep Vally and more. With nothing but demos available online, the group are already beginning to generate hype, from outlets like NPR, and with NYLON already heralding them them as a “punk act you should be listening to”
Built upon a foundation of strength and self-awareness, The Regrettes are here to let you know that it’s OK to be you. Lead by Lydia Night, and flanked by lifelong friends Genessa, Maxx, and Sage; the four-piece’s music possesses the Riot Grrrl spirit while also channeling bands like The Ronettes, Hole and The Crystals.
The Regrettes cut “Feel Your Feelings Fool” is their 2017 debut, just a few months after the band’s formation, bashing it out in a few quick sessions. Maybe that’s why this album seems so urgent: it gallops forward at a breakneck pace, the music recorded not long after it was written. Energy alone can make for a good album but, fortunately for The Regrettes who are led by Lydia Night, who has a way with a hook and a knack for song construction.Night relies on certain classic pop tropes — girl group choruses pepper the album, she celebrates garagey riffs, and “Picture Perfect” slides into a Salt’N Pepa tribute, this fondness for old-fashioned songwriting gives Feel Your Feelings Fool an understructure upon which The band thread feminism, sneering angst, and ecstasy. All these intertwined emotions give the album an emotional punch that complements its musical rush, a confluence of nervy energy .
The Regrettes—the new poster children for local teen garage rock.” and “The Regrettes rocked with a ferocity and penchant for hooks that schools most indie rockers twice their age. They will surely run an empire in ten years tops.”
The Regrettes‘ debut album, Feel Your Feelings Fool!, is in no danger of the bad vibes associated with its Friday the 13th release, and if this is the first you’re hearing of the Los Angeles band, just know that it won’t be the last. Frontwoman Lydia Night offers an unfiltered manifesto over the course of 15 unforgettable tracks (plus a secret song ). Night and Genessa Gariano (guitar), Sage Chavis (bass) and Maxx Morando (drums) manage to draw from genres like garage rock, ‘60s pop and punk rock, while delivering a deliciously cohesive and catchy debut. Oh yeah, and they’re still in their teens.
But if you think their age is relevant, Night will quickly disavow you of that notion in the garage rock-tinged, “Seashore.” Backed by Nicole’s slinky bass line, Night addresses sexism, ageism and condescending assholes everywhere: “You’re talking to me like a child/ Hey I got news/ I’m not a little girl, and no I won’t give you a little twirl.” And with a chorus like, “I’m like nobody else, so you can just go fuck yourself,” you’re kidding yourself if you think you won’t be singing along to this anthem on the way home from your next shitty Monday at work.
In the sarcastic, fast-paced punky tune, “LadylikeWHATTA Bitch,” Night mocks the kind of judgmental peers most women are familiar with. Though its chorus is just Night, Gariano and Chavis singing “wa-oooo wa-wa-wa-oooo,” it will be stuck in your head, all freaking day. Fueled by power chords and Morando’s frenetic drumbeat, Night jeers at her haters in first person, “Lydia got asked out by this cute boy at my school gym/ But apparently she said no ’cause she was just not into him/ But clearly that’s not true and she is just a lesbian.”
The Regrettes fit love sickness in alongside calling out the patriarchy with the melodic “Juicebox Baby.” You can almost feel Night’s light headedness when she sings,“My mom tells me I’m lazy/ Well it’s ‘cause you make me hazy/ My head’s spinning like crazy.” Morando’s breakneck drums, Gariano’s fevered guitar melody and Nicole’s frenetic bass line, combined with Night’s rapid-fire lyrics about being smitten to the point of dizziness, make the song feel like a musical footrace—in a good way. As the band mates race to the end of the song, it’s no surprise that Night finally confesses, “I think I’m falling, falling for you darlin’/ It’s really quite alarming.”
If their freshman album is any indication of what’s to come from The Regrettes, then we can all look forward to a bright future for these 21st century Riot Grrrls.
The Fat Angel Sings 