The American Songwriter featured Lead single “Lovely Nuthin’” – a 60’s styled doo-wop bop that is drenched in proto-punk flavor. With its Strokes-gone-surfing harmonizing guitars and crisp crooning from lead singer Beau Croxton, “Lovely Nuthin’ ” sets a smooth and fashionable entrance for the Rivals EP as their catchiest tune to date. The eruptive 60’s chorus harkens back to the likes of T. rex with its multi-octave guitar riffing. “Lovely Nuthin'” is an infectious dance party number with audiences at their live shows.
Their second track “Swoon” brings sass and stomp similar to Le Tigre’s “Deceptacon” and is as raucous as the fuzz-punk of Amyl & the Sniffers. Swoon turns up the volume to highlight Damn Jackals’ specialty: robotic-staccato rock. It sways with a punk persistence and allows all three Jackals’ guitarists to flaunt explosively fuzzy leads and harmonic relentlessness. The lyrics call out to the listener by implying “having actions to back up your strong words” is an important and attractive quality in our modern (environmental and political) state. A fiery solo by guitarist Maximus Motchan brings an energetic crescendo that sets up the last track perfectly.
The Rivals EP marks Damn Jackals’ first vinyl release, and it is an energetic stylistic update that demonstrates the variety, energy and potency of Damn Jackals’ sound. Conceptually and lyrically, each song on Rivals displays many different traits that can become our own “Rivals” by working against ourselves – such as vanity, addiction, pompous pride, greed and self righteousness. Although Rivals is brief – It is a current mission statement and a solid sonic taste of what’s to come from the band in the future as they work on their next full length LP.
All tracks written by Beau Croxton and arranged by Damn Jackals.
Produced, engineered and mixed by Paul Ritchie at New Future in Belmar, NJ.
Mastered by Grammy award winning engineer Alan Douches at West West Side Music.
Damn Jackals Bio:
Damn Jackals is a 5 piece Garage Rock/Proto Punk band from Brooklyn, New York formed in 2016. The lineup consists of Beau Croxton (lead vocals/guitar) Sean Burke (guitar/vocals/keys), Max Motchan (guitar), Sean McCann (bass), and Mike Goehler (drums).
Heavily influenced by late 60’s Garage Rock, early 70’s Glam Rock and CBGB-style Punk, Damn Jackals have a sound reminiscent of groups like T. Rex, The Sonics, and New York Dolls, highlighted by intricate and robotic harmonic guitar work paired with fuzzy lead vocals. Their genre bending repertoire allows them to seamlessly evoke the upbeat charm of modern indie-garage bands like The Strokes and The Murlocs and then transition straight into a more relentless and punk territory via Iggy & The Stooges or Amyl & The Sniffers. Damn Jackals have regularly featured a three piece horn section for their live show consisting of Carter Yasutake (Charles Bradley, David Byrne, St. Vincent) Jason Disu (David Byrne, St. Vincent,LCD Soundsystem) and Noah Dreiblatt (Blitz the Ambassador).
In May 2018, Damn Jackals released their debut LP, Crooked Castle, Vol I, with shows in support at Baby’s All Right & Mercury Lounge in New York City. In 2019, the band did a 12-date Spring East Coast Tour, highlighted by a slot at Savannah Stopover Festival (headlined by Deerhunter, The Joy Formidable and Lucy Dacus). In early 2020, the band performed a packed local show at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn- with their very first Bowery Ballroom show lined up in May 2020 (with High Waisted) before the world had come to a halt in March.
Returning in Summer 2021, Damn Jackals released their lead single “Lovely Nuthin’” with a Sold-Out release show at Our Wicked Lady in Brooklyn. The catchy earworm of a track picked up adoration from American Songwriter, Under The Radar Magazine, Earmilk, Pancakes and Whiskey, A&R Factory and more. Damn Jackals are set to release their new EP “Rivals” in July 2022, marking their first vinyl release with headlining shows in support at Brooklyn’s TV Eye and The Sultan Room.
