Pillow Queens - “Hearts & Minds”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With…Courtney Barnett, Pip Blom, Heartless Bastards

Pillow Queens have honed their sound over the past couple of years into tight, mid-tempo indie rock, catchy tracks rooted equally in garage rock and Americana influences. The Irish band balances smoothness and grit with 50/50 consistency, able to produce dramatic, building numbers while still keeping in a controlled pocket. Gone are some of the loose, shoegaze layers that covered much of their debut 2020 record In Waiting on “Hearts & Minds” and “Be By Your Side”, the two engaging early singles from the band’s sophomore record Leave the Light On. These newer, alt-country weighted shoes fit Pillow Queens well and make this next release an anticipated collection due next month. Look for Pillow Queens to make an impact at SXSW this year - they already have three showcases lined up, Tuesday with the British Music Embassy at Cedar Street Courtyard, Thursday night at the Velveeta Room, and Friday at Valhalla with Royal Mountain Records. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Playing a notably smooth version of punk-pop forms, Pillow Queens present a unique take on the genre along with well-versed threads of breezy, shoegaze, and folk-based rock. Latest single “Brothers” is a loving, jangly song, somewhere between a pacing ballad and dreamy pop track, rotating emotional depth and tender tribute between verse and chorus. Shooting back through Pillow Queens’ catalog, including a couple EPs and surrounding singles since 2017’s Calm Girls, a fully-formed unit is revealed with a warming sound becoming the nexus of their music as they evolve year after year.