Scowl - “Psychic Dance Routine”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Nirvana, Gel, The Breeders

Heavy grunge riffs drive Scowl’s visceral sound, leaning into hardcore growls before dropping into pop-centric rock on a dime. Going back and forth between these influences gives their music life, pulsating rhythms matching shredding guitar licks. Sludgy but in control, Scowl’s songs would be ubiquitous radio hits thirty years ago, but sound just as urgent today. The Californian band released their debut record How Flowers Grow in 2021 and a few EPs on either side, the latest being Psychic Dance Routine. It continues their theme of rage bursts matched with catchy alt-rock choruses in a head-turning way. A hardcore band that makes you ask “Is this a hardcore band?”, Scowl are subverting by being accessible and drilling a path that wears its influences on its sleeves. Scowl has two showcases lined up at SXSW - Friday at ACL Live at the Moody Theater before a run of buzzy acts in Dylan Gossett, The Red Clay Strays, and Faye Webster, as well as Saturday at a hardcore showcase at Mohawk presented by Flatspot Records. (Kevin McStravick)