Goodbye Honolulu - “U Got It”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Hippo Campus, Nada Surf, The Districts

Canadian indie rock band Goodbye Honolulu released a lone single in 2019 to follow-up their excellent EPs No Honey and More Honey and “U Got It” is a logical progression of their signature blend of breezy pop and grimy alternative rock sounds. A little more driving than most of their cool-pocket catalog, “U Got It” is a tight two-and-a-half minutes of punk-infused riffs and vocals. Their 2020 is loaded with tour dates, so don’t be surprised if new music is on the way soon from this exciting unit. (Kevin McStravick)

2019 Review: Goodbye Honolulu have an indie rock sound that flirts with catchy power pop, a hungry energy captured across 2018 sophomore EP More Honey. It’s clear that even though they have a knack for rock hooks, Goodbye Honolulu don’t take themselves too seriously. Opening track “Lorry Can’t Love” is a boiling punk driver decorated with ‘hoo-hah’ grunts that are pleasingly out of place, followed by the funky, confident swing of “Barbados Slim”. There’s a thinking-man’s side to this music, but at its root Goodbye Honolulu is just killer rock and roll. Born in the garage but written as though they’ve been at it for a decade, the Toronto-based band can move from hard to breezy even in a single song, nicely captured on highlight “Take You Dancing”.