I’m going to say something that may be somewhat surprising; I’m actually kind of picky when it comes to punk rock. Certain types just don’t usually do it for me, not a huge fan of hardcore punk for example, and even in the scenes I like I might only be 50/50. If I had to try and pinpoint what really draws me to a punk band, I think I’d say my favorite’s are the ones that use tongue and cheek humor effectively, as well as bands with really strong songwriting and hook sensibility. Detroit’s The Antibuddies is consistently both of those.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a bit, you should be pretty familiar with The Antibuddies. I recently released a wonderful e-mail interview with them, and have previously reviewed a couple of their EP’s. I’ve yet to hear something I don’t like. For the uninitiated, they’re a three piece grunge punk rock band out of Detroit with songs about stuff like gardening, cats, and feminism.
We’ll start with scratching an itch, from the band:
“”Like Ya Know Whatever” was inspired by the infamous 1996 Simpsons episode “Summer of 4 ft 2” where Lisa learns her worst fear of being uncovered as a nerd is actually what allows her to experience authentic friendships. “
Lyrically, the songs an earworm and will have you screaming “Fuck It though! Watch Me Fail!” by the second time around, and effectively captures the spirit of the aforementioned The Simpsons episode. I really like the crunchiness of the guitar tone in this song, it feels almost, sharp, and leaves a ton of room at the bottom for the boomy bass and pounding drums. As per usual, The Antibuddies keep it simple and effective on the riffing, and I really love how the drums let up on the cymbals when the verse ends to highlight the riff. “LYKW” also lands in a production sweet spot for me, fairly naturalistic and not over-produced, but carefully mixed and mastered for maximum impact.
I think this is already probably my longest single review ever so I’ll sum it up quick; Do you like well written, fun punk rock? Yes? Good, go listen to The Antibuddies.
Their Socials:
My Socials:
The Antibuddies Shows:
Shows:3.25 – The Pleasant Underground
4.27 – The Lager House – Detroit, MI
4.28 – CXR – Murfreesboro, TN
4.29 – Magbar – Louisville, KY
4.30 – Blind Rage Records – Dayton, OH
Dirt Witch Records 
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