Bugs from Brisbane are a welcomed form of species: their new single ‘In The Middle (of It) is a vibrant serving of pop punk exuberance that will have you pogoing in your seat. A heady rush of pulsating guitars and sky high choruses are bolstered by some acrobatic singing that soars into the ether with a range like the Himalayas.
Frontman Connor Brooker explains the theme behind ‘in The Middle (Of It)’:
It’s a yearning track about feeling like you’re always the second option for someone. The to and fro internally while trying to figure out where you stand with someone can be so confusing, it’s kind of just an internal dialogue I had while being effectively lead on by someone already in a relationship.
The internal anxieties of life are delivered in a dashing, speeding vehicle fueled by a pure pop sparkle, splashed with a dash of melancholia (a perfect coating):
The single is available to download and stream here.
Bugs have also announced the release of their album amusingly called ‘Cooties’ out on 25 March 2022 and available to pre-save here. Brooker says of the album:
We started refining a batch of around 30 songs during the middle of 2020 and given the wealth of time w/ lockdowns managed to record most of the final tracks at Brock’s home studio. He engineered the release from scratch, Jordan and I put down some parts at our own houses that ended up staying in a few final mixes. But basically the bulk of the hard work and production was done by our drummer Brock Weston.
I wrote most of the songs between 2019-2020 and as the obvious gems worked their way onto the final track listing the theme of the album came together. It’s all about coexisting realities, relationships in your twenties, finding your place in the world. I’ve gone through pretty drastic and destabilising change at times and I guess it’s representative of a lot of personal experiences over the last few years. Some of the songs are pretty sad, some are full of angst, others unbridled joy. It’s a polarising mix of music because life isn’t as linear as we’d often like it to be.
To celebrate the announcement of Cooties the band are giving away a customised Fender Squier Affinity Telecaster Deluxe, painted by local artist Aidan Ryan who has created the majority of Bugs artwork in the past, including forthcoming album, Cooties.
You can catch Bugs on tour and experience ‘Cooties’ on the following dates:
Bugs Cooties Tour 2022 supported by LOSER & VOIID
Tickets and Info here
Fan Presale: Monday 7th Feb
General Onsale: Wednesday 9th Feb
Friday 22nd April: The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Saturday 23rd April: Crowbar, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 24th April: La La La’s, Wollongong, NSW
Thursday 28th April: Vinnies Dive, Gold Coast, QLD
Friday 29th April: Solbar, Maroochydore, QLD
Saturday 30th April: The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 4th May: Leichhardt Hotel, Rockhampton, QLD
Thursday 5th May: Metropolitan Hotel, Mackay, QLD
Friday 6th May: Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville, QLD
Saturday 7th May: Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns, QLD
Thursday 12th May: Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston, TAS
Friday 13th May: Altar Bar, Hobart, TAS
Friday 20th May: Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
Saturday 21st May: The Croxton, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 27th May: Fat Controller, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 28th May: Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth, WA
Sunday 29th May: Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough, WA
Feature Photograph: Ted Min
