Both the Districts’’ 2015 album “A Flourish and a Spoil” and its song “Young Blood” solidly made RedEye’s top 20 albums and songs lists last year, and whenever the Philadelphia band plays Chicago, it’s always one of the best shows of the year—case in point, its excellent opening set for Dr. Dog at Riviera Theatre earlier this month. So, when members of the group revealed a punk rock side project called Straw Hats, I knew it would be something equally worthwhile.
Turns out, it totally is. “Straw Hats,” a six-song debut EP from the three-piece which is premiering exclusively below with RedEye, is full of ripping punk scorchers front-to-back. Consisting of Districts frontman Robby Grote (drums/vocals) and drummer Braden Lawrence (guitar/vocals) along with Philly bassist Breshon Martzell, Straw Hats doesn’t sound much like the Districts but makes up for it with the unrelenting way these songs blitz your eardrums.
Highlights include the paranoia-laden opener “Satellite,” which sounds like one of Joy Division’s most skittish offerings, as well as the reverb-heavy “Kowabunga Tak Tak,” a track that wins on its title alone. However, my favorite cut is the jangly “Something to Say,” which I can’t wait to bop my head to in person whenever the band comes to Chicago. Listen below.
@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com
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![The Raue Center for the Arts wants to work with East Dundee to create a performing arts center in downtown. “We really love the idea of bringing the arts to all,” CEO Richard Kuranda said at a village board meeting Monday night. “So, we are here today to officially ask you to consider building and creating an arts center that we would collaborate with you on and hopefully serve,” he said. A new Raue Center would be “an economic draw to this wonderful town,” Kuranda said. The center, based in Crystal Lake, is excited about East Dundee’s town square and […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2023/12/12/PXMFVNAO65BWXLNFIVJB4WXSCQ.jpg?w=535 "The Raue Center for the Arts wants to work with East Dundee to create a performing arts center in downtown. “We really love the idea of bringing the arts to all,” CEO Richard Kuranda said at a village board meeting Monday night. “So, we are here today to officially ask you to consider building and creating an arts center that we would collaborate with you on and hopefully serve,” he said. A new Raue Center would be “an economic draw to this wonderful town,” Kuranda said. The center, based in Crystal Lake, is excited about East Dundee’s town square and […]")