In the midst of the American garage rock scene, we’ve seen several acts in recent years bubble up towards the top of the indie pop radar. Artists like Courtney Barnett and Speedy Ortiz have found repute for their grungey, pop-accessible sounds, and now New York’s Gladshot is following in their contemporaries’ footsteps.
Fronted by vocalists Debb Andrews and Mike Blaxill, Gladshot has broadened its portfolio to a considerable degree in a short amount of time. They’ve worked on Barcode, a “dystopian rock musical”, and have had their music featured on a variety of TV programs including those broadcast by ABC, TNT, and MTV.
Gladshot has a new self-released album coming out on 27 November called These Are Vitamins. It’s the second to be produced by John Agnello (Waxahatchee, Sonic Youth) and the very first to feature their latest bandmates, Jesse Murphy (bass), Tony Mason (drums), and Tom Bright (guitar).
“Simulation” is one of our very first listens into what Gladshot as a collective quintet sounds like in the studio. An extensive, muddied, and progressive guitar kicks things off, sending us back to the alternative scene of the early ’90s. Andrews and Blaxill’s vocals stay front and center as a rock symphony surrounds them, and it’s clear that they’re the real deal.
“Simulation is inspired by the hologram universe and casinos,” says the band on the futuristic track’s sound.