If Pissed Jeans and The Coathangers hooked up at a house show (consensually, of course) and kept the twin music babies, they would grow into β90s grunge queerdos, with the crunchiest riffs being played as loud as possible. While tagging their lyrics on your exβs momβs car, which randomly caught on fire by the way. Enter Toronto bratty punk band PRETTYBOY. The rebellious quartet is putting out two self released EPs, and today we’re stoked to give you one of them, dubbed “BECKY”, along with the band’s special commentary and a list of other bands and artists worth a check!
PRETTYBOY is a 4 piece, bratty as fuck punk band from Toronto. Started in 2017 by Izzy (Found Objects) and Joni in Izzys basement, the duo tapped vocalist Kirsten (LILIM) and bassist Kat (WLMRT) to make it official. Releasing their s/t demo in 2018, the brats started plastering their manic brand of punk all over Toronto. With trips to MTL for Pouzza Fest, and sweating it out at Faith Void for New Friends Fest, the group became known for their intense live performances and fuck you attitude. Now in 2021, as we collectively go through some of the weirdest times for music and the world in recorded history, they present 2 eps, BECKY and DARLENE.
Darlene EP is coming up on June 14th.
LET’S GET THE RAGE OUT! Socially distanced of course, because Ontario is in the longest recorded lock down for the pandemic, in the world, FUCK YOU DOUG FORD!
Words by PRETTYBOY:
πΊπππ€πππ π’π ππ π‘βπ 80βπ πππ 90βπ , πππ πππ¦ππ¦ π€ππ πππππ πππ‘π π‘βπ ππ’ππ‘π’ππ πππ ππππ’ππ π’π .
If you were a girl or queer kid in these times, it was incredibly complicated to be yourself. The culture was soaked in hyper sexualized women who didnβt seem to care they were being sexualized. Infact is was cooler not to care, to take it, to go along with it, to shove down this constant feeling of being exploited. It was infuriating.
πβπππ ππ’ππ πππ π·πΌπ π§πππ ππ’ππ‘π’ππ πππ π‘βπ ππ’πππ πππ π€πππππ π€ππππ ππ’π πππππ ππ π‘βππ‘ π‘πππ.
Bands like L7, Filth Column, Bikini Kill and Team Dresch to name a few were creating music and visuals highlighting the effects of this toxic culture. Their, as well as our own experiences of growing up in that era and the waves of it that still affect us today, inspired our debut EPs – BECKY and DARLENE. A little rrriot girl, hardcore and agnsty 90βs teenager all rolled together to create our manic brand of punk.
πΈπ₯πππππππ π‘βπ π‘βπππ πππ ππ₯ππππ π πππ ππ ππππ‘π‘ππππ π ππ π πππππ‘πππ π‘π π‘βππ ππππ‘πππ’ππ, ππππ ππππ, πππ‘πππππβππ ππππ π π’ππ ππ π‘βπ ππππππππ ππ πππ‘β ππππ’ππ .
The more in your face brat, DARLENE, and your more contemptuous, secretive brat, BECKY. Both albums are equally destructive and honest, just like the sisters that inspired them.
Prettyboy also created a double lyric zine, with the help of Meg Stanton, to accompany both albums in tribute to βThe BRATβ. A quote from the zines:
A BRAT is defined as a person, especially a child, who behaves badly. Pfft, fuck that! Brattiness is the safe expression of rage and hurt in relation to deep rooted fear. When you grow up in a hyper patriarchal society, with no accepting space to express this buried and unknowable fear, you act it out in tempered ways. BECKY and DARLENE are the personal explorations of this brilliant but sometimes destructive defence. To all our fellow BRATS; you are not βbadβ and PRETTYBOY loves you!
Other bands and Artists worth checking out, by PRETTYBOY:
“Toronto and Ontario are RICH with rad, talented and groundbreaking bands of all genres!” – says the band.
“Here are a few as well as our fav tracks of theirs to check out, not all 2021 releases. Due to the pandemic our scene has really slowed on releases. Itβs very privileged to release in this time.”
LUGE
Fav Track – Poor Pelt
SAGO
Fav Track – Squealer
BURNER
Fav Track – Love City
PIPER MARU
Fav Track – De Escalation tactics
VILE CREATURE
Fav Track – All of Them
Fav track – Out of Mind
NON CANADIAN FAVS FROM 2021:
PUPIL SLICER (UK)
The album Mirrors is hard AF. Fast, intense, alllllll over the place. Taking us on a crushing journey from beginning to end. It feels like this band did whatever the fuck they wanted across multiple genres, but at the same time are so techinically talented it feels seamless. SO HEAVY!!
THE ARMED (US)
Their new album ULTRA POP is FIRE. Another wild and fast ride through their brand of hardcore/punk. To see this band live is a literal treat. They get the energy in the crowd so high they have a crowd βchillerβ that tours with them. This huge, lovely man in camo, hugging all the over excited dude broβs back into hardcore harmony. Love every track on this album.
