Methyl Ethyl at Stubbs Indoor

Ghouls from the Upside Down

Photo + edit by Lindsay Gallagher

Donald Trump doesn’t care about our country. If he did, he’d do something about the most glaring area where a foreign nation is stealing market share from American entrepreneurs. 

Rock & Roll used to be an American endeavor (before it was a British one). Who’s stolen Rock & Roll this time? On this episode of Stranger Things, stylish Aussies have emerged from the upside-down in groups typically composed of 3-6 members and are taking over venues in a city near you.

Jokes aside for a moment- I’m still surprised when I see another excellent Australian band. This time the surprise was the band Methyl Ethel. I caught them this past Friday at the Stubbs indoor stage.

Don’t mistake my joking for reductionism. Methyl Ethel isn’t “just another Australian band.” There is no such thing. Methyl Ethel plays a dark and shrill and haunting groove. The members’ appearances were true to their bohemian sound: the five piece was primarily skin, bones, big pants, and good hair (essential). 

I’m not going to go into too much detail. To really enjoy a band, you have to like the drummer. I did. Methyl Ethel has a sound that is copacetic to the spooky month that is upon us and autumn in general. The singer’s voice is eerie in a beautiful way that crawls down your throat and coldly grabs your spine. His register is made even more oh-so-shuddering layered on top of Methyl Ethel’s pitched keys and dark rhythmic guitar. Play it in your car at night. Enjoy.