In punk rock, I’ve seen so many things come and go. Bands that were more pop than punk, bands imposing their lifestyles or ideology through their way of dress or lyrics, or just bands that made me want to tour the country in an old Econoline van. In the past twenty years, there has never been a time that I saw a new band that reminded me of so many others I admired, attempted to emulate, or found inspiration in as when I first saw Houston’s Ruiners. Their first show was mind blowing if not for any other reason than for their sheer force and energy. There’s the time I saw them play in the dark at a house party and their bassist almost knocked out a passerby on accident with his fevered performance. Or even the last time, when I saw them open for B L A C K I E when they reminded me of the intensity that only bands like Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi embodied. On their new album, Plebeian, out June 10 on cassette on Miss Champagne Records, they up the ante even further. While their last release had reminded me of Wipers meets Television, this album echoes the likes of Mission of Burma if it were played by the members of The Nation of Ulysses. Quite possibly one of the most intense new bands to come out of Houston, this album proves that the band has plenty of longevity.

The opening track, “Anxiety,” is a quick, feverish and gets going quick and ends just as fast. The snappy drums and the intense guitars make for a world where the lyrics hit just as they’re intended. The stark nature of the lyrics hit hard and there’s something in the mix that’s as crazed as you’d hope for. There’s a darkness to the lyrics you can’t shake, and while the band keeps things fiery, they close things off as quick as they began with drums and bass creating a sound that’s hard to forget while guitar compliments it all as masterfully as you’d expect from these guys. However, while the opening track feels like the perfect way to begin this release, the second track, “Nothing,” feels like one of the many stand outs here. The dual vocals and hook filled structure give it a deeper intensity while the lyrics feel as message-driven as you’d want from a punk band. Utilizing vocals from lead singer Shan Pasha and bassist Hayden Wander, there’s so much happening here that it’s hard not to just give in and fall for it. There’s no reason to overanalyze; this is just straight forward punk that you can’t deny, though the lyrics — “ego death, we are nothing” — will definitely stay with you after one listen. The band proves how strong four people can sound when they’re playing as a cohesive unit, offering up something that isn’t lengthy, but it’s definitely memorable.

That intensity follows into the next song, “Iman,” where the fast pace doesn’t stop from start to finish. There’s the feeling that the band is recording live with little overdubs that really keeps things fiery and at the forefront of their energetic tempo. The song gets going, gets its point across, and then finishes with surgical precision. There are moments in the songs where the bass lines alone are noteworthy and the production of the album proves that punk can have sonic qualities. When the track “Interlude” comes on, a subtle soundtrack plays underneath singer Shan Pasha reading what sounds like a monologue, or perhaps a poem. The soft tones and prose showcase that Ruiners are deeper than a lot of bands in the genre, while giving the listener something so different from the usual punk fare at the same time. With “Pointless,” the intensity of the previous songs returns with a vengeance. The band’s structure of bass and guitar in the front of the mix in the opening is only blasted to a new level with the vocals getting thrown in at a higher level, creating a driving sound that reminds you of the intensity that powered bands like Mission of Burma, early Wire, and Fugazi. While the song has emocore underpinnings, it’s still a melodic punk song that’s another stand out of the album.

Although offering up a lighter side on “Right/Wrong,” they’re still not going too far from their initial path. The track is vastly different with more of a slower pace and reverse guitar tracks that play while the drums and bass play in real time. The vocals and lyrics aren’t as dark as those on the rest of the album, but the track definitely proves that Ruiners can mix things up while smacking you in the face at the same time. The first side of the cassette is closed off with another stand out song, “Trippin’,” where the band embodies hints of Killing Joke and clips from Christopher Walken. The melodic nature of the song itself is truly mesmerizing while there’s a sonic assault during the driving parts of the track. Multiple guitars bleed through amplifiers in a state of feedback, before the song ends as quickly as it began.  

The last three songs of the album, or side two of the cassette, are three live versions from the band recorded live at Steamboat Amplifiers, which Free Press Houston debuted in a video originally. The tightness and vigor behind the session is unmatched, kicking off with “One,” and showing off the magic that these four bring to their live sets. They follow this with the passionate and quickness of “Dhost.” The song has always been a favorite at their shows and comes off just as energetic in this recording. The use of new drummer Joey Mains on these three songs pays off and gives anyone who hears them an idea of why the band has become so loved by those who have seen their performances. They close things off with the dulcet tones of “Liquid,” complete with stark lyrics and endearing backing vocals, as the song stands out and demonstrates the band’s diversity.

I think it’s fair to say that most people who hear this record will more than likely find themselves listening to it again and again. There’s so much happening in these songs with the way in which the band approaches songwriting and the hook-filled melodies within that it’s hard to remember that Ruiners is still a punk band. However, when you make records as strong as this one, you’re allowed to write your own rules as to what you do within your genre, and Ruiners proves that they’re on a whole other plane as far as punk bands go.  

You can pre-order a copy of “Plebeian” from Miss Champagne Records here. You can also grab your own copy from the band on Saturday, June 10 at Rudyard’s. The show, serving as the release party for the album as well as the release party for Football, etc, will feature sets from both bands as well as performances from Austin’s Yorick and an opening set from Houston’s Greg Cote & the Real Life Friends. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.

In music, no matter what you may want to happen, bands can’t make the same albums over and over again, unless they’re maybe AC/DC. The truth is that any fan of a band should want the group to grow and mature as artists. On their new full length, Houston’s Football, etc. do just that, they grow and shed the bulk of their emocore leanings. In fact, Corner finds the band heading in a more indie rock direction that results in a sound that’s more focused and open to more tastes than that of the emo underground. Possibly the band’s strongest release to date, the ten songs are full of energy and emotion, while taking their sound to a whole new place that delights anyone who gives it a spin.

Opening with the more melodic nature of “Save,” it’s quickly apparent that the band isn’t making the traditional album here. The dual vocals alone that mix with the intense cluster of drums, guitar, and bass create a sound that’s closer to acts like Superchunk than you might be expecting. The band still sounds the same with Lindsay Minton’s vocals, but the structure of the track echoes a band that’s taking things to a beautifully more open direction. They follow this with the more sonically diverse and slower sounds of “Try Out.” The song immediately reminded me of acts like Sharon Van Etten or Waxahatchee, where the slow melodies of the instrumentation and Lindsay’s vocals come together to offer up one of the many stand out tracks of the release. The fuzz of the guitar mixed with a backing vocal track underneath the main vocals and Daniel Hawkins’ snappy drums give the listener a sound that’s hard not to fall in love with. The closest the band comes to their emo past happens on the third track, “Foul.”  However, as close as it gets to the trio’s older sound, that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a leaner and more strengthening sound. The song will stick with you for days after just one listen, and sticks to you with its head bopping pace and catchy chorus.

The band takes a more slow stride on “I Believe,” further mixing things up as to what they’re up to on this release. There’s a more complex structure here, only proving that the band is definitely growing more than many within their genre. This is followed by the stark and tender sound of “Space,” where the song sounds so autobiographical that the lyrics are some that really stay with you. The amount of depth on the song, complete with a more complex structure than that of the band’s previous releases really showcases their sound as a unit. The bridge alone echoes sounds of indie rock progressions, and gives the listener another song that’s nothing like what Football, etc. has done in the past. The band returns to a more driving sound on “Eleven,” where the indie rock vibes with emo undertones are so strong that another stand out of the release will haunt you with each and every time you place the song on repeat. The balance between the bass from Mercy Harper, the melody driven guitar from Minton, and Hawkins’ drums really brings the track to a more flush sound that offers up more diversity as the three piece takes their sound to a whole new place.

This continues on the head bopper, “Advantage,” complete with a hook heavy guitar and verse that you can’t forget. If what the band is doing here is what they have planned for their future releases, I say bring it on. The mix of melodies on the song is definitely welcomed and is a journey you’re more than happy to take with the band, which continues on the eighth song “Overtime.” The band seems to indulge a more post punk vibe on “Nutmeg,” with an almost dissonant guitar that works so well, that you want to hear the song over and over. With a sound that’s closer to the early works of bands like Wire and Stiff Little Fingers, it’s still unmistakably Football, etc. but also something fresh and new that’s pretty amazing to hear. The album gets closed off with the slow and meandering sound of “U20.” While the elements of emocore run high on this song, the beauty of the vocals that seem to cut through the heavily melodic guitar that seems to pick up and slow down as soon as it starts to get going. When the chorus hits, it hits hard with a fuzzy guitar and a heavy vocal that gives you a sense of something personal that has to be said.

The end result is a sound from a band that’s growing into spaces that shed their earlier past in favor for something fresh and invigorating. By returning to work with famed producer J. Robbins again, Football, etc. proves that a band can grow while keeping many elements of their core sound intact in the process.

You can stream Corner here, or grab a copy from Community Records here. Or you can grab a copy from the band when they play their album release party at Rudyard’s on June 10. The 21 & up show will also feature the tape release from Houston’s Ruiners who will be on as direct support, as well as a set from Austin’s Yorick, and an opening set from Houston’s Greg Cote & the Real Life Friends with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.

In the last decade, there’s been a new wave of punk bands that seem to throw away the pop aesthetic that the genre garnered in the 90s, in favor of a more raw and intensity driven sound.  In Houston, one of the better new punk bands going would definitely have to be Ruiners.  Mixing post punk and punk aesthetics and thus sounding closer to a heavier Wipers or a mix of Wire and Stiff Little Fingers, the now four-piece has been on a tear for the past year.  With a new record getting its final touches, they’re also on the verge of dropping a new release this summer of their new song “Plebeian.”  The cassette that will be available through Houston’s Miss Champagne Records will also feature a live recording of three new tracks, all found exclusively here in the video below, and it’s pretty intense.

Mirroring the band’s live shows, the “Steamboat Session” that the band recorded live at Steamboat Ampworks, gives the viewers a glimpse into one of the better live bands Houston has to offer up today.  The three tracks in order, also linked individually here, “One,” “Dhost,” and “Liquid,” show how intense they are when they perform and the video — captured by Ronald Jones with audio engineering by John Palladina and the mixing and mastering from aCr at Red Flag Studios — is pretty legit in terms of sound quality and capturing the feel these four bring to their shows.  The video features the band’s current lineup with new drummer Joey Mains and guitarist Ian Hawkins alongside Syed Shan Pasha and Hayden Wander, who is still using the aid of a crutch from a broken ankle last year but still soldiering on and performing like usual.  The proof is in the pudding here, as the band makes no attempt other than just letting the songs and their live presence lie on the table for all the world to see.  The result is a band that’s as pure as the reverb echoing from the guitars, and the ferocity of their performance.  

Clocking in at just a hair over eight and a half minutes, it’s no wonder that Ruiners is on their way to bigger things.  The four-piece, who steadily performs at or books charitable shows benefitting the Houston area, has shown why they’re definitely a band everyone needs to see sooner than later. While the cassette won’t be available until summer, you can catch Ruiners when they perform Saturday March 11 at Satellite Bar.  The all ages show with Houston’s football, etc. will also feature performances from New Orleans’ POPE and Austin’s Honey and Salt with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

There aren’t too many times where I catch a band play live and I wonder where they’ve been and how I’d missed them perform before.  But, for Houston’s Ruiners, that’s exactly how I felt after seeing them perform a couple of months back at Walters.  The lo-fi indie three-piece with punk aesthetics plays the kind of music that I feel like we’ve been lacking.  They’re almost like a nice fill-in-the-gap band that makes acquaintances between the likes of Protomartyr and traditional punk.  On their latest album, 2024’s Wasted Years, they take a mixture of varying sounds to craft something that really no one else is seeming to do while keeping the hooks and head bopping moments at an all-time high.

Though this album is only four songs long and could be considered an EP, there’s a lot worth checking out.  Starting with the highly energetic and fiery sound of “Jhooti,” the band wastes no time in bringing their intense live sound to the album.  Like the pop influence from Stiff Little Fingers’ “Alternative Ulster” mixed with the fuzzy guitar intensity of Wire or Buzzcocks songs, the band navigates between old school and new wave punk without sounding like they lifted from anyone.  Closer to a modern day sounding Mission of Burma, Ruiners definitely bridge the gap here while still sounding original and fresh.  Following up with the more somber opening of “Dhost,” the band embodies the sound closer to Jawbreaker before speeding things up and taking the sound closer to that of The Jam or even METZ.  There’s definitely plenty of punk here, just that it’s blindsided by so many different sounds that you can get sidetracked trying to place a finger on what it reminds you of.  

They follow this up with the speedy and chaotic sound of “Kaam,” where they start stretching their legs and really take their sound to a new place.  There are hints of despair and isolationism in their sound that you can’t deny, though that’s getting placed atop a sound that’s catchy so you can easily forget about that while the songs stride along.  They close the album off with the catchy and pop-hooked sound of “Tunda.”  While it starts slow, it quickly picks up the pace and reminded me of a mix of Paws and the sensibilities of Jawbox.  Moments within the song go from fuzzy punk to a catchy indie rock jam, though they never feel like a put on with this clustering of sounds.  The band seems to draw from a ton of other places, though they never remotely lift from anyone in doing so.  

There are so many elements to this band that it’s honestly lazy to compare them to anyone else. The truth is that when you love this type of music, you’re bound to hear pieces from multiple sources while you enjoy the overall sound.  If you listen to Ruiners once, you’ll probably fall for their sound.  While this release contains only four songs, the amount of weight within goes further than the eleven minutes that these tracks make up.  Though they haven’t reinvented the wheel here, Ruiners fill in the spots between traditional punk and new wave punk without stealing from either and creating their own sound in the process.  You can catch Ruiners when they perform at Satellite Bar this Sunday with Supremacy, or at  Walters on Wednesday August 17th with New York’s Big Eater.  The all ages show at Walters has sets from Moth Wings and Burn Houses, with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $7 and $10.