Hometown Sounds

Hand Grenade Job sounds like a young, cheeky punk band you’d see at a DIY basement show, and the duo of Beck Levy and Erin McCarley do draw some inspiration from that scene. But their minimalist sound, which they dub “post-Americana”, is decidedly more mellow and thoughtful. Pre-orders of their new album Devotionals, coming out on cassette via Sister Polygon Records, went up on their Bandcamp page today, as did the second music video from it. “New Year”, directed by Levy, is a sped-up meditation on raising children and making art in the face of an uncertain future. Being a mom sometimes means you’ve got marker all over your face. Their album release show is Thursday February 23rd at the Black Cat with Pissed Jeans.

Hand Grenade Job describe their lo-fi sound as “post-Americana”. The duo of guitarist Beck Levy and drummer Erin McCarley have strong punk and indie rock backgrounds from bands like Pygmy Lush, Turboslut and Governess, but their vibe on the new single “July” channels their love of John Fahey’s American Primitive Guitar. Their debut album Devotionals comes out in Februray on Sister Polygon Records, the DIY label run by members of neo-punk band Priests, and yesterday the band released the debut single’s music video. Levy directed and filmed the video in simple handheld style, suggesting a narrative of feminist awakening.