The Last Gang is:
Brenna Red
Sean Viele
Ken Aquino
Sam Mankinen
This is exciting! One of our favourite bands here at Rock the Joint Magazine is LA’s The Last Gang. We spoke to founder member, vocalist Brenna Red, around 2 years ago, and she noted that with her songwriting, she “tries to create an emotion in the listener, a bittersweet sadness or joy. I aim to do that.”
The last album, “Noise, Noise, Noise,” (2021), was one that I went out to buy the vinyl version of. It showed that their blend of melodic urban punk mixed with a spice of ska was developing an increasingly mature and refined modern sound. The announcement of the new album ”Obscene Daydreams” being released through Fat Wreck Chords on September 20 was very welcome. I can’t wait!
As a pre-runner to the album, the band has released the single “Madness,” along with an accompanying promotional video.
“Your worst is singing in my ear,” sings Brenna and we quickly move into a rhythmic drive with the drums pounding and the guitars strumming a dynamic for a three minute ride. To be honest, I’m listening to this over a cup of tea, while the cat sits looking out of the window and my son plays on the floor. It is not the best medium for listening to this track. This song needed me to drive an Aston Martin at speed on an open road with the top down and the sun shining. It was over too soon, but it sets down the marker for the album ahead: boom! If you want some fast, rhythmic punk with a Ska-influenced sound, then you will be well pleased with this single.
“Though this be madness, yet there is a method in’t.” (W. Shakespeare, Hamlet).
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The single was released on July 17 and is available on all platforms.
You can stream the new single and more music from the band here.
The band’s website is here
By Lorraine Foley