Get ready for a fresh dose of punk rock from The Last Gang! The California-based band is back with their highly anticipated third studio album, “Obscene Daydreams,” coming out on September 20th.
As a magazine, we had the pleasure of chatting with Brenna Red a couple of years ago in a great interview. As a consequence, we have been looking forward to this album and I’m very pleased to have it in my inbox for a listen.
Picking up the press pack first, I am told that if you’re a fan of raw energy, infectious melodies, and a fearless frontman, The Last Gang is definitely for you. Their new single, “Rumors,” is a perfect example of their signature sound. It’s a powerful anthem that celebrates confidence, resilience, and being unapologetically bold.
“We don’t really have a theme,” says Brenna Red, singer-guitarist of The Last Gang. “We’re just a bunch of punk rockers who like to make music and write about things that make us feel good and angry and alive.”
Recorded once again with producer Cameron Webb (Pennywise, Alkaline Trio, NOFX), Obscene Daydreams is the result of a new, more intentional writing process.
“We’re not the kind of band that pumps out songs super quickly,” Red says. “We make sure everything has been thought of and try to stretch out the melodies to something we haven’t heard before. This was the first time we ever did something like that on a deadline. “I think we got it done, written, and recorded in less than a year, which is super-fast for us,” she continues. “Cameron is always like, ‘You should do one album a year—the Beatles did it!’ I’m like, ‘I’m not the goddamn Beatles!’”
Or NOFX, for that matter. Unlike on 2021’s Noise Noise Noise, Red didn’t workshop the songs with Fat Mike, whose band obligations kept him busy. “I was a little nervous, just because I know last time Mike really wanted to have some input,” Red says. “So, I’m like, ‘God, I hope Dad approves.’” “Dad” did approve, and Obscene Daydreams delivers The Last Gang’s signature mix of melodic hooks and raw feelings. While outrage and defiance figure prominently in those feelings—check the fury of “NRA Back 2 School” and “Hide the Antagonist,” or the class cannibalism of “Dogmatic Capitalizer”—love and pride figure just as prominently.
“I’m going to predict this,” Red says. “Every album we write from here on out will be about what’s happening at that current moment in our lives. So, it’s a reflection of whatever happened to us for the past two, three years or so—and sometimes it’s the same shit, different day.”

My Review:
“Electric Avenue” is an ode to ride-or-die friendship. It hits the speakers with a hammer and moves with speed throughout. This is turbo punk with a mix of heavy melody and a great chorus hook that you jump around the room to. My three-year-old came in and loved it, joining his mum in a bounce! I liked the drum sound here too—plenty of energy and a solid riff.
“The Others,” an interaction with a bigoted fan inspired “The Others,” forcing Red to make clear The Last Gang’s LGBTQIA+ allyship—and sneak in a Star Trek reference. “It’s called IDIC, Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations,” she says. “It’s like the mantra of the Vulcan people, but I always love that phrase. Everything is possible out there—every gender, love, belief, thought, reality.”
This track took me into the territory of Black Veil Brides (aka “Fallen Angels”); it is fist pumping, guitars on steroids and a vocalist having an absolute blast. Like many tracks on the album, it excites.
“NRA Back 2 School” opens with a heavy riff and fast drum beat. It continues to underline the confidence and maturity of the album; it showcases a band at home with their sound and crafting hard melodic punk to the max.
“Hide the Antagonist,” slows things a bit and has plenty of angst to play with. It was the only track on the album I was a little less sure of. But I did like the chorus and the drum sound.
“Rumors” is inspired by the legendary Lady of Rage, “Rumors” is a must-listen for anyone who’s tired of negativity. It’s a tune that empowers you to own your narrative and thrive despite what others might say.
Here’s what The Last Gang had to say: “Rumors is a song that embraces confidence and resilience, channeling the spirit of a ‘bad bitch’ who isn’t fazed by gossip or negativity. Inspired by the vibe of Lady of Rage, it celebrates being unapologetically bold and thriving despite—or even because of—being the subject of rumors and shit talk. The song carries a strong, empowering message about self-assurance and owning one’s narrative, regardless of what others might say.”
It slows things down a fraction in a song that features a great instrumental break mid section, allowing the guitars to fly and the drums to storm. The video that goes with this one I have included below and it is great fun in its own right.
“Dogmatic Capitalizer” mixes up some storytelling as Brenna plays with the vocabulary, enjoying the pitch of the piece and the fluctuating angst within this hard-hitting number.
“Vacant Eyes” hits you between the eyes. Time to annoy the neighbors and turn up the volume. My three-year-old came in again to play some air guitar; why not!? As for me, loved that sci-fi spin-off at the end.
“Madness” “Madness” is a full-on love song (or as close to one as a “nihilistic optimist” like Red can deliver). I reviewed this on release and I am happy to retain that review on another listen!
“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. 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. Listening to the song again, I think it is the closest link here to the last album; it is the sister to those songs, bridging the old to the new.
“Dead Horse” is a slower beat with wordsmith Brenna vocally playing with words like “adnauseum.” This is another song leaning toward the sound of “Noise, Noise, Noise” and contains a strong guitar break mid section. You can let your hair down to this song for sure.
“Berlin to Rome” celebrates life on the road. This was interesting! It moves away from the sound of the majority of the album, presents a different beat and lifts us up as listeners. I liked it when the vocals became almost conversational and then it speeds up and delivers again. It’s a lot of fun.
“Years from Now” completes the album in fine style, 2.40 minutes of celebratory punk. Sing along, jump around, and enjoy life with The Last Gang.
In summary, this is an album that will blow away your troubles for a while; it rips through the speakers in a hurry and lifts you up for a while. I always feel musical genres can be more of a hat for the media people to attract a certain audience, but for what its worth, I feel The Last Gang have left a lot of the Ska touches of the previous album behind. This album is heavier and faster and presents a hard-edged melodic punk that blows through the speakers. I enjoyed it a lot and will be grabbing a vinyl copy for my collection.
Standout Tracks: “Berlin to Rome,” “Madness,” and “The Others.”
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You can stream music from The Last Gang here
The band website is here
By Lorraine Foley