Hailing from El Centro, California, Lesser Rockstars are bringing a fresh take on a familiar variety of ska and punk. Their debut EP, “Broken Bones and Makeshift Homes,” features familiar 90s era punk and hardcore, with some ska rhythms, all without keyboards or a horn section, and very relevant modern lyrics. While they aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel or do anything far outside the box, they are breathing fresh life into the familiar sounds that ’90s and early 2000s punks are missing and remind us that punk is inherently political.
This EP starts off with “A Tent is not a Home” and “Split the Change”, a pair of songs that mix the rhythms of NoFX or Less Than Jake songs with lyrics that would be fitting for the Suicide Machines. Solid ska riffs, with deadly poignant criticisms of capitalism, homelessness, the prison industrial complex, and wealth inequality.
By the time you get to Mother of Exiles, the pace increases dramatically, and a much more hardcore sound erupts, filled with more aggressive vocals and guitars and a powerful, persistent, rapid-fire drumming that leads the charge. Gone are the influences of Less Than Jake and NoFX, replaced with early Thrice and AFI. The lyrical content doesn’t change. Perhaps the specific subjects shift, but the overall persuasion remains as the pace and aggression pick up.
Overall, this is a stellar debut EP. It sounds as if the band has been together for years; the themes are poignant and well delivered. The music is diverse, and while it follows some clear influences, it is unique and stands alone in the landscape of other current ska and punk bands performing today. They may be Lesser Rockstars, but they are making a place to stand out with a unique blend of modern and early 2000s music in a way that highlights the strengths of each.
Written by Gimp Leg
