The Bar Stool Preachers - DIY Punk with a Heart

It’s a small achievement, but I like to think that in general I know more about punk music than my mum. However, she made me question that assumption a few weeks ago when she introduced me to a new Brighton-based band called The Barstool Preachers. Blending angsty politically-charged anthems with bouncy ska tunes reminiscent of ‘90s California bands such as Operation Ivy and Rancid, The Barstool Preachers are quickly becoming one of my favourite new bands. And, judging by the number of records and t-shirts they are sending off through the post office my mum works in, I’m not alone.

Their new album, Grazie Governo, is a 13-song powerhouse that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until it’s done with you. Never letting energy levels drop, Grazie Governo delivers both scathing political commentary on angry songs like DLTDHYOTWO (a title that took me a shamefully long time to decipher, despite listening to the lyrics repeatedly), Warchief, and Grazie Governo alongside rock radio-friendly hits like Choose My Friends (with a great guest appearance from The Interrupters’ Aimee Interrupter). This blend ensures that the album never starts to sound preachy (ironically) or self-important; this is still just a group of guys singing from the heart about stuff that matters to them and having some fun with it.

The Preachers are at their strongest when they tackle topics closer to the heart, and the tortured love songs dotted throughout Grazie Governo are the ones that have kept me coming back. Songs like 2:22, (8.6 days) All the Broken Hearts, and Raced through Berlin – my personal favourite song on the album – tell the whiskey-soaked tales of against-all-odds love that manage to be at-times melancholic but also mostly hopeful. The album works because of this dynamic. The energy levels are never allowed to drop throughout the 45-minute run-time and this leaves the songs that could otherwise be depressing instead feeling impassioned and defiant.

The lyrics, the musicianship, and the feel of the album is desperate and relentless, and in that way, it engages the listener throughout. Personally, I have not heard an album that has kept me enthralled the way Grazie Governo has in a long time. It captures the attitude and feel of the old-guard punk and ska groups (and the nod to Madness in the lyrics to All the Broken Hearts – “she doesn’t know why she likes him, she says it must be love” – hint at this inspiration) with a youthful exuberance that heightens the intensity driving the record.

You can tell that this album was a labour of love by a group doing it all on their own. This is DIY, and that passion shines through. You get the feeling that they would still be doing this even if nobody was listening. Fortunately, for us as much as for them, more and more people are. The success of Grazie Governo and their excellent live shows will undoubtedly keep their profile growing and put them firmly on the map as a band to watch out for. Here’s hoping that as they grow they keep that relentless energy pushing them forward.

On top of this, my mum says they’re really nice people too. So make sure to check out the video for All the Broken Hearts here and give Grazie Governo a listen. You won’t regret it.