The Gotobeds - Blood / Sugar / Secs / Traffic (2016)

Raucous Pittsburgh indie rock quartet the Gotobeds began casually in 2009 when guitarist Eli Kasan and drummer Cary Belback began playing together at a local rehearsal space. At the time, Kasan was still attached to hardcore outfit Kim Phuc, but the two friends were keen on starting a new band from the ground up. After trying out a number of other players, they eventually convinced Kasan's friend Gavin Jensen to move from Chicago and join them on bass. Fellow Kim Phuc member Tom Payne eventually joined on to play guitar, completing the lineup. They spent a few years slowly working out their sound and approach, making sure they were keeping it fun and artistically honest. The result was a mix of high-energy post-punk and indie in the vein of the Fall, Mission of Burma, early Pavement, and Wire, whose drummer Robert Gotobed inspired the band's name. Their slightly ramshackle, raw approach on-stage resembled early Replacements, and they had soon racked up a regional following based on a handful of singles and a reputation as an exciting live band. Following a performance on New Jersey's WFMU, they were approached by Matador honcho Gerard Cosloy, who signed them to his 12XU imprint. In keeping with their live aesthetic, they recorded their debut album, 2014's Poor People Are Revolting, in a single day. In April 2015, the Gotobeds jumped ship to Sub Pop Records. Their first album for Sub Pop, Blood//Sugar//Secs//Traffic, was released in June 2016. The album included guest appearances from Tim Midyett of Silkworm and Bottomless Pit, and Joe Casey of Protomartyr. ~ Timothy Monger.