Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Talk Tight (2016)

Describing their musical formula as “tough pop/soft punk," Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever churn out bright, energetic rock & roll with lively guitar lines, pop hooks, and dry wit. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, the band was formed in 2013 by guitarist and singer Fran Keaney. Over the course of a long summer, Keaney and his friends Tom Russo (guitar and vocals) and Joe Russo (bass) spent weeks bashing songs into shape over pizza. Fran and the Russos decided to form a band to play their brand of punky jangle pop, and brought aboard third guitarist Joe White and drummer Marcel Tussie. Inspired by classic pop bands like Orange Juice and the Go-Betweens, the group adopted the name Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever in honor of their sunny approach. (The name is sometimes shortened to Rolling Blackouts C.F.) After releasing a handful of digital singles, the band made their official recorded debut with the single "Clean Slate" in 2015, which won plenty of praise from the music press. In early 2016, Ivy League Records dropped RBCF's first EP, Talk Tight, which earned them more positive press and some Australian radio airplay. ~ Mark Deming.