Bristol band Birdman Cult have crafted an intriguing sound bordering on noise rock, post-punk and indie doom led by engaging vocals and fuzzy riffs that they describe as “pre-apocalyptic doom boogy.”
The Birdman Cult story began with self-monikered Northeast beach rat Joseph B. Eden finding himself lost in Bristol, making ends meet by “peddling his crude poetry to likeminded misanthropes and undesirables.” Joe has a longing for something more, to complete his manifesto. But he can’t do that alone. As it happens, in that very same city, the conspicuous-sounding quartet of Wookash, Otis, Hawk and Elo are busy crafting their musical vision through “fuzzy riffs, driving basslines, infectious vocals and rattling beats.” These two worlds soon meet, the Birdman meets his Cult, Joe moves to Bristol and they start a band.
On what to expect from the resulting Birdman Cult sound, Joe told us: “I think it’s honest, it’s raw, it’s catchy yet irreverent, it’s mature but silly, it can be dark and broody or just throw away and fun. It’s whatever we want it to be, free of self-constraints. Also, it’s probably a bit of post-punk garage rock with a smattering of old-school 90s hip-hop for those who love a label.”
Our latest taste of this is the single Housecat, which was released in August. It opens up with a cool repeating guitar riff that gives way to driving chords that drop into engaging opening vocals “So put your paws away, No more mouse chasing for today, You’re just a housecat, You’re a housecat baby.” The cool riff briefly returns and bridges back into the continuing vocals. The feeling changes with dual vocals then a funky little guitar lick, before driving guitar chords drop into the familiar opening vocal style.
On the track, Joe told us: “Housecat is one side of our personality as a band, it’s a barbed swipe at posers, designer dirty rock and roller try-hards and to those who get to 30 and castrate themselves. I find this a lot of that as you get older, people ‘giving up the ghost’ etc… It’s a lack of stones and conviction for a tough ride. We’re out here in the filthy alleyways peddling our wares come rain or shine. We don’t play the game, we aren’t industry darlings, we’re just people who make sounds and entertain, we are the Shakespearean plebs we rightfully should be. Housecat is us having a go I guess, tongue in cheek, however, there’s many a truth said in jest.” Check it out in the stream here:
That track is the 11th single released by Birdman Cult over the last three years, so there’s plenty of music to dig your teeth into. That includes the edgy Maiden, Mother, Crone, which was released in June, the edgy Whisky Sunburn and a personal favourite, their debut single Snakes, which you can check out in the video here:
The Birdman Cult sound is inspired by a wide range of musical interests. In Joe’s words: “70s America, 90s England and lots inbeween. I personally have a love of that grimy NY hip-hop sound from the mid-90s but the group is eclectic with our tastes I think it helps keep our ideas fresh. In terms of new bands we follow, a lot of Aussie punk, Viagra Boys, Black Angels, Fat White Family the list is long, the local Bristol scene is inspiring as much as any of this. The city’s bands are better than ever, check out Wilderman, Droogs, Wakey Wakey Rise And Shine, Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii, Pet Insurance, Bully Bones, Holy Popes.”
And on what inspires them to write music, Joe adds: “Everything we write about is the same thing that moves men and women to do anything. LOVE, SEX, DEATH or lack thereof. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Birdman Cult are currently finishing up their debut album, which will be out early next year through Analogue Trash Records. You can see the band live at The Red Lion in Bristol next Saturday (11 November, tickets here) ahead of a national tour next year to support the album launch.
And Joe adds: “If you wanna be a part of our Cult, drop us a follow, share our songs, that stuff’s worth more to us than money. Stream our shit and line the pockets of the suits too but come to our gigs and engage. You get one spin around this rock, shake a hand make a friend and all that razz-ma-razz.”
You can follow Birdman Cult on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music and YouTube.
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