California duo FireBug have crafted a captivating old-school rock sound that blends modern rock with folk and blues influences, and they describe as “emotive desert noir and psychedelic.”
The duo of Juliette Tworsey, who was born and raised in Chicago, and California native Jules Shapiro first met in Chicago when both were looking to form or join a band. A mutual friend introduced them and they formed the band back in the mid-2000s, sharing the stage with the likes of Tom Morello and spending time in the UK, playing at Camden’s Dublin Castle and at Sonisphere Festival Knebworth. A hiatus was cut short in 2021, and they’ve since released their debut album No Return in 2022 alongside a series of singles.
And on the sound they’ve honed over the years, Juliette told us: “At our core we are a modern rock band blending rock, soul, blues, psychedelia, folk and desert noir.”
Our latest taste of this is the delicious Time Marches On, which was released in June and produced by Jordan Lawlor (Beck/Deftones). It opens up with a cool stabbing keyboard note (which has proper Moving On Up by M People vibes) with a funky little keyboard lick over the top as Juliette’s engaging vocals come in. A guitar creeps in ahead of a brief taste of the chorus, then stabs of guitar and drums support a more upbeat second verse. That flows into another chorus that extends with heavier instrumentals, ending with a funky little noodling guitar supporting a cool keyboard solo. That leads us into a big final blast of the chorus to bring the track to a close.
On the track, Juliette said: “The reception has been great! It is a bit of a departure from anything we have released previously. We are very happy with the feedback so far. Time Marches On is an upbeat, keyboard-centric song, which builds as it goes and should keep the listener captivated!”
That follows on from last year’s equally catchy single Red, White and Blue, which features delicious dual vocals before flying into a big guitar solo alongside lively vocals to bring the track to a powerful conclusion. While their album, No Return, has a far more chilled out, laid-back vibe.
As you can probably tell, FireBug draw influence from the greats from the 60s and 70s, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd , Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie. They’re also inspired by bands like Prince, BECK, Radiohead, and Aretha Franklin, as well as Motown and Blues artists like Muddy Waters, Johnny Lee Hooker and Otis Rush.
And on what inspires them to write music, Juliette told us: “Life. Love, Nature, the stars and the universe! We also approach writing with a sense of wonder and a tinge of escapism. Music is a way of life for us! Turning mundane, everyday moments into something more. Being in awe of nature and our relationship with it. Finding time for space and peace.”
FireBug are hard at work completing their new album, which has no fixed release date as of yet. However, they are planning to release a new single this Autumn (Fall), along with a live EP from a recent show at the iconic Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown, California.
You can follow FireBug on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Soundcloud and YouTube.
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