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As the birthplace of industry heavyweights like Spoon, indie rock is perhaps the most outspoken apex of the Austin soundscape. But depending on who you ask, indie is undoubtedly one of the safest, most inoffensive sonics rock has to offer, at least in the grand scheme of that genre’s mega-spectrum. But if you want something with a little tougher substance underneath the surface, rock ‘n’ roll that bleeds and induces bruises in the audience, there are some solid options right here in the city limits.
Like Ne’er-do-well. Although it started as the one-man endeavor of singer-guitarist Bryan Rolli, Ne’er-do-well’s leveled up into a fiery four-piece. These all-black fashioned rapscallions thrash around the avenues of arena rock and pop-punk for some truly kickass kinetics. Ne’er-do-well’s live shows are like a spate for your heart rate, something that’s been translated impressively well on their September 2022 debut EP Fun Days.
If you want to face the stage antics for yourself, slide by Ne’er-do-well’s single release show tomorrow night at Valhalla alongside Chancla Fight Club and Subpar Snatch. But if you just need a pop-punk pick-me-up to push you through the mid-week hump, fire up Ne’er-do-well’s third single of 2024, one that preserves the hand-drawn skeleton aesthetic of their visual artwork thus far and keeps the energy at its apogee through a three-minute sprint. Yeah, from its introductory drum fill through its rapid fire verses, melodic choruses, virtuoso solo riffs (both on lead guitar and lead vocals), breakneck midpoint bridge, and explosive finish, “I Want It All” almost sounds like Journey if they’d started at the turn-of-the-millennium instead of the early ’70s, albeit with a lot more of that Green Day-esque adrenaline.
So while Ne’er-do-well wants it all, damn if this new tune doesn’t leave us wanting more.
