Bronx Cheerleader – Real Punks Don’t Sing About Girls

Band: Bronx Cheerleader
Album: Real Punks Don’t Sing About Girls

Written by: Chiara DiAngelo

If you are unfamiliar with Bronx Cheerleader, with a long-awaited new LP being released this week, now is the time to get to know them. Based out of St Catharines, Bronx Cheerleader is: Scott Warren (vocals, guitar), Joe Lapinski (guitar, pedal steel), Carson Manette (guitar, keys), Eron Stroud (bass, vocals) and Marshall Bureau (drums). Having been largely off the grid since acclaimed Tough Guy Cliches dropped in 2005, Real Punks Don’t Sing About Girls represents their much anticipated return to the scene.

There is a spacey, dream pop essence to the 10 tracks on this record. While Warren’s vocals are often akin to James Mercer of The Shins, especially on shoe-gazey “Marble” and “Sour Life,” to me that’s where the similarities end.The appearance of keyboards and pedal steel guitar on various songs, such as “Ann Coulter,” gives further depth and dimension to Bronx Cheerleader’s sound. Add in heavier pulsing tracks like “Get Out Your Guns” and “Low Man,” and Bronx Cheerleader provides a record that is interesting and much more diverse than many of the bands that fall into this genre.

A bit of an institution in Niagara, a release party is set for Thursday March 8 at Mansion House (St Catharines); Bronx Cheerleader will also be debuting the LP to Toronto this Thursday at Rancho Relaxo. WIth CDs and vinyl available for sale at both shows, I’d recommend picking up a physical copy – the cover art is fantastic!