Cleveland’s Archie and the Bunkers Prepping New ‘Hi-Fi Organ Punk’ Music  

Archie and The Bunkers preparing the release of sophomore album “Songs From the Lodge,” as well as new seven-inch “The Traveler.”

Fri 2/23 @ 7:30PM

There’s nothing quite like the musical onslaught that Cleveland band Archie and the Bunkers provides audiences.

Emmett O’Connor (drums/vocals) said the sound created by the group, which also includes his brother Cullen (organ/vocals), is incomparable, but instantly identifiable as the duo’s self-coined genre “hi-fi organ punk.”

“We play raw, stripped-back rock ’n’ roll with influences from punk and garage,” O’Connor said. “We don’t really get compared to many bands because we’re kind of a unique outfit — just drums and organ. We’re influenced by a lot of punk rock groups. A band we’ve drawn a lot of influences from is the Screamers from the ’70s. They had two keyboard players, a drummer and lead vocalist.”

Speaking of the ’70s, the group’s creative name, which was a result of the brothers unable to think of anything else, is often lost on a younger generation. Perhaps millennials think it has something to do with new hit TV show Riverdale, having no connection or reference to All in the Family.

Just like the groundbreaking sitcom, Archie and the Bunkers force its audience to rethink and reprogram their collective brains to grasp what the outfit provides.

The band’s punk bona fides are evident (hints of the Dead Boys and the Stooges provide foundation), but there’s also flashes of jazz and other sounds emanating from Cullen’s whirring organ and Emmett’s four-piece drum kit.

Formed roughly five years ago, Archie and the Bunkers produced two EPs before releasing its self-titled debut. Now the O’Connor Brothers are preparing the release of sophomore album Songs From the Lodge, which is due out April 20 on London-based label Dirty Water Records.

“We recorded it here in Cleveland,” O’Connor said. “It’s just another adventure into the sound of rock ’n’ roll. It’s hard as a musician to differentiate your stylistic changes because when we go into the studio, we’re not necessarily thinking how are we going to evolve our music.

“It’s kind of a process, but I’d say compared to the first album, Songs From the Lodge sounds fuller. It’s not overproduced at all. It’s just us putting out raw energy. I’m very excited to get this album released.”

The new project does find Archie and the Bunkers treading on new ground with the danceable “She’s a Rockin’ Machine” and the power-pop “Laura.” The latter includes a new music video. O’Connor said the group plans on playing those tunes at its upcoming Beachland Tavern gig.

The February 23 date at the Waterloo Road venue is actually a release show celebrating the band’s new Norton Records seven-inch “The Traveler,” which also takes the duo into a new and unexpected territory.

“It’s basically rock ’n’ roll,” O’Connor said. “The A-side is ‘The Traveler,’ which is more or less our first ballad. It has a ’50s kind of sound to it that’s a bit unique for what we do.

“It’s still very raw and it’s got a lot of feeling and energy put behind it. The B-Side ‘Looking’ is more fast-paced punk rock tune like a lot of our repertoire.”

Apparently “The Traveller,” with lyrics written by Cullen, came from the group’s extensive touring experiences. Last year Archie and the Bunkers spent five weeks traveling Europe with plans on returning later this year.

“We haven’t done as much touring in the states as we have in Europe,” O’Connor said. “That’s because Europe’s rock ’n’ roll fanbase is much larger.”

Considering the group’s attention regionally and overseas, does O’Connor feel as though there’s momentum behind Archie and the Bunkers?

“I don’t know, that’s for time to decide I guess,” O’Connor said. “I do know we do what we do because we love it.”

Cleveland, OH 44110

 

 

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