Australian queer bubblegum punk duo Cry Club enter their “villain era" with their electric sophomore album Spite Will Save Me, out July 2023. The tight 10 tracks further refine their talent for turning frustrations and anger at social issues into anthemic thrash-alongs — and proving they’re one of Australia’s most vital, exciting bands.
If Cry Club — consisting of guitarist Jonathon Tooke (he/him) and vocalist Heather Riley (they/ them) — can be distilled down to one thing (besides their trademark makeup of glittery trails of tears down their cheeks), it’s their knack for turning unsightly and complicated feelings into addictive, cathartic pop-punk.
Pulling from their respective past lives in math-rock and musical theatre, Tooke and Riley’s debut album God I’m Such A Mess was released in 2020 to mass acclaim. After being triple j Unearthed’s most-streamed artist of 2019, the duo’s debut album landed them nominations of Best Independent Punk Album or EP at the 2021 AIR Awards and for Best Breakthrough Act at the 2021 Music Victoria Awards, alongside praise from NME, Music Junkee and Pilerats, among others. Their album also landed feature spots on triple j and KEXP.
Writing Spite Will Save Me across Melbourne’s two years of on-and-off-again lockdowns, the two used the chance to escape their surroundings. Working with producer and Kingswood member Alexander Laksa (Flowerkid, Dallas Woods), the duo were able to geek out about their influences like Nine Inch Nails, Queens of The Stone Age and Gilla Band, and working out how to convert noise and post-punk into pop.
An explosive live act, Cry Club are eager to play Spite Will Save Me to fans, creating environments where fans can thrash through their feelings and embrace their inner emo. Join the club.
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cryclubmusic