Introducing Grit!

Mick Fletcher's Just Some Punk Songs ought to be an essential stop on your daily blog travels, and I'm totally compelled to feature one of Mick's recent finds. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Grit has made a demo EP called Ghost Estates available for free download via Bandcamp. I'm quite intrigued to come across such a remarkable new band that I know almost nothing about. I haven't been able to find any write-ups or social media presence related to Grit, so for now the music will have to speak for itself. And the music says plenty! Ghost Estates sounds more like a proper release than it does a true demo, and I'm half tempted to theorize it's actually a relic from the late '70s or early '80s! This is the kind of music I just don't hear enough these days - straight-up punk rock that hits hard but with plenty of melody. "Concrete Sea" is what Legal Weapon might have sounded like with an Irish accent, while "Stray Bullet" brings to mind more recent greats like Neighborhood Brats. I can also hear strong pop sensibilities emerging on less frenzied tracks like "Nowhere Else" and "Backup Loader". The vocals are top-notch, and I'm quite impressed with the melodic lead guitar work. It's also a cool touch that the (very thoughtful) lyrics have been provided for your inspection. What a terrific debut! It's somewhat surprising to me that Grit isn't already allied with one of the punk rock labels I frequently tout. My advice: jump on these free tunes while they're still free!



-L.R.

https://gritdublin.bandcamp.com/album/demo