The Retinas
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | INDIE
Music
Press
Post-garage rockers The Retinas' new EP chaba is an unexpected essential for surviving the dog days of summer. Chock-full of lo-fi backbeats and skull-buzzing riffs, the five track stunner transforms the grit and grime of urban summers, late nights, and complicated feelings into memorably evocative songs worth dancing to alone or with friends.
Opening with the trippy hiss of “Accident,” chaba’s first track is seeped in xanax-coated romance and the sort of self-awareness that made great’s like Daniel Johnston iconic. The song's lyricism hums with recognizable disenchantment that is bound to resonate at an instant with listeners. Tom Mchugh’s diction brings to mind the cinematic apprehension of Andrew Bujalski’s mumblecore masterpiece Mutual Appreciation meshed with the emotional imprint of “Tame the Sun” by Male Bonding. “Accident,” much like it’s namesake, ends abruptly without warning, leaving its listener to cope with its passing before “Aries” begins.
chaba’s second anthem paints a familiar portrait of the post-adolescent malaise of cynical dreamers with earnest hearts. Lo-fi in all the right ways, “Aries,” like a mirror, reflects reality without pretense. Like the less anxious version of Happy Birthday’s “2 Shy,” the charm of “Aries” is undeniably sincere. The oscillating intro of “Cheesepuffs” quickly evolves into a surf-pop banger - reminiscent of The Jacuzzi Boys; the track’s fervent riffs and fuzzed-out screams serve as the perfect preface to the notably catchy “Beat It Out”. The energy of the song doesn’t falter, keeping the momentum of chaba as cymbals crash and Mchugh croons - “Cause you chew my bones, acid soul/I've been off time with myself, I don't mind” - a sentiment that is echoed in the EP’s final track “Hey Julia.”
After listening to The Retinas' latest record, you will find yourself hungry for more. - Dianca London - The Deli Magazine
“Chaba”, the new EP from the Philadelphia based band The Retinas, really surprised me. And I mean REALLY surprised me. I have to confess, I have become a little leery of albums with obscure names but “Chaba” is obscure in name only. This is actually a well crafted, well written, and well executed EP. I kind of wish it was an LP actually. The Retinas really tease the ears with their music and leave you wanting more at the end.
With thumping, anthemic tracks throughout, The Retinas show every sign of longevity with the desire and ambition that pours out of my speakers and give me hope for the next generation of independent artists. You need your retinas to see the light and I have no doubt The Retinas will make you see your light as well. This is a future classic in every respect. Well done! - Jammerzine
As Philly indie rock trio The Retinas roared from their song “Checked Out” into “Dissatisfaction” in WXPN studios, I turned to my coworker Mike Vasilikos and said “I keep expecting them to launch into a Pixies song.”
That is not, I should note, a diss of any kind. Yes, these Philly gents wear their influences proudly on their sleeve, and yes there was a bit of a “Wave Of Mutilation”-ness to that one-two punch on the opening. But they sound great doing so, and what The Retinas bring to the table is an energy and chemistry that’s simply intoxicating to watch.
The band has been kicking around Philly in various configurations since 2011 or so — founding member Thomas McHugh, the singer, vocalist and guitarist of the bunch, connected with longtime drummer Anthony Fulginitti online, and the band has been both a trio and a four piece before landing on its current configuration with bassist Andy Silverman. They played raucous gigs, released blown-out home recordings, and generally were a fun if a bit chaotic presence around town until earlier this year.
That’s when they wiped their entire Bandcamp discography clean — a curious move, we noted at the time, but when McHugh was setting up in the studio, he told us it was their way of bringing the focus on their current work, the Andy EP. The recordings are the best the band has ever released — still rock and roll rough and tumble, but with a more dare-we-say professional sense of cohesion — and the guys clearly feel stronger about the new songs than most of its back catalogue. It seemed like the opportune time to reset, and with that, they showed what Retinas 2.0 are capable of in their Key Studio Session.
The best part of that comes in a smoking performance of “Wretched Time” from the new EP, a quiet-to-cathartic jam about moving forward from trying times — by the explosive outro, McHugh is tearing up his guitar fretboard, Silverman is tangled in headphones and Fulginitti is bashing his drums, and it couldn’t sound more perfect.
Watch the video of that song below, then listen to an archive of The Retinas’ Key Studio Session in full. For more from these lads, catch their free show with Ill Fated Natives at Bourbon and Branch on June 12, followed by a gig at new West Philly space Lizard Lounge 215 on June 15th. Tickets and more information can be found at the XPN Concert Calendar. - WXPN 88.5
Philly rock trio The Retinas had a good 2019, releasing their self-titled full-length debut (and strongest work to date) and playing shows around the city, including a sold-out house at Bourbon and Branch for their album release.
2020 is starting out strong for the band of singer-guitarist Thomas McHugh, drummer Anthony Fulginitti, and bassist Andy Silverman playing The Foundry of The Fillmore Philly with Temples, and now they’re on the stellar, all-Philly bill at Union Transfer on March 27th with RFA and Mo Lowda and the Humble headlining.
Giving The Retinas the album a bit of a new year bump is the dreamy collage-animated video for the album’s standout song, “Problem With The World.” The singing faces of bandmates are presented in mirror-reflected profile, as a celestial body pans backwards to reveal both our solar system unfolding, and a colony of observers on the other end. “We are not alone,” it seems to suggest…or perhaps (for X-Files binge watchers) “The Truth Is Out There.”
Watch the video below, read Sean Fennell’s 2019 interview with The Retinas here, and get tickets and more information on their Union Transfer show at the XPN Concert Calendar. - WXPN 88.5
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Inspired by iconic artists such as The Pixies, The Strokes, and The Replacements, the Philly power duo of Thomas McHugh (vocals/guitar) and Anthony Fulginitti (drums) who are best known as The Retinas, effortlessly couple nostalgia with the thrills and pains of being alive. Each of their songs is a relatable anthem in its own rite, comprised of incendiary riffs, blown-out, carefree reverb, and melodic hooks that beg for entire group sing-alongs. Similar to garage revival icons like King Tuff, Oh Sees, and the late, great Jay Reatard, The Retinas give listeners solace with each earworm they serve up, leaving audiences with a sense of audible freedom and cathartic release. Their recordings offer an alternative to the humdrum fiction and contradictions of the American dream. After years of rocking out and cutting their teeth in windowless rooms of DIY spaces, The Retinas have become more than just local darlings; they're an antidote to the status quo. Like their namesake, the band’s music unabashedly reveals something so often overlooked. In your face and heartfelt (in the best of ways), The Retinas are pure rock ‘n’ roll. They’re the real deal. Without an ounce of pretentious bullshit, the best buds always know how to have a good time
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