The Chew Toys
Los Angeles, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | INDIE
Music
Press
The infectious sound of The Chew Toys makes them one of the most entertaining new bands in Los Angeles these days.
The self-proclaimed queercore duo comprises married couple Jay Tag and Kevin Dickson, who have been polishing — maybe refining is a better word — their punk sound with dozens of live shows around Northeast LA since 2012.
On Sept. 2, this local legend will take break out of LA and take on the unsuspecting world with their first album, a self-titled collection of 13 songs — 11 of which clock in at well under 3 minutes — that are sure to become earworms.
Check out a video and a SoundCloud song sample after the jump.
The drums-and-guitar duo clearly have listened to a lot of Dead Boys, Plasmatics, and Dead Kennedys recordings, and incorporated that into their fast-and-furious songs about drugs, booze, and partying. But the album also shows they’ve ingested the country and Americana influences of another LA band, X, and The White Stripes, too. (I’ve got to say that while Jay lacks a couple of Meg White’s most, ummmm, attractive attributes, his monster drumming skills more than make up for that.)
Their songs follow the punk formula, often with a nice tongue-in-cheek feel, and they tackle topics that often grow out of the gay scene, but have much wider application, including their hatred of Christmas, social media, and the loss of friends.
Here’s the band’s theme song on SoundCloud:
Kevin and Jay, who have been off the live scene while making the album and getting ready for next month’s release, are ready to jump back into the fray. They’ve been writing new songs and will start playing shows next month to support the album.
They’ll be sticking close to the LA area for now. But there’s nothing standing in the way of checking out the album. It’s a fun record, and very much worth a listen.
If you like what you hear, be sure to pester your local music promoter to entice them to head east. They’re itching for the opportunity. Write to thechewtoys@gmail.com for information. - Steve Marsh
Discography
The bootlegs 2013
7" Single Leather Sweater/Not your daddy 2013
Self titled full length LP 2014
Photos
Bio
The Chew Toys are gay rock's great drunk hope. If there's an opposite to taking yourself seriously, and still being awesome, the Chew Toys are it. Too hardcore for the new LA queercore scene, but just gay enough to ensure stylish merch.
After gaining notoriety for their rambling, drunken shows around Los Angeles that were equal parts punk rock and salty stand up, the Chew Toys did the unexpected: They turned into a whip-cracking rock band, with nods to hardcore, post-punk and The Gun Club. They write songs about fucking, drinking and their friends (sometimes all in the same song). They're a two-man two-piece and they're married to music (and each other).
They keep a twenty folded in their shoe and bet the rest on a good time, even though they and the dices are loaded. Getting ready to release their debut self-titled debut on Noise Barn records come September 2014, The Chew Toys are destined to keep it rocking all year long and beyond.
Band Members
Links
