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Coachwhips
Biography
Known for their raw, primal, stripped-down approach, Coachwhips have epitomized rock & roll at its most basic. Their infectious, riff-driven recordings of the 2000s have combined garage rock with punk and alternative rock; however, the San Francisco-based trio is quite different from the neo-garage bands that have come from the New York scene (especially Brooklyn) in the 21st century. New York-based neo-garage bands like the Strokes and the Blam have had more of a power pop outlook -- their work, although rockin', is melodic and tuneful, whereas Coachwhips are noisy and distorted. Coachwhips get some of their inspiration from the '60s output of the Kinks and the Rolling Stones, but they have a reckless aggression and a lack of polish that underscores their appreciation of the punk and alternative rock of the '80s and '90s.

Clearly, lead singer/guitarist John Dwyer is someone who thrives on grit; his guitar playing is consistently dirty, and his vocals are consistently distorted -- so distorted, in fact, that it is often difficult to understand the lyrics that are coming out of his mouth. One reviewer put it best when he wrote that Dwyer sounds like he's singing into a beaten up, worn-out pay phone -- which, of course, is exactly how he wants his vocals to sound.
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