Lawndale’s working class police-magnet NOYES (pronounced [noiz]) plays grungy noise rock, and they’ve always floated on the fringes of Los Angeles’ music scene, mingling with South Bay and Valley bands of DIY stature. But outside of the SoCal music hub, Kermit Obert (guitar/vox), Ian Fahrenreich (drums), and Daniel Garcia (bass) have been tearing up the West, whether at a sweaty Torrance house show in or a packed venue in Seattle. Back in their early formation, the three went under a different name — Moose (US), if only to distance and pay homage to the ’90s British band that first got trashed as "shoegazing". With the release of their first demo "Obscurities", Moose wasted no time playing out their first sonic incarnation of lo-fi garage scrunge.
Around 2013 Moose’s musical direction curved, morphing into NOYES, embracing discordant aggression and embarking on their first tour with Mountair buddies Ghost Noise. They haven’t looked back since, and though they’ve yet to be celebrated by tastemakers of Internet fame, NOYES has received great support from the local underground, playing with bands like Dustin and the Explosions, Loko Ono, The May Runners, and more. All the good vibes jam-packed themselves into the band’s breakthrough debut EP, recorded with Converse Rubber Tracks in 2014.
NOYES make their Smell debut tomorrow with a digital release of their brand new six-track EP titled "Relapse". They’re on with support from long-time mates Yogi Berra, Big Sis, and new kids No Chill from the Inland Empire. Listen to NOYES’ premiere single "Cut Off" and get turnt with respect to the gang and the venue.
Because you don’t fuck with a band that’s played a sick cover to Daria’s theme song. You just don’t. – Ryan Mo, photo credit Nadia Adella