The Golden Boys

On “Plainsman’s Lament,” above an organ that stands tall like a support group and guitars that wobble loose like weak knees, Austin, Texas’ The Golden Boys howl, “We’ll drink until we’ve had our fill/ No one who knows us can stop us/ And no one will.” And while they might be singing (again) about drinking, the most noteworthy thing here—aside from a hook that you’ll never forget—is the sense of irrepressible joy and abandon that The Golden Boys bring. From rowdy garage rockers to perfect anthem suppliers, this quartet can be anything. Almost without exception, The Golden Boys—allegedly named for the Golden Girls, the world's best TV show—are just really great.

Like so many rock ’n’ roll bands, The Golden Boys began post break-up, when a few friends started casually jamming on songs of heartbreaks and hate-you’s. They kept playing and eventually moved into Austin, where they’ve since cut four records that go wherever they damn well please. Their latest, Thee Electric Wolfman, is their best yet, with dual songwriters Matt Hoopengardner and John Wesley Coleman finally serving as perfect pop-or-punk foils and meeting in the middle. “Kontroll Girls” has all the poise and swagger of Springsteen riding a Pink Cadillac, while the staggering sing-along “Goddamn I Love the Ocean” roils with the energy and abandon of the best gems anyone ever recorded in a garage. Inside of it all, the Boys have been known to add saxophones and freak out like a free-jazz outfit.

In an interview with the music blog Spinner before this year’s South by Southwest, The Golden Boys listed a litany of their influences, starting with the legendary psych of the 13th Floor Elevators and ending with a few friends that have inspired them. Two of those bands, Carrboro’s Spider Bags and Austin’s Followed by Static, join them for this show, along with the playful garage blasters Harlem. 

Our only advice? Prepare for fun. —Grayson Currin