Get READY.
For years, it seemed as if mainstream rock was all but dead. Sure, you had some bands making some waves in the alternative and blues scenes, as well as some legacy acts returning to the charts and awards shows. With that being said, however, save for a couple of bands, it felt like the genre was on the decline. Lately, however, none other than Texas has been leading the charge and has produced two of the most popular bands flying out of the alternative rock scene today.
Of course, you have your country-adjacent bands and artists making waves, with the likes of Treaty Oak Revival, Whiskey Myers, Ole 60, Koe Wetzel, 49 Winchester, Fox ‘N Vead and more populating the ever-growing country and southern rock scene.
In a similar vein, Dexter and the Moonrocks have been catching a similar amount of fire over the past few years. Self-described as “western space grunge,” the Texas band has all but blown up online with some downright genius marketing and social media presence and a fresh sound that, like Treaty Oak, blends elements of alternative, grunge and hints of country influences in their songwriting.
After catching fire online with tracks like “Ritalin,” “She Likes Girls” and a grungy, live cover of none other than Tyler Childers’ popular unreleased track, “Messed Up Kid,” the West Texas band caught lightning in a bottle back in March upon the release of “Freakin’ Out.” The song has been nothing short of a monster online, snagging a staggering 163 million streams on Spotify alone, along with an impressive 2.5 million uses on TikTok. The virality allowed “Freakin’ Out” to become their first-ever song to chart on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, which shot all the way up to #33 on May 6th. Additionally, it allowed them to receive their first RIAA certification, selling over a million units and going platinum this morning.
Considering how hot they have been over the year, it felt like it was only a matter of time until they pulled the trigger on an official album release. As it turns out, today is the day.
Just announced, Dexter and the Moonrocks will be releasing their debut album, Friends That I Don’t Like, on Friday, October 2nd via Severance Records/Big Loud Rock.
Discussing the album, the drummer and the face of the band’s social media, Ryan Fox, described Friends That I Don’t Like as an ode to their Texas roots. In particular, he’d highlight the fact that they have always been told to lean harder into either their grunge or country roots — something they have refused to do throughout their career.
“For a long time, people have been struggling to place us as a band. Coming up in the Texas music scene came with its own expectations and stigma. We always seemed to piss off the honky tonkers and underwhelm the old school metal heads, and to be quite frank, we never cared. People kept telling us we had to lean one way or the other, or else no one would ever care. This album feels like a culmination of us tuning out all the bullsh*t and just being the 4 blue-collar rockers from small-town Texas that we always were.
This album feels like an ode to everything we love about our upbringing and everything we wanted to change when we were young. We couldn’t be prouder of the work we’ve put in, and our ability to stay ourselves. I couldn’t tell you what Dexter And The Moonrocks means. Are we country, grunge, alt rock, southern rock? Honestly, who cares. All I know is that we’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.”
As for what to expect from Friends That I Don’t Like, it will include 14 tracks, including prereleased songs such as the aforementioned “Freakin’ Out,” their Treaty Oak Revival collaboration, “12 Steps,” and “If You Could Talk.” Additionally, the record will contain an untitled collaboration with ACM New Female Artist of the Year, Avery Anna, as well as today’s new release, “It’s A Lot,” which guitarist Ryan Anderson describes as a reflection on the whirlwind the past year has been for the band.
“‘Its A Lot’ is about whatever the listener needs it to be about as always, but to me it hits on what has happened over the past year. The effort put forward to make the most of a life changing moment, though worth it, brings all brand new challenges. We couldn’t be more thankful for where we are now, but to 4 kids from small town Texas, sometimes it can be a lot.”
Friends That I Don’t Like is out everywhere Friday, October 2nd.
“It’s A Lot”
