Philly’s premier “BFF rock trio” Larlene is back and better than ever with the new single “The Champ,” giving us a sneak peek into their upcoming project, See U Soon!, which drops on September 29th via local label Abandon Everything Records.
“The Champ” is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World-esque in nature, with a tinge of riot grrrl flair that coincides well with its roots in fuzz rock. It’s very DIY, it’s very Philly, but it’s got the pizazz of something dating back to the ‘90s that you might pick up at random from your local record store, only to find that it belongs to a huge band in the scene, prior to their big break. That might be the most random statement to make about a song, but it really does feel simultaneously both old and new, as if uncovered from an attic or antique store (in mint condition, of course).
Kat from Larlene describes “The Champ” in an email to WXPN by saying the song “is like the moment the party’s over and the shit starts hitting the fan.” The recording process came together quickly for the band, and they say “we wanted it to feel a little mischievous and not get bogged down on getting too deep about it.”
In that sense, the single provides a bit of a departure from the norm for Larlene, infusing more of what one can only assume is the vigor they experience on stage into the track. The band’s been playing show after show throughout the past year since their last release, and they don’t plan on stopping any time soon. A release show for See U Soon! will be hitting Ortlieb’s on October 7th, so make sure to swing by and headbang when the time is right; the band will be joined by The Mary Veils on the show, and details can be found at WXPN’s Concerts and Events page. Pre-order See U Soon! here, via Abandon Everything Records’ Bandcamp.