When you consider the typical lifespan of even the most successful bands, a decade plus in the trenches is no small achievement. Atlanta’s Gringo Star have certainly made the most of the ten years that have passed since the group unveiled their debut LP All Y’all, resulting in a career that includes four additional albums, multiple national and overseas tours, and considerable critical accolades. In celebration of all that hard-fought success and perseverance, the group is preparing to release their first ever live LP, Controlled Burn (Live in Atlanta), on July 12.
Recorded at the EARL in September of 2018, the 14-track record offers a deep dive into Gringo Star’s history, pairing fan favorites together with the occasional deep cut in order to offer listeners a substantial glimpse of what has made the band’s music so enduring.
Arriving nearly midway through the set, “Rotten” finds the group operating at the peak of their powers, tapping into the magic mix of garage rock grit and sunny pop haze that made the song such a standout on 2016’s The Sides and In Between. Gringo Star’s performance here is confident and composed—not surprising for a band that had logged thousands of hours onstage, but that doesn’t make the seemingly effortless outpouring of dynamic hooks and ramshackle riffs any less remarkable. As live tracks go, it’s immersive and bleeding through with earnest energy, a fitting effort from a group that has spent the last decade expanding their sound and testing their limits.
Listen below.
Controlled Burn is out July 12 via Baby Robot Records. Pre-orders are available here.
Gringo Star will perform on Fri., Aug. 2 at the EARL alongside Shantih Shantih and Lesibu Grand. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Web: gringostar.net
Bandcamp: gringostar.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @gringostarmusic
Instagram: @gringostarmusic
SoundCloud: @gringostaratl
Twitter: @Gringo_Star_Atl