Indie-noise five-piece from Joan of Arkansas (actually from Phoenix, Arizona) just dropped their new EP, The High Four.
Each track is raucous 90’s U.S indie madness. Vocalist Kayla Long sounds like a cross between Carrie Brownstein and Kathleen Hanna. The tracks with dual vocals with bassist Joshua Lynch give them a grungy B52’s feel. I think I’ve already found my new favourite band of 2025.
The lead track ‘Omaha, Nomaha!’ is about the youth in Phoenix leaving for better lives only to return later as there is no place like home.
“We are at heart, a super Phoenix repping band and no one writes songs about the valley. It just doesn’t happen. This song is inspired by the mass exodus that happened in 2000’s and 2010’s with pretty much every arty teenager here. They spread all over the country looking for greener pastures but always came back because home is home even if it’s flawed.” – Joan of Arkansas
JoA formed in 2021 during COVID. They have built a local reputation for their sweat-drenched live shows. They are also known for their talent for genre bending. Joan of Arkansas have already released 4 EPs and 1 LP Imperfectionists and plan to release three more EPs in 2025. For a band that don’t tour and sadly probably won’t due to day jobs, having to pay rent and stuff, they are getting no small amount of positive press and reviews. They admit however that they would drop everything for a support slot with Pixies. So come on Frank, do them a favour.
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