Laundry Bats Hangin on a String LP

Behold the LAUNDRY BATS—an unanticipated bastion of punk purity in these troubled times. These are the Memphis all-stars of dirt-caked rock’n’roll, featuring members of the OBLIVIANS and COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS, and led by the distinctly raw vocals of Abe White (MANATEEES, TRUE SONS OF THUNDER). This configuration taps into an unbridled, freewheeling spirit that unwittingly touches edges with the likes of the RETAIL SIMPS and even Bloomington’s enigmatic COWBOYS, swinging from soulful ’70s blues rock à la Kill City (“Bizness”) to psychedelic spaghetti western (“Lawnmower Man”) in impressively graceful fashion. You’ll throw your hands in the air at the haunting and sympathetic “Church of Bad,” and nod in approval as “Nightmare” reappropriates the lead riff from the CLASH’s “What’s My Name” like it was a stolen catalytic converter welded onto a rusted Camaro. That’s not the only familiar groove you’ll find here, but any similarities to other songs living or dead are undoubtedly in tasteful homage. It’s a diversely inspired party of a record, with the only constant being that it’s 100% fire.

• Reviewer Jason Harding
• Label HoZac
• Issue MRR #511 • December 2025