Cali rockers Grumpster release new video for Vicious

With a name like Grumpster, you’re bound to get our attention. This fast-rising trio recently reeled out their debut album Fever Dream via Pure Noise.

With the aid of Chris Barker of Anti-Flag, the band pulled together an impactful record that interweaves the East Bay’s punk style into Grumpster’s dynamic garage rock imprint.

Bassist Donnie Walsh explains how their new music rollout took place: “We waited and waited to tour Underwhelmed, but things never stopped looking pretty bleak. We ended up doing a livestream with Anti-Flag during the pandemic where Chris #2 told us, ‘Write some new songs and let me produce them!’ We thought, ‘Oh, god, I guess we have to make a new record now.’”

Grumpster’s latest track, Vicious, grapples with coming to terms with your identity and who you are. “'Vicious is a song about gender dysphoria, and the harder side of coming to terms with being transgender. You're hurting yourself to hide your body, and it feels like everything is falling apart. You're afraid of what life has in store for you after realising you're trans, and it feels like you're in a spiral,” Donnie says.

“Over and over you've tried to convince yourself that you aren't, but the feelings of dysphoria always come creeping back. It's a coming to terms song. I wrote this song while I was struggling with my gender identity and I didn't know what was going on or why I was feeling the way I did. It all makes sense now though, and it does get better.”'

With Grumpster’s new single spotlighting a vital message to the community, the band have announced an exclusive T-shirt that will be on sale for two weeks only with all proceeds going to Oakland LGBTQ Center. Pure Noise Records will be matching the final donation number. Fans can purchase it here.

Grumpster are supporting labelmates Like Pacific on their U.S. headline tour – see them at the following:

July

1 Boston, MA @ Crystal Ballroom
2 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
3 Asbury Park, NJ @ House Of Independents
5 Lakewood, OH @ Mahall's
7 Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
8 Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary
9 Columbus, OH @ Big Room Bar

Read this: Album review: Grumpster – Fever Dream