The Weekend Kids – Run This Town

The Weekend Kids are playing pop punk at a time when it is seeing a resurgence in popularity. To be fair this isn’t your dad’s Ramones influenced music, nor is it your kid brother’s hardcore pop punk. These guys blend technical guitar work with plenty of sing along opportunities.

Lead track “We’re All Wasting Time” starts the EP off strong, with the catchy whoa ohs mixed with layered vocals. The EP is full of the band’s friends from local bands; this song in question features Kevin Klemp from ska punk band Feast or Famine. The song shows growth from their previous output, but it really stands out when the screaming trade off begins at 1:43, showcasing the passion and intensity of their live set. Guitarist Pete Nguyen kicks this one up to the next level, blowing away any preconceptions of what the follow up to their debut full length will sound like. They follow this with the slowed down pace of “Run This Town,” which features a more complex Moneen style sound and Matt Murphy from folk punks Audio/Rocketry, with some great gang vocals. Drummer Daminh Nguyen has his work cut out for him on this one, with the drums taking a beating. Murphy resurfaces on “Drop Dead” alongside Freshman Years’ James Frost. Once again, this song exhibits noticeable growth from their already quality debut. “A Lesson in Moving Backwards” continues to focus on friendship with their roadie and all around great guy Kristopher Olafson. The surprise comes right at the end, with “Numbered Days.” It starts off like recent Blink 182, with atmospheric acoustics allowing the vocals to shine, which contrasts lead vocalist Andrew Nguyen’s smooth whine with the gruff warble of Fire Next Time’s James Renton. The song slows things down from their regular pace and shows that they have more range than the average pop punk outfit.

Intelligent lyrics blend with professional level music to create an interesting album that should be sought out. Fans may be disappointed that this is only an EP, but the high quality and growth that Run This Townexhibits should be more than enough to satisfy until their next release. Hopefully they are already working on the followup. The inclusion of friends creates a welcoming vibe to the album, adding depth to their sound, while opening the door for fans to comfortably sing along. In a genre that is all too often plagued by cookie cutter bands looking to get rich quick, the Weekend Kids stand out by releasing an album that focuses on quality over quantity.