Kevin Bronson on November 21st, 2013

0

There’s an awful lot of the familiar in scruffy pop-punk of L.A.-based trio Upset, from the scratchy guitar chords to the rough-edged production to the teenaged angst. “She’s Gone”  (just out on Don Giovanni Records) didn’t come from DIY corner of the 1990s, though; the band features three veterans with mileage on their indie-rock odometers – Ali Koehler, the former Best Coast and Vivian Girls drummer who comes to the front here, along with drummer Patty Schemel (Hole) and guitarist Jennifer Prince (who has played in La Sera). You’d think Upset would be more of a upset, then, but even allowing for its hooky tendencies “She’s Gone” sounds like a starter set of garage-pop. If you think the early Best Coast tunes were lyrical genius and can name two Vivian Girls songs, this is probably for you.

||| Stream: “She’s Gone”

||| Live: Upset opens for Screaming Females tonight at the Echoplex.