Bait Bag - Consider This a Warning
BAIT BAG DROP ‘CONSIDER THIS A WARNING’ EP
North Haven, Maine pop-punk outfit Bait Bag released a new EP, Consider This a Warning, a few days ago.
Bait Bag
Formed in 2018, the band got together to purge themselves of the burden of incessant bad news. Playing loud music influenced by classic rock, punk, and savors of riot grrrl proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Bait Bag’s music is “intended to empower and excite, or at least give other frustrated people something to flail around to.”
Bait Bag has shared the stage with Deerhoof and Screaming Females, along with performing at the Bitter End in NYC. Consider This a Warning, their fourth EP, was released March 6 at Port City Music Hall in the course of “Girls Rock” weekend, held at the Maine Academy of Modern Music.
Made up of Courtney Naliboff (vocals, bass), Fiona Robins (vocals, guitar), and Claire Donnelly (drums), Bait Bag’s sound is “inspired by bands like Sleater Kinney, Blondie, and Le Tigre, as well as anything loud, fun and inclusive.”
Featuring five-tracks, the EP starts off with “Good Guy,” opening on a muted dirty guitar flowing into a hard-driving crunching rhythm riding a fatly popping bassline and tight drums. Robins’ guitar takes on the skintight metallic tones associated with Boston, but on a pop-punk melody. Deliciously inflected vocals, exuding sneering Powerpuff Girls-like tones infuse the lyrics with wonderful elevated femme fatale timbres.
Then the music ramps up to dense grinding sonic punch full of ferocity.
“You lead me on with bait / Of making something great / Pretending you’re reliable / That charm was undeniable / But you’re a god damn grown man / Who can’t stick to his own plan / So stop telling me you’re a / Good Guy / Cause I don’t believe your / Fucking Lies.”
“Eat Him Alive” travels on a cool bass/drum shuffle intro, followed by gleaming guitar textures, as the vocals fill the tune with beaucoup sass. A searing, controlled guitar solo imbues the harmonics with incandescent licks. Robins plays a mean-ass guitar.
“It’s all on me and not society / So I can stop searching for notoriety / Eat all the men you can find / But fill yourself up on womankind.”
“Bathtub” begins on a dark bassline and then segues to a measured blues-flavored punk melody, as disapproving vocal tones ooze overhead. Then the music ramps up to dense grinding sonic punch full of ferocity.
“Rotten Eggs” features a staggering guitar on the verses, and kicks it up to sinewy muscle on the chorus, as Robins once again struts her stuff. “Bull In a China Shop” rides pop-laced punk energy, chock-full of glittery guitar tones topped by yummy effervescent vocals.
Bait Bag has it going on, delivering raw pop-punk music not spoiled by hi-tech scrubbing, along with scrumptious dazzling vocals.
