“Nobro” means just what you think it means, and what you maybe hope it doesn’t. The all-female (no bros) Montreal four-piece might be breaking a logical implication of the Bechdel test – a band without dudes shouldn’t have to talk about them – but that’s already committing too much thought to it. So OK, stop, back up.
Nobro rocks retro from before they were born. They flaunt independence and defiance like spoiled adolescents, and it’s freaking awesome. After making the rounds of splits, comps and a single (much of which can be found on Spotify), the band has issued its longest release (a walloping 11.5 minutes) and it’s a bruiser. They cite the Damned and Royal Trux as influences, but the simple riffs and shouted backing vocals quickly bring the Runaways to mind. They do patron saintes of XX rock Lita Ford and Joan Jett proud.
The four tunes on Sick Hustle all pound, but it’s the opener that makes it worth talking about. Katheryn McCaughey sneers her way through “Don’t Die” with indifference before a stadium-worthy “don’t end up six feet deep” chant knocks it through the rafters. The fact that they have a cartoon video for the song only sweetens the deal.
The band was supposed to be touring Canada with Pussy Riot right about now, but that like everything else in the world got waylaid by a microscopic virus that looks like a squishy toy. But the EP is up on Bandcamp just awaiting heavy rotation. Recommended listening, even for bros.
Kurt Gottschalk is a writer, journalist and broadcaster based in New York City.
