Lincoln-based powerpop/punk outfit GUTS. will drop their latest single, ‘To Be The Man, You Gotta Beat The Man’ on Wednesday 31st July. Recorded at the Nave Studios in Leeds with esteemed audio engineer Danny Blackburn at the helm, the track is the first taste of a new EP expected later in 2024.
“To Be The Man…” will no doubt be most listeners’ first encounter with GUTS. – a fun-loving DIY unit that has been grinding its name into the underground scene over the last few years – and it was picked specifically to be this introduction. The song lays bare the soul of this band – characterised by raw honesty and emotional depth injected with a mighty surge of electric punk defiance. Penned by frontman Sam Pickering during the cold winter months of 2023, the song’s introspective lyrics reveal a struggle with personal inadequacies and societal expectations, whilst offering a liberating battle-cry to embrace life’s uncertainties with a sense of freedom and resilience.
Sam: “Writing this song felt like shedding skin. I scratched and clawed my way through my mid-20’s like many do, desperately searching for purpose and answers for everything. You soon start to realise that nobody has the answers, and for me, this was actually a really liberating juncture to arrive at. For the first time I looked at the future as something not to be completely sh*t scared of, but something to grab by the balls and tackle head on. I tried to write something as powerful and visceral as it felt.”
Following an eight-date UK tour, which saw them take “To Be The Man…” and other new tracks on the road for the first time, GUTS. entered the hallowed Nave Studios to record the new material. The band recorded live in the studio, capturing an authentic and raw energy that they felt the songs deserved. Sam says of this process: “We somehow made just enough money on tour to pay for exactly one weekend of recording. The idea was to go in super well rehearsed and just kick out the jams. We’re not fans of that sterile, squeaky clean, modern sort of production anyway. We want there to be audible heart and soul (and guts) in everything we do.”
The single comes accompanied with a homemade music video that showcases both GUTS.’ unique sense of humour as well as their DIY approach. The video features the band members dressed in vintage 1970s workout gear, hilariously attempting a series of vigorous but poorly executed exercise drills and other stunts – tying in loosely with the track’s title and the band’s love of retro pro-wrestling. These shots are interwoven with shots of the band playing in Sam’s humble basement space – an intimate setting that holds special significance as this is where the song was written and initally demoed around 8 months prior. This combination of captivating performance and goofy antics perfectly represents the band’s approach to their music – playful and spirited, yet fundamentally steeped in emotion and sincerity.
About GUTS.
GUTS. is the name of a rock band from Lincoln, UK who have been carving their lane through the underground for a number of years. Since 2022, their bombastic live energy and authentic DIY diligence has rewarded them opportunities to perform alongside the likes of Pulled Apart By Horses, Tigers Jaw, Cherym and October Drift. Most recently, they headlined the Chapel stage at Nottingham’s Dot To Dot Festival. Across a stream of self-released singles, many receiving BBC Introducing airplay, the band have harnessed a tight, melody-driven powerpop sound; rich in vocal harmonies and thick, feedbacking guitars. The group are inspired by many other artists, namely Weezer, The Dirty Nil, Pixies, and Green Day, and proudly wear these influences on their sleeve.
In 2024, GUTS. have recentered their focus following a short hiatus. Re-emerging at the start of the year with an energised new image, they announced an eight-date UK tour for March with a focus on road-testing several new songs before entering the studio. Following the successful run of shows, which included a headline show at legendary Manchester haunt Night & Day Cafe, the band headed to the renowned Nave Studios in Leeds to record the new material. With new single “To Be The Man, You Gotta Beat The Man” and an EP expected later in the year, GUTS. look to stake their claim as a force to be reckoned with – and as an honest, hardworking grassroots band propelled by an insatiable ambition.
Liam Lambert: Guitar/Vocals
Sam Pickering: Vocals/Guitar
Nate Davenport: Drums/Vocals
Rob Glithero: Bass/Vocals
