The Koala Fires

They will tickle your ear while stomping on your foot. They will kiss you on the lips then bite you on the nose. They are a quartet of rising post-punk rockers from Cincinnati, Ohio called Koala Fires. Front man Matt Mooney (Super77) and bandmate Kendall Bruns (And How, I Invented It!) joined forces with bassist Dan Johnson and drummer Mike Paolucci with a common goal of creating an invigorating sound with heart-wrenching, thoughtful lyrics, catchy hooks, driving riffs and crashing percussion, and have created a passionate sound with inherent quirks built around words that jab you in the gut. Koala Fires were Cincinnati Entertainment Award nominees for “New Artist of the Year” and have performed in front of prominent acts like Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Stardeath & White Dwarfs, Bad Veins and The Pomegranates. Recently releasing their debut full-length album, they are now boldly following in the footsteps of their evident influences (Pixies, Dinosaur Jr.) and ready to make a mark of their own. With a new rhythm section consisting of Matt Retherford (The Turnbull AC’s) on drums and Matthew Zink (Fizzgig) on bass, they’re ready to take their sound to a new level and launch themselves on the indie-punk music scene with a dynamic sound and stage presence. talk of the town: “the band has a manifest talent for crafting memorable riffs” - Joe Hemmerling, Tiny Mix Tapes "…the songs they write have a timelessness that should ensure a long shelflife. Other contenders for "Best Local Release of 2010" accolades—you have your work cut out for you." - Mike Breen, Cincinnati CityBeat “Inspired by the glory days of American Indie Rock as it first blossomed, the Koala Fires’ great melodies, slanted and enchanted arrangements and instrumental quirks make them appealing even if you weren't born until 10 years after You're Living All Over Me was.” - Mike Breen, Cincinnati CityBeat "If you've ever tried to compare where you are and where you wish to be, that feeling is enclosed between the sleeves of this album…7.0/10" - John Brunner, Méandre “giant hooks, great group vocals and nicely arranged dual guitar interplay” - Ben Walpole, Almost Four Stars “stuttering time signatures and twisted melodicism puts them in the ballpark with Pavement and Sunny Day Real Estate” - Cincinnati CityBeat "genuine aural bottle rockets like the ones Superchunk and J. Mascis used to shoot off yer parent's roof…the Koala fellas deliver compelling songwriting, interlocking textures and captivating sounds" - Billy Catfish, Southgate House “the band has a manifest talent for crafting memorable riffs” Tiny Mix Tapes