Jock Gang

Jock Gang plays harsh art rock, forming abstract sonic paintings with a broad palette of sound. Songs follow intuitive structures, noise grafted onto noise, with subtle pop melodies rising from the din. Drums and bass form a steady haunting pulse. Guitars meander across the soundscape. Vocals soar overhead or stay buried in the haze. Drawing from a diverse array of influences, like late 2000s Canadian art rockers Women and the early 20th century painter Arshile Gorky, the music is “alternately nervous and chill, subdued and in-your-face, self-consciously artsy and intelligently straightforward” (Flagpole). Jared Collins and Kimberly Collins started the group in Athens, Georgia, wanting to move in a heavier direction than that taken by their previous project, k i d s. After moving to Atlanta in 2015, Jared and Kimberly began playing with Jonathan Merenivitch and Adrian Benedykt Świtoń, each of whom brought a distinct sensibility as songwriters in their own right for local band Shepherds. Garrett Burke of Art Contest and Tug signed on soon after. Danger Mouse selected the band's track “Tell Me About It,” featured on an EP released in early 2016, for his 30th Century Records Compilation Volume 1. In August, a performance at Atlanta’s Mammal Gallery got the attention of Bradford Cox and led to the band joining Deerhunter on a tour of the United States. Live, Jock Gang embraces a flexible aesthetic. Song structures shift, instrumental parts are fluid. Each show brings out a new aspect of the band’s sound.