This December, Orange County’s The Last Gang will make their Fat Wreck Chords debut with the two-song 7-inch Sing for your Supper. And while The Last Gang may seem like a new band, their history is rife with chance encounters that led to big breaks. The band originally formed in 2007, with vocalist-guitarist Brenna Red leading the band and playing the king of ‘77 punk that allowed them to tour with the Anti-Nowhere League and Dwayne Peters Gunfight. But in 2012, shortly after drummer Robby Wantland joined, The Last Gang put their guns down and called it a day. Thankfully, that didn’t last long.
Reformed by vocalist-guitarist Brenna Red and drummer Robby Wantland the pair developed the sound that would become The Last Gang, a mix of tough-as-nails punk and bouncing melodies. As they rotated through bass players, the band quickly found themselves being asked to contribute
to the Rancid tribute compilation Hooligan’s United. But due to some email based mishaps, they’d be under a time crunch. “We found out we were gonna be on it the day before the deadline,” says Red. “Long story short, we learned and recorded the song in one day.”
But that one song—and the music video that accompanied it—would be the jumpstart the band needed. Before long, they’d find a permanent bassist in Sean Viele, and The Last Gang would hit the road, a handful of releases, and become a more dominant force than ever before. As the band prepped new material, another chance encounter would give the band an even shot in the
arm, as Wantland ran into producer Cameron Webb (NOFX, Motörhead, Alkaline Trio). Soon, Wantland would find himself in Webb’s studio, playing the esteemed producer some of The Last Gang’s songs. “I played him the demos and he was like, ‘Holy shit. Do you guys have a manager or anything?’ It wasn’t really my intent to con him into liking my band or anything, but it was a dream,” says Wantland.
With their lineup solidified, and a producer on board, The Last Gang went into the studio with Webb to record some songs. And as The Last Gang was just about to head out on a tour of England, minutes before they were up in the air, they got a call from Erin Burkett. “We’re getting ready to go to England, we’re at LAX, and Erin calls us and says she wants to sign us,” says Wantland. It’s the kind of story that you’d expect in a Hollywood movie instead of a punk band’s origin story, but it’s the product of years of hard work and dedication—and
the fact that The Last Gang is a band worth getting excited about.
When Sing for your Supper hits on December 8, that infectious energy will spread all the more once people drop the needle on the 7-inch. More than just a teaser for the 2018 full-length, the two songs serve as a perfect introduction to The Last Gang. The title track—which will also be on their new album—is the kind of palm-muted ripper that made Rancid famous, with a bouncing bass line, a huge hook, and airtight songwriting that’ll get stuck in your head for years to come. And the B-side, which is exclusive to this release, is no less throttling. From the jump, the song whips up a frenzy, shifting directions on a dime but never losing sight of The Last Gang’s pop-indebted ethos. After years of grinding it out, Sing for your Supper is the distillation of The Last Gang’s dedication, passion, and hunger. And for those looking for your new favorite punk band, look no further.