Pucker Up for

CHAPPED LIPS

By Will Herman

The self-proclaimed “Milwaukee boy band from Sheboygan” are as self-effacing as they are tenacious, and these attitudes are reflected in their debut album Sorry I’m Late. The introspective lyrics dwell on the anxious uncertainties of young adulthood and are paired with an expansive sonic range. When asked to describe their sound in three words, members of the Milwaukee-based 4-Piece, Chapped Lips eventually answered with Really Heavy Indie. They nailed it. The combination of scorching metal riffs, punk power chord thrashing, indie pop melodies, and a rock-solid rhythm section makes for an exhilarating ad hoc sound that could not be described in any other way. 

Their most hostile songs are filled with a viciousness and brazen intensity that triggers the fight, in fight or flight. Their gentlest songs hit a sweet spot that is endearing and loving. However, just because they’re sonically dynamic doesn’t mean they take songs off; they play every single piece with a wild and feverish energy.

That ever-present energy translates to their on-stage performance. High-flying antics, high-octane attitude, and inter-band collisions are nothing short of combative. While their live performance will leave you bruised and battered just by watching, it’s no gimmick. You would be hard-pressed to find even one bum note or an out-of-place beat from the band during a live performance. Not during a soaring leap from an amp, not during shredding solo while being held upright by the crowd, and not while the bass player keeps steady time from the middle of the mosh pit. It’s rehearsed but not scripted.

Keep your eyes peeled for this 4-pack of talented live wires. You won’t want to miss it. These busybodies are hustling and making a name for themselves by routinely tearing the roof off scene staple basement venues, dive bars, and anywhere else they can cause a ruckus.

See what they have to say about themselves in an interview conducted by yours truly, here at Wrath & Love magazine.