Skegss

Loading their scrappy garage rock with singalong choruses, Australian trio Skegss have cast their net far beyond their humble home base in the small beach town of Mullumbimby. Formed in 2014 in nearby Byron Bay, the band took their name from a rare brand of acoustic guitar that singer/guitarist Benny Reed spotted in Japan. Surf culture saturates their corner of New South Wales: The son of a famous surfer, bassist Toby Cregan makes surfing documentaries on the side, while early guitarist Noa Deane exited to focus on his own surfing career. Similarly steeped in the beach, Skegss’ initial sound retained whiffs of Wavves while saluting fellow Aussie slackers like Dune Rats, who released Skegss’ 2018 debut album My Own Mess on their own Ratbag label. The band’s unassuming charisma was apparent right from the debut single “L.S.D.” (as in “Live Sleep Die”), with Reed’s raspy vocals caked in reverb against breezy melodies. Singing about such relatable subjects as skateboarding and road trips, Reed documented his dream gathering of mates at loving length on “Valhalla.” Edging towards a more timeless, even rootsy, sound, Skegss’ 2021 album Rehearsal topped the Australian charts, confirming the universal appeal of their unpretentious anthems.