There’s a particular kind of spirit that comes from starting in the places most bands only romanticise in hindsight, like the house shows, the backyards, the strangers’ floors that blur together by week three on the road. Formed in Tallahassee, Florida, and best known for their candid songwriting, intricate guitar work, and a rise shaped by the DIY scene, POOL KIDS didn’t just dip their toes into that world; they built themselves from it. When they talk about the years gone b

There’s a rooftop somewhere in the UK where four Australians are opening presents. HEADWRECK, consisting of Connor Hickman, Jamo Benadie, Dayne Paix, and Colby Horton, have apparently become the kind of band that interviewers bring gifts to. When the question of arriving empty-handed comes up, Colby barely misses a beat. “Yeah, actually, for the privilege of interviewing HEADWRECK, you must present us with one offering each.” It sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s