Interview: Joe The Band
Jack Perez Discusses His Latest Lo-Fi Power Pop Singles
I’m a sucker for the kind of sweet and crunchy lo-fi power pop released by Texas indie rockers Joe The Band.
An evolving solo studio project for songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jack Perez, Joe The Band combines the short, punchy songs GBV mastered with buzzsaw guitars influenced by ‘80s Bob Mould and ‘90s J Mascis. Add a healthy dose of dreamy shoegaze energy and you have the recipe for some great new guitar pop.
“Joe The Band started in Feburary 2020 after I made a Bandcamp page to post a really bad Car Seat Headrest cover. An EP and two albums made entirely by myself were then released over the span of a year,” Perez told me for the interview below.
“Then the third album, the Bright Sun BrIngs it to Light, came out in 2022. That album was the first good one that kinda had the sound we have today, as I had just discovered power pop and my taste in shoegaze evolved.”
Joe The Band took another leap forward on the tracks “I Am Bummed” and “Not Really Sick” from their 2023 album.
“All Killer No Filler! was the first album I made that really had the sound in my head I was trying to make—big fuzzy guitars, loud pop music…yeah! Still made by myself because I had no friends. I started playing shows and making friends not long after,” Perez said.
Those friends include live bassist Ellyette who joined in 2024. “We've been writing together and playing live shows with various drummers ever since.”
Today marks the release of two new tracks—“Take Me” and “Whatever”—in the lead up to another full length album later this year. I caught up with Perez by email to talk about the new songs, his major influences, and what other Texas indie bands we should be listening to right now.
Congrats on the new singles. What inspired “Whatever"?
Jack Perez: I recently went on a huge shoegaze binge. Shoegaze has always been important to me but I've written a lot of songs inspired by My Bloody Valentine (MBV) and Ride that will be on the new record. I love their textures and layers so I tried doing something similar.
The flip side "Take Me" has a more aggressive sound. Did you take a different approach to that one?
Jack Perez: I wanted it to be short and sweet; as poppy and energetic as possible. I tried doing a Bob Mould/Superdrag thing.
The Pittsburgh band Ex Pilots also heavily inspired the sound of the song. They have a lot of really quick poppy songs akin to MBV and Hüsker Dü. It's a sound I've started to experiment with recently.
I've really like the 2025 remix of "I Am Bummed." What made you want to remix an album that only came out a couple of years ago?
Jack Perez: When I recorded the album that song is from I was super naive and I don't think I really nailed the sound I was going for. It sounded really messy but not in a good way. The remix sounds exactly like how it did in my head originally. I like to think I've come far as a producer!
Between those three tracks, I hear a lot of different influences. What artists would you say have most inspired you?
Jack Perez: The big recurring artists in my life have been Guided By Voices, Weezer, Dinosaur Jr, the Muffs, and Superdrag. All of them have a super distorted and noisy sound but with INCREDIBLE bubblegum pop songwriting. And shoegaze bands on the poppier side like MBV, Ride, and Yuck have all definitely influenced the layering and production.
I can't forget to mention Tony Molina, Happy Diving, and a lot of the fuzzy pop bands from the California scene. Shout out to Carlos Cruz!
You describe your music as "power pop and shoegaze." In your mind, how do those two genres intersect?
Jack Perez: Both are rooted in ‘60s bubblegum pop. Shoegaze has more of the Brill Building/Phil-Spector/Beach Boys sound; power pop is on the early British Invasion side (“Pictures of Lily”!).
Listening to your catalog I'm reminded of other current bands like Liquid Mike and Strange Magic. Who are you listening to these days?
Jack Perez: Newer bands I've been listening to A LOT are Liquid Mike, Hedge, and the previously mentioned Ex Pilots. I love this new wave of short pop songwriters. God Bless GBV!
I also have a growing fondness for Ray Davies and The Kinks. It's definitely inspired my songwriting recently.
I don't know much about the current Texas indie rock scene. Who else should we check out?
Jack Perez: Great stuff when it comes to emo. My friends Lease Agreement are power pop inspired punk rockers, and Mouth Junkies are so insanely amazing, especially live. I also play drums for a band called The Toadstools. They are more on the alt rock side, but I like to think everyone in that band are incredible songwriters.
What's next for you and Joe The Band?
Jack Perez: Whatever fate decides to throw at us. Our sixth album should be coming out around August and I already have enough material for a seventh record!
And I'll keep playing shows with various lineups. Right now the bassist Elly has been the only consistent member besides me.
Hüsker Dü, GBV + Shoegaze ... How can't this be good. Getting deep on this band.
Thanks for sharing
I'm a sucker for this stuff too. Thanks for the introduction. Blasting it now.