Ugly Blondes
Drag
Released July 27, 2017
By Paige E. Owens
After more than a year and a half of fan anticipation and the release of their second full-length album, alt-rock group, Ugly Blondes, released their third independent album, Drag, last month on July 27, 2017. The band worked closely with Rob Perez and Al Torrence to record the album, while Torrence and Treelady Studios mastered and mixed the tracks.
Ugly Blondes first formed in 2013 and is composed of Nate Cross (lead vocals/guitar), Justin Cross (guitar/backup vocals), Nick Chesko (bass/backup vocals), and Gareth Blyth (drums/percussion). Shortly after forming, the group quickly got down to business writing, playing, and recording before releasing their debut, self-titled album in January 2014.
Despite taking the last year and a half to write and record their third full-length album, Ugly Blondes are far from “Old News” as their opening track may suggest. Frequenting Pittsburgh venues such as The Smiling Moose and Black Forge Coffee House last year after the release of their second full-length album and playing this year’s Deutschtown Music Festival , Ugly Blondes will surely have a jam-packed schedule of shows this upcoming fall and spanning into the new year.
Following the release of The Golden Days in 2015, the group’s newest eight-track album, Drag, contains all of the classic elements you would expect to hear from Ugly Blondes. Between heavy opening riffs in songs such as “Amorfo” and “Twins,” a combination of punk and psychedelic rock characteristics, and meticulous percussion: these components equate to an atypical, yet unique, sound that has allowed Ugly Blondes to stand out amongst the rock n’ roll scene in Pittsburgh for the last several years and to gain a loyal fan base.
Drag can be streamed on Ugly Blondes’ official bandcamp webpage, and most other streaming platforms, while the album is available for digital download ($7) or physical copy ($10).
