Bad Sports

Emerging from Denton, Texas, Bad Sports craft a sound that merges punk rock's speed and rebellious edge with hard rock's gritty guitar bite and power pop's catchy appeal. The group first gained attention in 2008 via two limited singles on independent labels, followed by their self-titled full-length in 2009, and by the time Kings of the Weekend arrived in 2011 they had refined a seamless blend of raw punk drive and melodic accuracy. Subsequent releases Bras in 2013 and Constant Stimulation in 2018 demonstrated their ability to sharpen their playing while retaining forceful guitars and strong melodies.

Drawing from foundational punk acts such as the Ramones and the Buzzcocks alongside the enduring '70s hard rock sounds prevalent in their home region, the lineup consists of Orville Neeley, also active in OBN IIIs, handling guitar and vocals; TV's Daniel Friend, likewise a member of Wax Museums, on bass and vocals; and Gregory Rutherford, who doubles in Wax Museums, on drums. Beginning in 2008 they promoted their material through several 7-inch singles issued by Big Action Records and Boom Chick Records, after which the Atlanta-based Douchemaster label put out the self-titled debut on CD, LP, and MP3 formats in fall 2009, with Burger Records handling a cassette edition. Extensive road work ensued, among them select shows alongside '70s power pop veteran Paul Collins.

Partnering with Portland, Oregon's Dirtnap Records, the trio issued Kings of the Weekend in August 2011. Bras, released in 2013, adopted a harder-edged approach that remained melodic and rooted in classic punk yet echoed early New York City bands including the Ramones, the Dead Boys, and the Dictators. In 2016 they issued the seven-song EP Living with Secrets; a limited pink-vinyl pressing went on sale at concerts starting that June, with the wider commercial edition following in August. Their fourth album, Constant Stimulation, appeared in 2018 and featured shifts in pacing plus a refined delivery that stayed true to punk origins.