Castlecomer

Sydney-based indie rock group Castlecomer fuse the punchy drive of 2000s garage-rock acts such as the Strokes, the Bravery, and the Von Bondies with the propulsive rhythms of peers Night Riots and Atlas Genius. Their initial recordings leaned toward the rustic folk textures associated with Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons, yet the quartet shifted direction by decade’s end, coating their sharp-edged anthems with glossy pop production on their self-titled debut album.

The band takes its name from an Irish village and unites four cousins—lead singer Bede Kennedy, guitarist Tommy, keyboardist Neely, and drummer Patch—with longtime friend and bassist Joe, all of whom grew up together. Early inspiration came from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young alongside Mumford & Sons, resulting in two acoustic-leaning EPs: Lone Survivor in 2013 and Miss December the following year. As their style matured, they incorporated the angular energy of Foals and the Wombats, introducing buoyant hooks and youthful vigor. After moving to Nashville, the group tracked three singles—“Fire Alarm,” “All of the Noise,” and “Move”—that appeared on their first full-length release, Castlecomer, issued by Concord Records and helmed by producer Scott Horscroft.