Billericay’s Black Lounge burst onto the scene with their debut single “Bickering”, a raucous, riff-heavy ode to the beautiful mess of relationships—and with 55K Spotify streams and counting, it’s clear the alt-rock revival has found its new torchbearers. Channeling the raw energy of early 2000s rock with a modern edge, this four-piece delivers a track that’s as thematically relatable as it is sonically explosive.
From the first snarling guitar lick, “Bickering” grabs you by the collar, mirroring the push-pull tension of a couple’s spat with its dynamic shifts. Frontman George Grant’s vocals oscillate between smoldering restraint and full-throated release, perfectly capturing the frustration of loving someone who’s “blissfully clueless” to their own button-pushing. The chorus—“Bickering is nothing new”—is an instant shout-along hook, tailor-made for sticky-floored pubs and festival fields alike.
Recorded in their hometown, the track bottles Black Lounge’s live ferocity, balancing polished production (courtesy of Steve Bentley-Klein, known for work with Paolo Nutini) with deliciously unvarnished emotion. Even house DJ Max Dean couldn’t resist, dropping a pulsating remix in his sets—proof that great rock transcends genres.
Behind the music lies a band built for longevity. Formed in 2024 from lockdown-born songwriting, Black Lounge—Grant, Charlie Betts (lead guitar), Nick Everrett (drums), and Callum Saunders (bass)—melds Arctic Monkeys’ swagger, Pink Floyd’s depth, and Wunderhorse’s modern grit. Their sold-out Essex/London shows (including Dublin Castle and O2 Academies) already telegraph a live act that thrives on chaos, while industry backing from Chrysalis Records founder Chris Wright and manager Peter Burrell signals bigger stages ahead.
“Bickering” isn’t just a strong debut; it’s a mission statement. Black Lounge doesn’t just revive rock’s glory days—they reinvent them with heart, humor, and hooks that lodge in your skull. If this is the opening salvo, their May Northern tour (and beyond) can’t come soon enough.
