The Basement East Nashville, TN
Web: newmedicinerocks.com
Contact: Instagram @newmedicinerock
Players: Jake Scherer, lead vocals; Dan Garland, guitar; Matt Brady, bass, background vocals; Ryan Guanzon, drums, background vocals
Material: Originally calling themselves A Verse Unsung, lead singer Jake Scherer and guitarist Dan Garland formed New Medicine in 2009. Although they’re currently unsigned, in the past they inked deals with Imagen Records and Photo Finish Records. The no-nonsense rockers produced two albums and received airplay on SiriusXM. Attention waned, yet the band soldiered on, nearly disbanding before a renewed following on Spotify reinvigorated their mission. Their sound is down-‘n-dirty, heavy rock that delivers hip-hop vibes a la Beastie Boys mixed with nu-metal wistfulness.
Musicianship: Titles like “Fuck It” let you know exactly where this group is coming from. These dudes are here to party, and they don’t care what you think. Every song comes laden with unapologetic rumble and sing-along choruses. “American Wasted” is about drinking to excess, while “One Too Many” is about… well, the aftermath of drinking too much. “Dangerous” offers a pointy slice of sonic bravado. Others are more serious. “Past the Past” explores letting go of one’s mistakes. “Rich Kids” examines growing up with peers who never had to work for anything, and “Control Freak” is a solemn meditation on mental health. Their years together pay dividends, every note fitting perfectly into place.
Performance: Scherer and Garland are especially comfortable on stage. They know exactly how to play to the fans, of which there are legions, and every pose helps elevate their show. Scherer is also a master of between-song banter, spending just the right amount of time to set up each tune. One break featured a “family photo,” wherein they took a selfie with the audience after requesting that everyone memorialize the moment by flipping the bird.
Summary: New Medicine is proof that success can come to artists who persevere. They’re now on a trajectory to fly higher than ever before. They deserve the accolades, as their tunes are relentlessly sticky and stuffed with unadulterated, rebellious fun. Perhaps each sounds a bit similar, but that’s okay. Wallowing in rock and roll excess is sometimes sufficient.
