Dive Bar Rock Star – Concrete Sundays

Dive Bar Rock Star is the follow-up EP to the self-titled EP that Concrete Sundays released last year. This one is a digital release so far.

The opening title track showcases the gritty fast sound that the band introduced on their debut-EP. Perhaps it’s even more gritty and DIY this time around. Sometimes I’m even having a bit of trouble hearing what is being sung, but perhaps it’s because of my age. The first EP hit the balance a little bit better production-wise. The band also takes a little bit of a harder approach to their sound overall this time around. The sense for melodies is definitely there in the chorus of Newer Grow Up and in First Job, while Petrol Mike takes a more direct approach.

Lyrically it’s still songs about growing up (or rather not growing up), work, drinking beers and listening to music in bars and the (true?) story about Petrol Mike. It’s nothing too serious, and not intended to be taken as such either.

Overall, this EP has a couple of tracks I like in Dive Bar Rock Star and Never Grow Up, but doesn’t keep that consistent and fun quality that the first EP had. I think the production doesn’t support the sound as well on here either, having landed on the side of a bit too much grit and low-fi. Dive Bar Rock Star proves that Concrete Sundays intend to stick with their sound, which is good because I think it’s quite unique on the Swedish scene right now, but here it doesn’t hit those highs as on their self-titled debut.