Picture this. It’s August, 2019 and you’re at a house party in the inner north-east suburbs of Melbourne. The wallpaper is dripping in paisley patterns and 60’s psych jams provide a sultry backdrop. It’s here—between the peak of the party and dawn—that Melbourne foursome Badgers were born.
Counterculture veterans and experienced musicians, these four have “done their dues” in previous projects, playing dive bars across the country. They’ve come together now, savvy and stinging for vibration salvation.
On their seriously impressive debut single Make It Rain, Melbourne-based outfit Badgers ooze with sultry vintage charm.
Their groove laden debut single, Make It Rain, draws you in with the buoyancy and toe tapping familiarity of surf rock. Yet their self-assuredness and wheeling worldliness is tantalising, cementing themselves as the band you’ll be name-dropping all summer.
Leading salaciously on vocals and strings, frontman Michael Badger knows a thing or three about developing great chemistry in a band. He has produced and mixed tracks for likes of Amyl and the Sniffers, King Gizz and Needle In The Hay 2019 winners IV League.
He’s joined by BATZ bassist Dali Platt, whose harmonising alongside Eloise Thetford on guitar is infectious. Miranda Holt on drums completes a striking looking outfit. It’s the slick melding of guitar and vocal hooks that reign supreme on Make It Rain, following the echo chamber of feminine falsetto cat-calling and the recurring “Say My Name”.
Opposing their namesake, Badgers are nothing meek. A band full of flirtatious dichotomy; searing and sensationalised, sweet and serene. In Platt’s words, “Badgers are vintage like a Jag guitar: reliably terrific and possessed of timeless history and class.”
Currently in the studio, a self-produced album is simmering away at the guiding hands of Little River Band’s David Briggs. If this debut is anything to go by, Badgers are one to keep an eye on. To witness them live from the genesis, be at the Tote on November 15. More info on that show here.
Set for an offical release next Friday, November 8th, sink into the retro-gazing brilliance of Make It Rain above.
