split: Gully Boys & Niiice.

words: Cheyenne Bilderback

Minneapolis post-punk trio Gully Boys released their first track since the band’s 2018 full-length debut. Called “Little Brother,” the track comes via a split record with friends Niiice., who also call the Minneapolis DIY scene home.  

The Gully Boys’ debut, Not So Brave, is an album packed with enigmatic verses and peppered with big hooks. With “Little Brother,” Gully Boys continue their intentionally unpolished sound, again pushing fundamental truths through abstract lines. “Bound to bury the namesake,” sings vocalist Kathy Callahan before landing on a simple question: “Where was I?”  

Relatively unembellished, the harmonies are sweet and the guitar riffs are catchy. But “Little Brother” pushes against a darker, barbed edge, making the single a compelling listen.  

On the flip side of the split is “Caffeine” from Niiice., who released an EP titled “Never Better” earlier this year. 

“Maybe the cold is getting to me/ But I remember you asked me not to be so boring,” sings Roddie Gadeberg on the first verse. The track is jammy, accented by trumpets and delving into hazy-psych noise.  

But it’s also a song that’s seemingly weary of it all. “I’m so tired,” punches the chorus. It’s a song bittered by the cold and released in time for the hottest months of the summer; maybe this will serve as a reminder to finally enjoy that sunshine while it lasts.