I knew this guy once, a real creeper. He was never above preying on obviously inebriated women, it seemed to be some sort of compulsion. What a slimy waste of skin that person was. The band Irked is from the UK so their song “Backstreets” couldn’t be about him personally, but it might as well have been. It’s a message to be aware, to be on guard, and I salute them for that sentiment. That kind of behavior has no place in modern society and it’s about time musicians started singing about it.
I’ll step down from my soapbox now and talk about how good this band is for a bit. There will be obvious comparisons to Amyl and the Sniffers and Sleaford Mods, but Irked have more to offer. They have that wonderful, jangly guitar that set the Dead Kennedys apart combined with rapid-fire, incredibly thoughtful lyrics and it makes for a thoroughly enjoyable and very intense listen. It takes the snarky, snotty quality of the Sex Pistols and leaves the bad musicianship on the curb. If you’re looking for something new, urgent and very relevant, Irked is a band worth tracking down. Plus, they’re from the same county where Newcastle is made, and they had me at hello.
Irked - "Backstreets"