Photo by Christiaan Lopez-Miro
A name like Jacuzzi Boys conjures some images, and most of them go along the lines of orange tans, loud clothes, obnoxious jewelry, bro-y, lunk-headed EDM, Miami. None of that’s true when it comes to the real garage-pop trio, except for the Miami part. That bit’s real. The South Florida band has a sound that’s familiar to fans of current Jacuzzi Boys tourmates (and definite West-Coasters) Wavves and King Tuff. But you don’t have to be a shaggy, lo-fi-loving hipster to appreciate Jacuzzi Boys’ approach to sweet ‘n’ sour, slightly psychedelic, rock ‘n’ roll. But don’t take (just) our word for it, Iggy Pop (who currently makes his home in Miami) digs ’em too. If a nod from a godfather of punk, and one of rock’s greatest frontmen doesn’t convince you, maybe warm notes from Consequences of Sound, Pitchfork, Fader, and Filter will–I for one’ll go with Mr. Pop on this one.
Jacuzzi Boys started back in 2007 with guitarist Gabriel Alcala and drummer Diego Monasteri. Bassist Danny Gonzales joined up soon after. They released their debut full-length No Seasons in 2009, and jumped to Sub Pop imprint Hardly Art for their 2011 sophomore record Glazin’. The Boys left balmy South Florida for Michigan to record their latest (self-titled) record. Jacuzzi Boys is soul music for slackers. Even at its punchiest, there’s something amiable, even sunny, about the sound. Album opener “Be My Prism” drives hard, the beat is quick, steady, machine-like, but it’s more luxury sedan than muscle car. There’s room to stretch, and the more psych-rock (little touches of vocal harmony here, a happy little repeating guitar line there, and plenty of layers of sound to give that wooziness essential to the sound) elements cradle and sweeten the song. Adding a little sugar to rock ‘n’ roll is something the Jacuzzi Boys do very well.
You can catch the Jacuzzi Boys at Antone’s Thursday, Oct. 10 with Wavves and King Tuff for one of ACL Fest 2013’s Official Late Night Shows.
