The self proclaimed "dorkwave" band Smart Shoppers came out with their third LP in 2025 and it was one of the most original and entertaining records I listened to last year. Their caffeinated mix of XTC meets The Dickies is loud, bouncy and always obnoxiously poking at your eyeballs. They got the pop hooks, they got the tightly coiled guitar riffs, they got a slide whistle! So call it dorkwave, spazpunk, or jtterrock, Smart Shoppers are here to make sure things stay awkward and eyebrows remain furrowed.  photo by Adam Ziegenhals Shock Treatment: Let’s start out with who’s all currently in Smart Shoppers? Smart Shoppers: Smart Shoppers is and will always be Aaron Smart(Rice) on guitar, Jash Thrift(Stamps) on drums, Norby Shopko (Rev. Norb) on bass, and myself; Joey Shops(Lambert) on vocals and random sounds. ST: How did you guys all meet and decide to form the band? SS: Aaron and Jash are brothers-in-law and most of us have known one another for a couple decades at least. Ther...

I remember four things, right off the top of my head from 1996. I remember collecting Beanie Babies like a fiend with my Mom. We'd drive all around town, from store to store looking for our next beanie fix. I remember playing Mario Kart 64 like a wild eyed maniac, often times shunning food and drink just for the opportunity to play more. I remember being so excited to finally get a Marvel Vs. DC comic book. And I remember buying punk rock records, lot's and lot's of punk records.  I was lucky to have discovered underground punk music just a few years prior. I didn't know if it was because I was at such a formative age in 1996, but I always held the music that came out during that time particularity close to my heart. I think of it as such a golden era for the genera. But I can tell you one thing, out of the three things I mentioned remembering about 1996, the one thing I still do is listen to the records that came out then. I haven't played Mario Kart, read that cra...

Eel Men released their debut LP in 2025 and I can't remember the last time I heard a debut record sound so unique yet fully formed right out of the gate! Is it power pop? Is it post punk? Does it sound a bit like Wire meets Nick Lowe? The answer is yes, yes and yes! Trying to pick apart the Eel Men and pin down  their influences is not an easy task and that's what makes them so great.  Shock Treatment: Let’s get things going by telling me who is currently in Eel Men and what everyone does in the band? Eel Men: Hi Jay and Shock Treatment! We are Jimmy on vocals and guitar, Rory on guitar, Alec on bass and backing vocals and Matt on Drums. ST:  On your website, it says you guys formed in 2021, what’s the band’s origin story?  How did you guys all meet and decide to play together? EM: We all know each from playing music around north London. Rory and Jimmy have been in bands together forever and Matt and Alec are brothers who moved over to London from Atlanta, Georgia ye...