Talkhouse Playlist: Spend Valentine’s Day with Ex-Girlfriends

Japanese garage punk, dad rock and an anthem for wanderers.

Today is Valentine’s Day and what better group to celebrate with than the new Brooklyn garage punk band Ex-Girlfriends? The band recently released their debut EP, You’re Next, and their raw, gritty, energetic sound is reflected in today’s playlist, with tracks from the Gun Club, the Mummies and more. Dig in, make sure to catch Ex-Girlfriends on tour (dates below) and have a happy Valentine’s Day!
– Dave Lucas, Talkhouse Marketing Manager

Supersnazz – “Baby Love”
Japanese garage rock ladies that rip hard! Just picked up a sick compilation of all my fave Japanese rocker bands in L.A., which reminded me of Supersnazz. – Heather

The Mummies – “Your Love”
One of the best garage rock/punk bands to ever come out. I actually got to see them for the first time this year after many years of love for them. But, yeah, this song is fun. Makes you want to dance and it’s all about wanting to make out. – Heather

Cat Power – “Sea of Love”
In 2014, my other project, Sharkmuffin, went on tour with Dead Stars and we brought my now-friend Rebecca on tour with us to fill in on drums. We had never met her before, but after the tour she and the drummer from Dead Stars started dating. They got married this past September and “Sea of Love” was their wedding song. It was a really picturesque rock & roll beach wedding that made me cry. – Tarra

Etta James – “At Last”
This would probably be my wedding song. – Tarra

Deap Vally – “Smile More”
One afternoon, I get a text from my dad: “For the band. Smile more swap valy.” After interpreting his Dad Language, I found a video for this song… and I haven’t stopped playing it on repeat since. NB: This is anything BUT dad rock. – Monika

Peaches – “Fuck the Pain Away”
If a song could be a moment, then this one would be 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning when you’re home alone and still drunk from the night before. It’s being nineteen years old and smoking weed on some boy’s roof, hoping he’s not too drunk to go down on you later. It’s angry, sexual nostalgia, and it’s also my mantra for 2017. – Monika

Richard Hell – “Love Comes in Spurts”
Just when you think you’ve lost love it gets you right back in the eye. – Crystal

The Gun Club – “Carry Home”
It’s pretty awesome to have a home within yourself. If you can’t have a relationship with yourself and hold tight to it no matter the atmosphere, you’re lost. “Carry Home,” an anthem for wanderers. – Crystal

Terry Winter – “Summer Holiday”
It’s the middle of the winter so I had to pick Terry Winter’s “Summer Holiday.” Who doesn’t have the fondest memories of falling in love in the summer? This fun-loving song is easy on the soul and it just reminds me of frolicking on a sunny beach with my new love or something like that. – Christine

Jimmy McGriff – “Let’s Stay Together”
This song is sexy and love should be funky and fun. – Christine

2/15, Night Light, Oakland, CA *
2/17 Lofi, Seattle, WA *
2/18 TBA, Portland, OR *
2/19 High Dive, Seattle, WA *
3/3 The Footlight, Brooklyn, NY ~
3/4 Ortliebs, Philadelphia, PA ~
3/5 TBA, DC ~
3/6 Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern, Willmington, NC ~
3/7 Snug Harbour, Charlotte, NC ~
3/8 Tin Roof, Charleston, SC ~
3/9 World Famous, Athens, GA ~
3/10 5 Spot Nashville, TN ~
3/11 The Blind Mule, Mobile, AL ~
3/12 Thirsty Hippo, Hattiesburg, MS ~
3/13 Lola’s, Fort Worth, TX ~
3/14 – 3/18 SXSW ~
3/19 TBA, Oklahoma, City, OK  ~
3/20 Governor’s Mansion, Iowa City, IA ~
3/21 The Reverie, Minneapolis, MN ~
3/22 Mickey’s, Madison, WI  ~
3/23 Cadillac Ranch/Bartini’s Indianapolis, IN ~
3/24  TBA, Cincinatti, OH ~
3/25 Hucklebucks, Pottsville, PA ~
3/26 TBA, Asbury Park, NJ ~
3/31 Barranquilla, Brooklyn, NY ~

* = w/ Fruit & Flowers
~ = w/ Sharkmuffin