Big Loud Record’s alternative rock sub label Big Loud Rock decided to put on a big loud show last Saturday, having two of their on-the-rise bands, Dexter and the Moonrocks and Girl Tones, take over the Troubadour. While it hasn’t gotten any easier to break a rock band in 2026, both these groups showed that they have what it takes to make a career out of rock n’ roll.
Following enjoying a free taco bar and open bar in The Troubadour’s loft area, I went downstairs to see Girl Tones create a not-quiet riot. The sister duo from Kentucky are pure balls-to-the-wall rockers, with Kenzie laying down heavy riffs and caterwauling to the heavens while Laila smashed her drums with aplomb. Songs like “Burnout” and “Volcano” snuck in smart and snarky lyrics amidst the head-banging music. The band even threw in a cover of early 00’s hit “Get Free” by The Vines, which fit their style perfectly.
Knowing their mission was to warm up the audience, Kenzie prodded the audience into moving and dancing (or at least moving) to the songs, as she stalked the stage and took her guitar theatrics to the edges of the stage and into the audience. Kenzie revealed how during the drive from Kentucky to the first tour stop in Washington, their minivan broke down twice, so they seemed especially grateful to be on the west coast in one piece. I was personally happy they made it, because they put on an entertaining show, and have the perfect tunes for getting a wild night started.
While Girl Tones are still working their way into the playlists of rock fans, Texas’ Dexter and the Moonrocks have already managed to make a dent in the mainstream since forming in 2021. While having a #1 song on alternative radio (“Sad in Carolina”) may not hold the power it used to, DatM have something far more important – die hard fans. Fans that know all the words to their songs and sing along while jumping up and down.
When the band first came on stage, they seemed shy. Subdued. The stage presence and excitement you’d hope a rock band to exude wasn’t there (except from drummer Fox, who worked up a sweat so quickly he was shirtless a few songs in). But as the audience began responding to the songs, showing their excitement to hear the band’s brand of “y’alternative” songs, the band came out of their shell. Frontman James Tuffs began smiling from behind his long blond hair covering his face. This is when the band started to really come alive.
Even at the beginning, songs like “Space Invader” still got a great response, but when the band began having as much fun as the audience, that’s when a pit opened up, and people really started bouncing. Tracks like “Sarahtonin” and “Sad in Carolina” were met by unvarnished enthusiasm, and newer songs like the excellent “West of Where I Am” (my favorite from their recent Donkey Flats EP) were being sung back to the band by most of the crowd. Though it had only been out a couple days, brand new song “Flavorless” still appeared to be a future slow jam anthem for the band based on the audience response.
While the band has mostly been getting play from alternative radio, the country/western influences and heavier grunge guitars (like on the Nirvana-esque “Bleach”) could also help the band crossover to mainstream rock radio. Though when the band busted out a cover of Green Day‘s timeless “Basket Case”, it was clear their hearts are firmly in the alternative realm. And certainly, emo-tinged songs like “Wet” and their closing hit “Ritalin”, which most of the audience knew every word to, fit perfectly into the alternative ecosphere.
As I am so often saying on this site – rock is alive and thriving, because their are still die-hard rock fans out there, and bands like Girl Tones and Dexter and the Moonrocks to give them great music to latch onto. Be sure to check out both bands on tour, and hear Dexter’s latest EP here.
The Indy Review 