Astoria, Oregon’s The Something Ain’t Rights have unveiled their debut EP, Rotten In The Brain, arriving July 22 via Hovercraft Records. Built from decades of underground experience spanning CBGB-era hardcore, Austin’s punk scene, and the Pacific Northwest DIY community, the band delivers nine tracks that blend punk urgency, post-punk experimentation, country twang, and barroom rock and roll.
At the heart of the band is vocalist and guitarist Mike Vasquez, longtime owner and engineer of Austin’s renowned Sweatbox Studio. Over the years, Vasquez has worked alongside artists including Mark Arm, Paul Leary, Alejandro Escovedo, Tim Kerr, Mooney Suzuki, Toys That Kill, and Lungfish. After relocating to Astoria, he joined forces with drummer Carrie Beveridge, bassist Alpha Rasmussen, and guitarist Dan McClure to create The Something Ain’t Rights.
The quartet, who also perform together as Astoria punk outfit Beta Voids, use this project to explore a wider range of influences. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts such as X, The Minutemen, Pere Ubu, The Gun Club, and Wire, the band crafts a sound that shifts effortlessly between angular post-punk rhythms, roots rock grit, hardcore energy, and country-infused storytelling.
Stream / Order Rotten In The Brain
Tracks like “Rotten In The Brain” and “Plymouth of Fury” channel frustration, urgency, and dark humor through sharp-edged punk rock, while songs such as “Gas Station Angel” and “Rainbow Alley” showcase a broader musical palette inspired by American roadways, small-town characters, and life beyond the underground club circuit.
Watch the Video for “Pretty Side”
Recorded and mixed by Vasquez at Cannon Deck Recording in Astoria during the winter of 2025-26, the project was initially planned as a sprawling 29-song album. Those plans changed when Vasquez suffered serious injuries in a highway accident during the recording process. During recovery, the band decided to focus on the first nine completed songs, resulting in a leaner and more immediate debut release.
The EP’s artwork reflects the band’s roots. The cover photo was taken by Vasquez across the street from CBGB during his first hardcore show in 1983, a formative experience that continues to shape his connection to punk culture today.
Rotten In The Brain isn’t a nostalgia trip. It’s the work of seasoned musicians continuing the conversation they’ve been part of for decades, delivering a record that feels timely, unpredictable, and uniquely American.
Release Date: July 22, 2026
Label: Hovercraft Records
Genre: Punk Rock, Post-Punk, Cowpunk, Alternative Rock, Roots Punk, Garage Rock
For Fans Of: X, The Gun Club, Pere Ubu, Old 97’s, The Minutemen, Wire, Rank and File
The Something Ain’t Rights Online
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