Let\u2019s make a quick detour to the Pacific Northwest and meet The Refraints, a Bellingham, Washington trio built on the classic guitar, bass, drums setup. Aaron Rayborn, Brandon Juntunen, and Molly Russell handle the playing, with Rayborn and Russell sharing vocal duties, which adds a lot of charm to the band\u2019s sound.<\/p>\n
What made me fall for Badminton<\/em>, which I assume is their debut, is how they play a scrappy kind of pop punk that feels both old school and current at the same time. This is the kind of band that could have appeared on Lookout! or Go-Kart Records in the ’90s, but also the kind you might see sharing a stage with Jeff Rosenstock today. The Refraints operate on the unpolished side of catchy. There is no bubblegum gloss to their sound, but the love for the pop side of punk is obvious.<\/p>\n Lyrically, The Refraints dive into awkward crushes, bad decisions, and small everyday disasters, turning heartbreak, drama, and embarrassment into messy little confessionals that feel part self-own, part survival tactic. And yes, The Refraints are really easy to like.<\/p>\n