When we think of punk music, most think of the late-1970s and 1980s punk scenes in America and England. We think of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Ramones, with their fast and hard (for the era) sounds. Over time, the punk scene has evolved and divided itself into successful subgenres and cultures across the world. Here in Sacramento, several young bands are giving birth to a new punk scene in California.
Started in 2024, Killgurls is a Sacramento based band, locally known for their moody, grunge-influenced, punk sound. Their debut single “Cradle” dropped in March of 2024. The single sounds straight off “Bleach”, Nirvana’s debut album from 1989 with the same drunken screaming and mumbling heard on their 1993 album “In Utero”. “Cradle” shows their obvious 90s and alternative roots.
Their next single was released on Aug. 23, 2024, only 6 months after their debut. The record is titled “Kill Yr. Friends” and is roughly two minutes long, but it’s full of non-stop bass and guitar with vocals from lead singer and guitarist Aidan Jacques. The song is much more modern-sounding than “Cradle”, with a sound kind of similar to Le Tigre or Destroy Boys. Destroy Boys is another band from the greater Sacramento area, so it’s no surprise they have similar sonic influences.
Jacques, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist, is from Roseville, CA. He attended Eich Middle School and Oakmont High School, but he went to Independence for his senior year. He got his start independently in middle and high school, making music on SoundCloud, and joined a band in his later teen years called Chlorine. When that band ended, he started Killgurls with Vanna Rose on bass and Sal Stinson on drums.
The band’s most recent release was “Julie’s Lunch” on Sep. 19 of this year. The track opens with a muddy bass line, adds some cymbals and snare, then introduces soft vocals. The guitar enters with muddy riffs and then the bass drums intensify until the song explodes into the chorus. This song feels like a return to the sound of “Cradle” with obvious influence from Nirvana and another nod to the punk energy of their 1989 release, before they transitioned to their poppier sound in “Nevermind”. The bass also has a Sonic Youth feel to it, consistent with the 1990s alternative direction Killgurls leans.
The band has garnered local notoriety, performing benefit and charity shows, house shows, as well as their frequent visits to Sactown’s Cafe Colonial on Stockton Boulevard. They have a show planned for Oct. 27 at 7pm, opening for similar band Starcrawler, at the Starlet Room. Their next single “Cake” drops Friday, Oct. 24 on all platforms, presave is available now.
