Blair Gun, a brand new post-punk garage rock band from San Diego, released their debut single “Lemondrops,” a noisy punk confection beyond their years about existential gen-z ennui and giving into vices along with an accompanying video.

Evoking a post-punk energy with the growly sounds of early aughts garage rock, Blair Gun are solidifying their place in the Southern California scene – but instead of leaning into surf rock, they are focusing on revisiting and reshaping the sounds that inspire them, from Wire to Devo, The Microphones to Parquet Courts. 

The band, all of whom are 21, say of their debut single, “it’s about an incurable feeling of dissatisfaction that you can’t escape, that follows you everywhere. It’s about seeking refuge in self-destructive vices and how counterproductive that can be.”

The four young members are Joedin Morelock (vocals, guitar), Zach Cavor (guitar), Alland Mendivil (bass), and Jake Richter (drums). Joedin and Zach met through a chance encounter on the site BandMix, united by their shared love of 70’s punk and a desire to make music. Cavor brought in Mendivil – the two played baseball together as kids, and Joedin brought in his pal Jake – they met through a recording arts class. And thus Blair Gun was formed in early 2020. The band spent the pandemic in a hot garage in San Diego, developing their sound, writing music and exploring themes of “personal autonomy, anti-masculinity, romantic detachment and nonsense for nonsense’s sake.” 

The band’s name stems from a road trip which uncovered the history of the Battle of Blair Mountain for them. The 1921 resistance led by coal workers in West Virginia went on to become the biggest labor rebellion in American history. The duo was interested “in the idea of  rebuking authority,” as they considered names. They also gravitated towards the double entendre of the word “blair/blare,” which reflected their ultimate mission: “to play very, very loud.”  

The band plays with a confident depth, experimenting with unexpected transitions, tight beats, and gritty vocals. Morelock and Cavor’s guitars communicate with unwavering energy and come together to create Blair Gun’s rich sound.

Photo Courtesy: Eden Cvengros