The Drowns & Wonk Unit Announce 7″ Split

Pacific Northwest rockers THE DROWNS and UK stalwarts WONK UNIT have announced an upcoming 7” split coming out this July. The pairing of these two bands comes via a common link, former Wonk Unit member and current guitarist of The Drowns, Simon Short.

While many might assume there may be some bad blood between the bands, in fact it is quite the opposite. “Simon Wonk moved to the States, it was very sad and we miss him but he did start telling me about this cool band he’d met with a similar ethos to Wonk. We like people who are nice. The Drowns are nice, no bullshit people. Wonky people,” said Alex Brindle Johnson, the singer and main songwriter for Wonk Unit.

The friendship between The Drowns and Wonk Unit goes back a number of years to their first ever UK tour. “Alex from Wonk helped us book our first full UK run also which was huge. Then we shared one of the greatest curries we’ve ever had, and became fast friends,” says Rev.

Each band offers a brand new song to the mix with drastically different meanings to them.

For The Drowns, the process of writing “The Beast” is straightforward: it’s a rock ‘n’ roll political protest track penned by co-frontman Andy Wylie. The band then recorded the track with all-star producer Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys, Bouncing Souls), who was also the man behind the boards behind their critically acclaimed album “Under Tension.”

Wonk Unit’s song “Rebecca” takes a much darker tone that many can relate to: “The hopeless tragedy of addiction. Watching loved ones suffer, all the pain it causes. Finding that rockbottom switch that somehow rewires your brain and you truly know that enough is enough. I think it’s important to be open about addiction, to show people that life can truly be beautiful without that poison. I’ve only known true happiness through sobriety,” says Johnson. Unlike the traditional recording process for most Wonk Unit songs, the track was recorded live and lacks many of the production techniques found on their songs.

Both songs bring something different and exciting that will take the listener on a roller coaster of emotions. Additionally, the jacket features fantastic cover art by Pirates Press Records own Zak Kaplan (The Ratchets, Detournement)!

Both bands will be touring extensively this summer and will have copies of the record on their merch table soon!

THE DROWNS TOUR DATES:

06/27/2023 – Mogilno, Poland – Spichlerz Zbozowy

06/28/2023 – Halle, Germany – Alte Schule

06/29/2023 – Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island

06/30/2023 – Saarbrücken, Germany – Studio 30

07/01/2023 – München, Germany – Glockenwerkstart

07/02/2023 – Wien, Austria – RHIZ

07/03/2023 – Innsbruck, Austria – Club P.M.K.

07/04/2023 – Zürich, Switzerland – Dynamo

07/05/2023 – Stuttgart, Germany – JuHa West

07/06/2023 – Weinheim, Germany – Cafe Central

07/07/2023 – Bocholt, Germany – Vogelhaus

07/08/2023 – Münster, Germany – Heile Welt

07/09/2023 – Gierle, Belgium – Sjock Festival

07/10/2023 – Liege, Belgium –  Peniche Legia

07/11/2023 – Aachen, Germany – Wild Rover

07/12/2023 – Groninigen, Netherlands – Nachtcafe Warhol

07/13/2023 – Berlin, Germany – Wild at Heart

07/14/2023 – Köln, Germany – Sonic Ballroom

07/15/2023 – Bochum, Germany – Trompete

07/23/2023 – Tacoma, WA – LeMay-America’s Car Museum – Punk In Drublic Festival

8/03/2023-8/05/2023 – Blackpool, UK –  Rebellion Festival


WONK UNIT TOUR DATES:
06/27/2023 – Dortmund, DE – Subrosa

06/28/2023 – Dresden, DE – Ostpol

06/29/2023 – Berlin, DE – Wild At Heart

06/30/2023 – Lärz, DE – Fusion Festival

07/01/2023 – Hünxe, DE – Ruhrpott Rodeo

07/21/2023 – Hamburg, DE – Knust

07/22/2023 – Bezirksstraße, 65618 Selters (Taunus), DE – SeePogo Festival

07/28/2023 – London, UK – New Cross Inn (Playing Muffy in Full – Pre Wonkfest)

07/29/2023 – London, UK – The Dome Tufnell Park London N19 5QH (Wonkfest)

08/04/2023 – Duffel, Belgium – BrakRock Festival

08/05/2023 – Bochum, Germany – Wageni

08/07/2023 – Düsseldorf, DE – Pitcher

08/12/2023 – Oldham, UK – Hello & Hoof Festival

08/25/2023 – Milton Keynes, UK

08/26/2023 – Cardiff, Wales, UK – HubFest

09/09/2023 – Sheffield, UK

09/23/2023 – Newcastle, UK – North East Calling

10/06/2023 – Norwich, UK

11/03/2023 – Hastings, UK – The Crypt

11/04/2023 – Exeter, UK

11/17/2023 – Liverpool, UK

11/19/2023 – Bournemouth, UK – The Bear Cave