Here Are the Sonics by The Sonics

I think that if I had been around in Tacoma, Washington in 1965 then The Sonics may well have been one of my favourite bands. They’re scrappy, in your face, but most importantly of all it sounds like they’re just having a damn good time playing a bit of garage rock and roll.

The recording is pretty basic, played live in the studio on a primitive two track recorder with every VU meter bouncing into the red. It’s mostly covers of old favourites but there are some original numbers that stand comparison with the classics, especially The Witch, with stomping drums and screaming vocals from front man Gerry Roslie.

They may not have hit the big time, but by all accounts they had a solid local following in the Pacific north-west and a legendary reputation that persisted all the way up to Nirvana in the 90s and beyond.