Booster Club

Raleigh–Durham-based indie outfit Booster Club features a collection of grizzled North Carolina scene vets: Steven Bailey (vocals, guitar), who has had stints with Indiobravo, The Jaded Rakes, Paloma and Waxing Myrna; Alan Levine (bass), who has played with Bob Funck Band, Coytah, and Indiobravo; and Joey Zielazinski (drums), who had had stints with Secretary Pool and The Softeners.

Formed back in 2021, the self-described “college rock revival” band specializes in a sound that’s clearly indebted to The Replacements, Pixies, Hüsker Dü and the like — and yet the material, which they deliver with an authentic fervor, “fueled by death anxiety and caffeine,” manages to stand on its own. Despite sharing some common aesthetics with pre-internet college radio artists, the band takes on forward-leaning sensibilities that allows them to veer from anthemic hooks to art-rock chaos — within the same song.

The band presents their music “warts and all” partially due to a lack of audio editing ability but mostly because the band’s Steven Bailey frequently invents parts during sessions.

Earlier this year, I wrote about “Say It Out Loud,” an anthemic, college radio friendly jam built around enormous hooks, fuzzy power chords and heart-proudly-on-sleeve performances from old pros. At its heart, the song is a vital and powerful reminder that craft and earnestness are timeless whether you’re 20., 40 or 60 — and that this music thing is for the young, and the forever young at heart.

“Failure,” the North Carolina-based outfit’s latest single “Failure” continues a run of 120 Minutes-era MTV/college radio-like material built around the band’s penchant for big, catchy hooks but paired with a 12 bars blues-like guitar line, a simple old-timey backbeat and a heartbreakingly earnest vocal delivery. The song evokes a familiar feeling for anyone in a creative field — that nagging sensation of failure that’s always right around the corner. - The Joy of Violent Movement

The latest single from Booster Club, “Set Down,” is a tribute to the golden age of rock. The band from Raleigh-Durham has expertly blended nostalgic riffs with modern punk energy, resulting in a triumphant track. Their undeniable talent and unwavering passion for music create an electrifying experience that will captivate any rock enthusiast.

The song “Set Down” by Booster Club immediately captures your attention with its raw and edgy sound that takes you back to the golden era of classic rock. The powerful guitar riffs, reminiscent of iconic bands like The Replacements and Hüsker Dü, create a thrilling and energetic atmosphere. Steven Bailey’s vocals are authentic and passionate, perfectly matching the song’s rebellious spirit.

What makes Booster Club unique is its ability to blend anthemic hooks with art-rock chaos seamlessly, showcasing its modern sensibilities. “Set Down” is an exhilarating trip down memory lane that offers a fresh take on the college radio sound with a contemporary edge.

“Set Down” is a must-listen for rock enthusiasts who crave a nostalgic yet electrifying musical experience. With their undeniable talent and genre-defying approach, Booster Club is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the rock scene. - Honk Magazine

Booster Club call themselves a “College Rock Revival™ band” from the Raleigh-Durham area. The band features singer/guitarist Steven Bailey and bassist Alan Levine. Their music is an unholy marriage of Superchunk and R.E.M., with Bob Mould, The Pixies and the Replacements joining them at the altar. Despite these influences, the band feels like their songs stand on their own, “being delivered with an authentic fervor fueled by death-anxiety and caffeine. Despite sharing common aesthetics with pre-internet college radio artists, Booster Club takes on forward-leaning sensibilities that are unafraid to veer from anthemic hooks to art-rock chaos.”

Bailey appears to be the main (but not the only) songwriter. He says he writes everything “in my head” then starts working out arrangements on piano or acoustic guitar, which is surprising once you first experience the songs! He often doesn’t hear them “loud” until he plays them for the band.

These three songs were recorded to capture a live feel in a controlled environment, with drums, bass and rhythm guitar played at the same time, followed by vocals and additional overdubs. I’ve been trying to figure out who their drummer is, but no name is listed. Bailey recorded these tracks on his Yamaha AW16g vintage digital recorder at D & D Studio in Durham, NC. Mixing and mastering was by the band using online mastering sites.

“Here Kid” explodes off the Bandcamp page with a ferocious energy! This is classic alternative rock, as influenced by the punk bands of the late ’70s (especially The Clash). The guitars are razor sharp, the bass busy and angry, and the drumming full and inventive. To address the (old) elephant in the room, it’s clear from the photo featuring a bald, bearded guy on the cover that the Booster Club are not spring chickens (though neither am I), but the vocals have the ageless sound of wild young men in leather and chains. Just over two minutes but a killer track!

“All Right” again reminds me of The Clash, especially in the vocal harmonies. With a song like this it’s more clear to me how Bailey can construct these tunes on piano or acoustic guitar. This particular track has a few tricky changes you won’t see coming, along with a chanting, anthemic chorus.

“Say It Out Loud” doesn’t exactly slow down, but has a more stately pop-rock tempo and feels a little wider instrumentally. Bailey’s vocals have a bit more room to play, and he’s every bit as good when you can really hear him. The guitars have a surprisingly twangy Beatles quality as well, or Beatles as refracted by a thousand groups that came after. The last minute or so is a wall-to-wall guitar fest, playing the basic chords over and over with increasingly frantic drumming.

​This is the very definition of a short EP but these guys don’t waste a single moment. Powerful stuff! - Pitch Perfect

Raleigh–Durham-based indie outfit Booster Club features a collection of grizzled North Carolina scene vets: Steven Bailey (vocals, guitar), who has had stints with Indiobravo, The Jaded Rakes, Paloma and Waxing Myrna; Alan Levine (bass), who has played with Bob Funck Band, Coytah, and Indiobravo; and Joey Zielazinski (drums), who had had stints with Secretary Pool and The Softeners.

Formed back in 2021, the self-described “college rock revival” band specializes in a sound that’s clearly indebted to The Replacements, Pixies, Hüsker Dü and the like — and yet the material, which they deliver with an authentic fervor, “fueled by death anxiety and caffeine,” manages to stand on its own. Despite sharing some common aesthetics with pre-internet college radio artists, the band takes on forward-leaning sensibilities that allows them to veer from anthemic hooks to art-rock chaos — within the same song.

The band presents their music “warts and all” partially due to a lack of audio editing ability but mostly because the band’s Steven Bailey frequently invents parts during sessions.

The Raleigh-Durham-based outfit’s latest single “Say It Out Loud” is an anthemic, college radio jam rooted in enormous hooks, fuzzy power chords and heart-proudly on-sleeve performances from old pros. At its heart, is a reminder that craft and earnestness is absolutely timeless whether you’re 20, 40 or 60 — and that this music thing is for the young, and the forever young at heart - The Joy of Violent Movement

Booster Club has really caught our attention with their new single, Set Down. The NC based act, whose music is inspired by the college rock of the 80s and 90s, have delivered with this track, the first off their new EP, Brace. The track is a slow, aggressive alt rock song with elements of grunge in the arrangement. Fans of acts like Linkin Park and the Foo Fighters will be sure to find a spot for this song in their rotation. - Indie Underrated