We're three days into the new year, and already we have a sure new Twin Cities buzz band to tout: Laura Larson of Kitten Forever notoriety will debut her quartet Scrunchies on Thursday night at 7th Street Entry, and judging by both the band's lineup and the first single they just dropped, they're likely to have a good first year.
"I really wanted to play guitar and sing in a band again," explained Larson, who first made a name for herself in her teens a decade ago as the singer/guitarist in Baby Guts. She went on to be one of the three singers in Kitten Forever, of course, but that trio famously features only drums and bass.
As for how the rest of Scrunchies came together, Larson offered another simple explanation: "Everyone that's in the band was my first pick to play with."
That everyone is Danielle Cusack of Bruise Violet and Tony Peachka on drums, Stephanie Jo Murck of Sass and Tony Peachka on guitar, and Bree Meyer of Double Grave (formerly Ego Death) on bass. Coincidentally or not, Murck will return to First Ave on Friday to play the Best New Bands showcase in the main room with Sass, which both Bruise Violet and Tony Peacka played in prior years.
A sure sign that this newest of new bands has sizable ambitions, Scrunchies has already recorded a full-length album with Matt Castore at A Harder Commune Studio and plans to release it later this year. The first taste of the record debuted online Tuesday via Bandcamp, a hard-blasting, jaggedly rhythmic single just over two minutes in length called "Wichita" (posted below). There's also a fun new video for the song, which will debut before Thursday's show.
France Camp, Devata Daun and Sauna Accident will open for Scrunchies in the Entry (8:30 p.m., $8-$10).