ALBUM REVIEW: Trash Kickers Win Big on Visceral Debut ‘Way Out, Somehow’

A masterclass in grit, melody, and Midwestern rock-n-roll

“With a beer in one hand and two in the other, Trash Kickers remind you it’s okay to love rock & roll, punk, and country. Tight but loose, aggressive but melancholy, and somehow drunk but sober – dig in and meet em.”

Meet the Trash Kickers

We were recently introduced to the music of the Trash Kickers who just released their debut album Way Out, Somehow, recorded at Studio 303 in Chicago and released via © Kino Records. They celebrated the new album with a sold out show at Schuba’s in the Windy City on May 21. Trash Kickers deliver a timeless blend of high-octane punk rock, power pop, and alt-country. 

Standout Tracks: From “Fly or Die” to “Angel”

One of our immediate favorites is the opening track, “Fly or Die“, a true, visceral, rock-and-roll shit-kicker. But it’s “Angel” that completely blew our minds, thanks to the breathtaking vocal chemistry between frontman Tyler Franklin and guest vocalist Elizabeth Moen.

For deep-cut music fans, Moen’s inclusion is a massive deal. The Chicago-based indie-rock and soul powerhouse—who has spent time on the road playing with Kevin Morby and Squirrel Flower—is currently one of the Midwest’s most formidable vocal forces. She just dropped a stellar new single, “Renaissance Man,” ahead of her highly anticipated, Spencer Tweedy-produced upcoming album, Fields on Fire, slated for early next year.

On “Angel,” Franklin and Moen capture lightning in a bottle. If Paul Westerberg and Lucinda Williams recorded a secret duet together, this would be it. It feels like a gorgeous, historic nod to the short-lived romance and creative fire that famously fueled Williams’ raw masterwork World Without Tears—a connection she laid bare in her recent memoir, “Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You.” When ya know, ya know, and Moen’s smoky, commanding delivery lends the track a devastatingly beautiful weight.

Why Indie Rock Matters

Ultimately, Trash Kickers are a great rock-and-roll band that makes your heart beat faster. Support indie music: you can stream Way Out, Somehow everywhere, but you should really go buy the record on Bandcamp. Talk about it because real friends share great music. Turn it up, play it LOUD, and catch them live if you find yourself in the Midwest this summer. Get up and dance, forget what time it is, and forget about work or school. As long as Trash Kickers are playing, you’re wide awake and fully alive.

Midwest readers are in luck—especially in the Twin Cities, where the band’s Replacements-fueled energy will fit right in when they hit Pillar Forum this September alongside local mainstays High on Stress.

The Band:

• Tyler Franklin: Lead vocals, guitar
• Stas Gunkel: Guitar, harmonica
• John Herrin: Drums, backing vocals, guitar
• Danny Stankus: Bass, backing vocals

Guest Musicians:

• Elizabeth Moen: Lead vocals on “Angel”
• Soren Sandstrom: Cello on “Wild Stab”

Production & Engineering Team:

• Engineered & Mixed by: Stas Gunkel (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 8–10)
• Additional Mixing: Spencer Ouellette (Tracks 2, 6, 7), Max DiFrisco (Track 4)
• Mastered by: Jesse Cannon
• Album Cover Artwork: Calla Flanagan

Official Tracklist:

1. Fly or Die
2. Come Undone
3. What a Waste
4. Signage
5. Angel
6. No Danger
7. Perfect Strangers
8. Nothing Left
9. Wild Stab
10. Graduation Girl

Upcoming Live Shows

• Thursday, July 16th – Chicago, IL @ Martyrs’
• Saturday, September 12th – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
• Thursday, September 24th – Minneapolis, MN @ Pillar Forum (with High on Stress)

*Huge shout out to Nick at Neurotic City Records & PR!