Song Premiere: "Shot Thru" by The Whiffs

Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill

“Shot Thru” is the second single from The Whiffs’ much-anticipated sophomore album Scratch ‘N’ Sniff! (Dig! Records in the US and Bachelor Records in the EU March 23, 2023). Not just Another Whiffs record, it’s the NEXT Whiffs record, and it’s here to tickle all of your senses.

Scratch ‘N’ Sniff is a homegrown production. Recorded in the band’s Kansas City living room, a close listen reveals the cracks of many-a-can amid roommates laughing at vocal takes. As such, everyone’s invited to dive in for 13 new boffo numbers brimming with the hook-laden, never-far-from-the-bar pub-rock snarl The Whiffs nail everytime. The songs are all their own too, whether penned by Rory Cameron (guitar/vocals), Joey Rubbish (guitar/vocals) or Zach Campbell (bass/vocals), and propelled by the pounding beat of Jake Cardwell (drums).

“We tend to write exclusively to what the song asks for in our collective wheelhouse of influences. The sounds and inflections or even references are drawn from what we think the song needs purely. We try to edit ourselves from overdoing things by just what feels right to us,” Cameron said.

“Shot Thru” was written by Joey Rubbish, who took his inspiration for the song from legendary power poppers like The Nerves, The Plimsouls and a little of The Cars. “The song itself is basically a power pop trope—you rejected me so I’m gonna write a tough song about it that also exposes my vulnerability. Hopefully there’s a hook too,” Rubbish said.

“Once I decide on the direction a song will go I just try my best to follow the path I’ve laid out and try not to fuck it up. A dumb trope that sits right is far better than a clever innovation that makes you cringe. I don’t know…sometimes cringy stuff is good too,” Rubbish said.

“Shot Thru” is another garage-y pop gem from The Whiffs that will magically transport you to sacred Saturday night barrooms like The Cavern Club, CBGB, the Hope & Anchor and 7th St. Entry.

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