Oregon Punk Band Unveils Nine-Track Debut Inspired by Underground Music Culture and Decades of Experience
Astoria, Oregon-based punk outfit The Something Ain’t Rights has officially released its debut EP, Rotten In The Brain, through Hovercraft Records, marking the arrival of a project shaped by decades of underground music experience and a broad mix of punk, post-punk, country, and garage rock influences.
Released on July 22, 2026, the nine-track record presents an energetic collection of songs that connect the spirit of early American punk scenes with contemporary themes. Drawing inspiration from influential acts such as X, The Gun Club, Pere Ubu, The Minutemen, Wire, and Rank and File, the band delivers an album that explores frustration, resilience, and social observation without remaining confined to a single musical style.
A Debut Built on Decades of Underground Music Experience
Veteran Musicians Unite on the Oregon Coast
The Something Ain’t Rights is led by vocalist and guitarist Mike Vasquez, longtime owner and recording engineer of Austin’s respected Sweatbox Studio. Throughout his career, Vasquez has worked with hundreds of independent artists, collaborating with musicians including Mark Arm, Paul Leary, Alejandro Escovedo, Tim Kerr, Mooney Suzuki, Toys That Kill, and Lungfish.
Following his move to Astoria, Vasquez assembled a lineup featuring drummer Carrie Beveridge, bassist Alpha Rasmussen, and guitarist Dan McClure. The four musicians also perform together in the Astoria punk band Beta Voids, exchanging instruments in this project to explore a wider range of musical influences.
Their combined backgrounds span underground music communities across New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, New Orleans, Eugene, Portland, and the Oregon coast, bringing a diverse perspective to the band’s songwriting and performance.
Genre-Blending Sound Defines Rotten In The Brain
Rather than following a traditional punk formula, Rotten In The Brain blends multiple styles into a cohesive release. Angular post-punk rhythms are paired with country-inspired guitar work, while hardcore intensity intersects with roots rock and garage rock energy.
Tracks including “Rotten In The Brain” and “Plymouth of Fury” capture urgency and dark humour through fast-paced punk arrangements. Meanwhile, songs such as “Gas Station Angel” and “Rainbow Alley” broaden the musical landscape with storytelling influenced by American highways, rural communities, and independent music culture.
The record showcases the individual strengths of each member. Vasquez contributes rhythm guitar rooted in Texas punk traditions, McClure brings the aggressive edge of early West Coast hardcore, Rasmussen provides driving bass lines, and Beveridge’s dynamic drumming gives the songs continual momentum.
Recording Plans Shift After Highway Accident
Nine Songs Become the Band’s First Official Release
The EP was recorded and mixed by Vasquez at Cannon Deck Recording in Astoria during the winter of 2025–26. Originally envisioned as a much larger 29-song full-length album, the project took an unexpected turn after Vasquez suffered serious injuries in a highway accident during production.
During his recovery, the band decided to release the first nine completed tracks as a standalone debut rather than wait for the larger project to be finished.
The revised approach resulted in a focused collection of songs that captures the immediacy and energy of the recording sessions while preserving the band’s original creative vision.
CBGB Legacy Continues to Influence the Band
The artwork for Rotten In The Brain reflects the group’s longstanding connection to punk history. The cover photograph was taken by Vasquez across the street from the legendary CBGB venue during his first hardcore concert in 1983, an experience that helped shape his lifelong involvement in underground music.
That historical influence continues throughout the EP, with songs examining cultural uncertainty and everyday struggles while maintaining a sense of humour and determination. Rather than revisiting past achievements, the band presents material that connects earlier punk traditions with present-day realities.
Independent Release Targets Punk and Alternative Rock Audiences
With its combination of punk rock, post-punk, cowpunk, alternative rock, roots punk, and garage rock, Rotten In The Brain positions The Something Ain’t Rights among independent artists continuing to expand the boundaries of the genre.
The debut serves as both an introduction to the band’s evolving sound and a reflection of the extensive experience its members have accumulated across multiple underground music scenes. By blending decades of musical history with contemporary songwriting, The Something Ain’t Rights deliver a release aimed at listeners seeking energetic, genre-crossing rock rooted in the independent spirit of punk culture.