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Muncie Girls

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Muncie Girls
Muncie Girls - Norwich February 2017
Background information
OriginExeter, England[1][2]
GenresPunk rock, indie rock
Years active2010 (2010)–2023
LabelsSpecialist Subject Records[1]
MembersLande Hekt
Dean McMullen
Luke Ellis

Muncie Girls were a British punk rock band, formed in Exeter, South West England in 2010. It consisted of Lande Hekt (bass, rhythm guitar, vocals), Dean McMullen (lead guitar), and Luke Ellis (drums).[1][2] The band released two studio albums, From Caplan to Belsize (2016) and Fixed Ideals (2018), on hometown label Specialist Subject Records and toured internationally.

History

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Lande Hekt and Dean McMullen formed Muncie Girls in 2010 while attending Exeter College. They played their first gigs at the Cavern Club, their local rock venue, and became very involved in the underground DIY Punk scene. The band put on their own shows, as well as fundraising events, and Hekt started a music workshop for women under the name 'School of Frock'.[3][4] Ellis joined in 2012, solidifying the lineup.[3]

After releasing two EPs on hometown label Specialist Subject Records in 2012 and 2013, the label released their debut album From Caplan To Belsize on 4 March 2016, recorded at The Ranch in Southampton.[1][2] The title of the album is a reference to The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. It references the two asylums the book's protagonist is kept in, and is used to represent the idea of the album being a journey.[2]

The album was received well including 5/5 reviews in Kerrang!, Upset and 9/10 in Rock Sound. The band was also nominated for 'Best British Newcomer' at the Kerrang! Awards 2016. Following the album, the band toured internationally including support slots with Taking Back Sunday, Frank Iero and the Cellabration, Los Campesinos!, The Wonder Years, and Such Gold. They also played Glastonbury Festival that year, appearing with Billy Bragg on the Left Field Stage, as well as Reading and Leeds Festivals, Groezrock and SXSW.[5]

On 13 June 2018, the band announced their second LP Fixed Ideals (another Plath reference, this time a line from the poem "To Eva") with a video for lead single "Picture of Health".[6] Hekt described the new collection as some of the most personal songs she'd written, with a diverse range of influences, such as The Replacements, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Popguns and The Pastels. The album was released on 31 August 2018.[6]

On 15 November 2019 Hekt self-released her first solo record, Gigantic Disappointment, to positive reviews.[7][8] A full-length follow up, Going to Hell, was released 22 January 2021 on Get Better Records[9][10][11] On 14 January 2022 McMullen released his first solo single, "Clouds Hold Up The Sun", on Fierce Panda Records. A debut EP, Part One, followed that September.[12]

In August 2023, the band announced that they would be breaking up following a final run of UK shows in December 2023.[13]

Discography

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Albums

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EPS

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Split Releases

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Singles

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Rettig, James (1 March 2016). "Band To Watch: Muncie Girls". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Richards, Will (2 March 2016). "Muncie Girls: "It's Encouraging People To Be Politically Active"". DIY. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b Shutler, Ali (17 November 2015). "Muncie Girls: "In Reality, We're Just Not That Cool"". Upset Magazine. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  4. ^ Lach, Stef (11 October 2016). "Muncie Girls stream cover of Iron Maiden's The Wicker Man". Team Rock. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Muncie Girls". Spotify. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Gotrich, Lars (13 June 2018). "Muncie Girls' Pop-Punk Blast 'Picture Of Health' Is Absolutely Fetching". NPR. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  7. ^ Johnstone Orr, Jack (15 November 2019). "Lande Hekt - Gigantic Disappointment". DIY. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  8. ^ Adsett, Ben (15 November 2019). "Lande Hekt – Gigantic Disappointment (EP Review)". VultureHound. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. ^ Sacher, Andrew (22 January 2021). "Lande Hekt of Muncie Girls goes solo on the personal, celebratory 'Going To Hell' (review)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  10. ^ Cardoza, Kerry (20 January 2021). "Album of the Day Lande Hekt, "Going to Hell"". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  11. ^ Rettig, James (19 January 2021). "Album Of The Week: Lande Hekt Going To Hell". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. ^ Row, Ami (14 January 2022). "Dean McMullen Unveils Stunning New Offering 'Clouds Hold Up The Sun'". Flex. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. ^ Rett, James (3 August 2023). "Muncie Girls Break Up". Stereogum. Stereogum Media. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  14. ^ "The Hard Aches". The Cambridge Hotel. June 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
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