Since the project played its first show just over nine months ago, GGOOLLDD has been privy to a wealth of positive local attention and cherry gigs ranging from beer-celebrating block parties, concert cruises, and an upcoming massive northeast Wisconsin music festival. Though swift, the young band’s still-increasing buzz is well-deserved, as formidable frontwoman Margaret Butler heaps oodles of vocal ferocity atop sleek and stylized electronic pop—all projected through a distinctly indie rock lens.
While GGOOLLDD is no stranger to listeners in Milwaukee (and beyond), the six-piece has yet to release anything—save for contributing its semi-titular “Gold” to a recent city-centric compilation—until now. Milwaukee Record has the debut EP from Ms. Butler and her golden boys (including Hugh Bob And The Hustle guitarist Nicholas Stuart). The four-song $TANDARD$ proves GGOOLLDD’s penchant for energetic live performances translates seamlessly to the recording booth. In synth-y starter “Younger Days,” the Stevie Nicks comparison in Butler’s effortlessly smooth and timeless croon can’t be avoided. Yet, the effort isn’t a tribute record in the slightest. The songstress’ pipes coalesce with the sheen of electronic accompaniment to forge output that would seem just as at home in dingy rock clubs as it would serving as the soundtrack to dancing silhouettes in the latest iTunes TV spot.
To paraphrase a lyric from $TANDARD$: They’re good, they’re GGOOLLDD, and you’ve got it now.
GGOOLLDD celebrates its EP release Thursday, July 24 with a free show at Yield Bar. The bill also features Color Number and Bright Kind, and begins at 9 p.m.