Brett Newski’s recommendation: “2 years ago, my roommates and I were sipping PBR’s in our college shit-hole, listening to garage rock on the stereo. I plugged in our first EP. My punk-savvy roommate told me I sounded exactly like the dude from ‘The Thermals.’ I said “who is this dude and who are The Thermals?’. Turns out he is Hutch Harris, who has been sounding like me longer than I have been sounding like me.

I immediately became gripped by the raw, stripped-down rock of The Thermals, and so I decided to interview Hutch for a story in Madison’s Badger Herald. Hutch is a truly honest guy with a great sense of humor. When I asked him about their pre-show ritual he replied, ‘we do a huddle, then Kathy (bass) slaps Westin (our drummer) and I in the face pretty hard a few times. Four tequila shots a piece, then we hit the stage.’

These guys have been busting ass on the rock circuit since 2002 and have proven you can make a living in a somewhat niche market of music. They make me want to work harder as a musician.”

Editor’s Note: The new Thermals record, Personal Life comes out on September 7. Listen to the first single from the album below and check out The Thermals’ site for tour dates and more.

MP3: I Don’t Believe You

About the guest author, Brett Newski and The Nod: Browse through The Nod’s fun-loving promotional photos and video diary on their MySpace page and you’ll immediately start to root for this group of guys from Madison, Wisconsin. The fact that they recorded their album, Easy, Maverick underneath a late night liquor store only makes their story more charming. But also realize that these guys are cutting their teeth and they’re sharpening them fast. They’ve opened for Third Eye Blind and OK Go and their brand of catchy, honest alterna-pop is sure to perk up many an ear. Give ’em a listen here:

MP3: Lie In All Honesty by The Nod