BITCH JAGGER

Aug 19

BITCH JAGGER is back with their classic flavor of early 2000s hardcore punk. They’re coming fast and heavy from the very busy punk scene in Los Angeles, California with a nostalgic sound for oldheads by oldheads. Inspired by bands like Carry On, Lights Out, Go it Alone, and the peak 2000s era of Rivalry Records.

Quick movie quotes and well chorused gang vocals demand quick pile ups and take me back to a time where almost every show I went to was a sea of camo with band merch basketball jerseys and backwards fitted hats. BITCH JAGGER’s got those heavy tom stomps, raw vocals and endless circle pit rhythms with enough quick-wrist action in the fast picking patterns to remind us once again that hardcore is an evolution of punk music and not just a reason to throw breakdowns into heavy metal.

You want a real review? They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Raw writing, raw production. The passion and aggression comes through every second. Five songs, five minutes, no bullshit, no filler. This is the type of hardcore that was written back when no one called it “crowdkilling.” We just called it “you shouldn’t have been standing there” because you knew damn well what you were getting into when you came out to a show.

It was dangerous, it was exhilarating, and most of all it was fun. From their tongue in cheek band name, to their sound, to the way they just wanna show up and play, BITCH JAGGER has brought the fun back into hardcore, this is what it’s supposed to fuckin’ be about.

Catch one of their live shows for a little yelling and sing along, blow off some steam, dive on someone, jump onto a fucking pile, put on your dancing shoes and have some fuckin’ fun with some consensual violence amongst friends. BITCH JAGGER feels like home.

‘I never needed love, I never needed much, I thought I needed acceptance but I was wrong.’ This music is all these dudes need, the type of passion in their songwriting here makes my old ass wanna speak on how hardcore is so much more than just music and a community.

To some of us this is the shit that’s kept us moving forward all these years. ‘Everybody and everything still means the world to me.’ Very fitting lyrics to end off a five minute blast of a time capsulized hardcore sound I fondly admire and romanticize.

I’ve had many funny chats with their vocalist Jimmy about life and hardcore, and very recently asked a few questions in a semi-professional manner regarding this new demo that he considers “A true traditional posi-youth-crew-hardcore-punk album that actually sounds of era and not part of this ‘revival’ trend picking up all a sudden. Something pure and nostalgic put out by guys who love and respect the scene and values they came from. An album that would age well presenting what we feel is missing in today's current hardcore scene, Integrity and humility”.

So where do we see the future of BITCH JAGGER headed?

“I JUST WANT SMALL ROOMS TO PILE UP HARD AGAIN, IF PEOPLE SHOUT MY OWN LYRICS BACK AT ME THEN I’D CONSIDER THAT WINNING THE LOTTERY”.

- JIMMY, @BITCHJAGGER_YXCXHXC

BITCH JAGGER IS A RELATIVELY NEW BAND, BUT Y’ALL LOOK & SOUND LIKE VETERANS SO WHAT’S THE HISTORY HERE?

JIMMY: All of us grew up and played in the SoCal hardcore scene through the early to late mid 2000s-2014. Justin (guitar), and Chris (bass) were in a band called Young Favorites, they also were both in a Band called Die Laughing. Chris (bass) also played drums in The Mistake and The Love Below, Both Chris and Justin are also currently in a band called Big Infant with Jason the drummer from Xibalba. Evan (Drums) played in Hecho Mal and Los Corruptos as well as Nakatomi Plaza. Fritz (other Drummer) played with the English Beat and is the original and current Drummer of the Steady 45's. I myself, Jimmy, played in First Fight and Like A Champ.

WHAT DOES THIS RELEASE REPRESENT TO YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT IT CONVEY TO THE LISTENERS?

JIMMY: This release is special because we know and feel deep down it represents a purer form and approach than most in the current hardcore scene, we really hope it finds its way to new and old hardcore audiences and inspires a little more unity, selflessness, and tradition to keep a scene thriving. We're all happy hardcore came back but I think what's going on today is completely different, social media has kind of turned the world and all of us in it into selfish ego maniac narcissists with zero attention span.

Trends dictate the flow and suck and kill the things we really loved and cared for. In no way am saying everyone and everything and all current bands are fake or whack, I'm just saying it's very different, there seems to be a lot lacking in the messages and music and more imitation of the visual aesthetic and image.

SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BAND IN 2025?

JIMMY: A music video is next up on our plate, we've been planning this video since the EP started taking its final shape and definitely excited to put this entire time machine we've been working on all together.

Right now our biggest goal is to play more shows and find our place in today's hardcore scene, we'd really appreciate a label as well. Personally I just want see and feel the room pile up again but other than that I think a split release with another hardcore band would be rad, hit a tour in June & July so that was another. We just dropped our EP too so there's three milestones in a year right there so we’ll have to see now I guess.

ANY CLOSING WORDS FOR THE READERS?

JIMMY: Free Palestine and Fuck I.C.E.

ACAB every single one of them! Black lives Matter and fuck our (USA) current dictatorship and its cult. Time marches on, with or with out us so enjoy life and the people around you.

LOOKING OVER was recorded, as well as mixed and mastered, by Mike from the band Gotlieb, he also lends his voice to a few of the songs. Robot Cannibal Records is putting the demo out on tape in September.

BITCH JAGGER is Jimmy on vocals, Justin on guitar, Chris on bass and their drummer duty is split between Evan and Fritz, depending on who is available.

Follow them on Instagram here : BITCH JAGGER

Writer : @just_reidz

Editor : @garevthistle

08/20/25

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Robert Reid