Here at Studio One, we use the term “post punk” a fair bit, but I’ll admit it’s not a clearly defined genre. When taken at its most literal, it basically boils down to “came out after the invention of punk rock, but is not punk rock.” The important thing is, we know it when we hear it. Still, it’s helpful when a band makes it easy by self-identifying as a “post punk” band, as The Props has done with their debut EP.
The Props originally formed in Los Angeles in 2023, when lead vocalist Nick Ruiz was looking for new bandmates. He was connected with drummer Sam Edelman and bassist Jersey Sullivan, who already had a guitar player they’d worked with, Dawson Kroeger (apparently, even in a city the size of Los Angeles, all of the musicians know each other).
The band’s debut EP, Arrow, was released April 10. Often, musicians will release an EP for practical reasons first. It’s cheaper for one, but also, maybe the label wants to test them out first, or maybe that’s all they’ve written. For The Props, the result was a five-song release with no filler at all. Every song is a straight banger, and fans of all genres of rock music should find something to like here.
This isn’t the first ever release from The Props. They released a double single in 2024. But if you’re looking for an introduction to the band and what they’re all about, the title track from the Arrow EP makes perfect sense. It highlights everything the band does well, and carries a message that will resonate with the band’s age cohort. In a statement on their labels’ website, Ruiz says "Arrow is about deciding where your life is headed, whether you'll stand in the ruins of your emotions or rebuild yourself into the person you want to be."
The Arrow EP is available on Bandcamp and streaming services. The Props are heading out on a brief tour in May, with a show in St. Louis on May 1. For the time being, that’s as close as they’ll be getting to Iowa.
