• Good vibes, great friendships, and a love for all things funky — these are the ingredients that brought The Weekend Lovers together in the spring of 2022.Each of the group’s members — Noelle Vocelka (lead vocals), Zach Sutton (lead guitar, vocals) Brennan Fussman (keys, guitar, vocals) Kevin Sutton (drums, vocals), and Aaron “Real Soon” Roth (bass) — were lifelong musicians with decades of experience between them. But, after meeting through mutual friends in Atlanta, they knew they’d found something special.

    The band instantly bonded over shared influences, matching energies, and a belief in the healing power of weekends. Soon, they were releasing singles — pulling on rock, psychedelia, and ‘70s soul to cultivate a part-modern-part-throwback sound that prioritizes joy and musicianship in equal parts.This undeniable chemistry is most palpable in the group’s live shows. Performing at venues and festivals throughout the Southeast — including their first-ever tour in the fall of 2023 — TWL brings a raucous stage presence, beautiful vocal harmonies, and a near-agnostic approach to who plays what instrument at a given time.Their recorded music is a distillation of those forces. Songs like “Stir Around” and “I Wanna Love You” — with their sultry vocals and searing guitar sounds — represent deeper dives into psych-rock. Meanwhile, “Force The Rush” — with its bright chords and epic dynamic swings — is a clear push toward newer, more alternative sounds.

    The Meepy EP, the band’s debut EP, is a crossroads for all of those creative directions and more. It’s the sound of a new band becoming a seasoned one, with a wide array of ideas coming together under one cohesive umbrella.

The Listener’s Bouquet

The funky Atlanta band takes a swing at a bluegrass/americana on “High When I Die”. We got some southern baptist organ, a country style bass line, and acoustic guitar. The rock kicks in with a sick electric guitar portion after the first chorus. The rest of the song continues with the jamming folksy sound. The next instrumental breakdown leans into the bluegrass with some beautiful mandolin riffs. After the final breakdown, we get a little shout and response from the rest of the band as the song draws to a close.

Strike Me Down still has aspects of americana, but without the bluegrass "drive" that exists in "High When I Die." The song starts far slower and melancholy. The band called in friend and fellow Georgian musician Tyler Key to play the pedal steel. The song stays melancholy, but not loud and in your face about it. We get those loud projected vocals in a power ballad way for roughly a minute before the wind down to the outro where the song returns to the folksy sound that it started with.

Happy Mag (Link to article)

‘High When I Die’ opens with the warm acoustic strums of lead guitarist Zach Sutton, who sets the stage for what will be an infectious country hit. Much of this bluegrass flair comes courtesy of lead singer Noelle Vocelka, whose vocals carry a buttery drawl, and bassist Aaron “Real Soon” Roth, who provides the mandolin that gives the track its Americana feel. There’s a lilting rhythm to the track that feels distinctly country, and The Weekend Lovers further enrich the sound with Brennan Fussman’s shimmering keys and the subtle charm of a harmonica.

It makes for a textured soundscape brimming with ear-catching moments. The track’s sunlit feel — seemingly purpose built for a road trip towards the horizon — belies its otherwise pensive lyrics. Here the band offer “a light hearted take on the inevitability of our demise,” they explained in a press statement. Noelle sings of one day meeting the “great white light” and how “the mighty must fall.”

Slowing down proceedings, ‘Strike Me Down’ showcases a more folksy side to the band with twangy guitar strums, waltzy rhythms and subtle percussion courtesy of Kevin Sutton. It’s the kind of sonic comedown that might follow the dancing of ‘High When I Die’, which is not to say it’s devoid of punchier moments. Towards the end of the track The Weekend Lovers’ amp up the volume with thunderous drum rolls and anthemic vocal delivery, making for an impassioned section that feels like a country-rock ballad. Here the band sing of staying resilient despite life’s obstacles, and remaining steadfast in their commitment to a partner.

“This song is about feeling like you’re under a lot of pressure from all sides,” they explained, “and you just really want to be good enough and not let anyone down.”It’s clearly the work of a band who’ve mastered their sound, and are now unafraid to explore new reaches of their artistry.