NEWS: Cola @ Pop Recs Ltd.

Montreal-born Cola first started collaborating in 2019 when two former members of post-punk rockers Ought reached out to an old friend. The band’s current line-up comprises of Tim Darcy, Ben Stidworthy and latest addition Evan Cartwright, and their latest project looks to recapture much of what made Ought so essential, without becoming a tribute act.

As the band put it themselves, Cola sees the trio “look to see how far we can stretch our compositions with just one guitar, one bass, drums and one voice.” The result so far has been a collection of skeletal songs speaking of modern anxiety and isolation.

The band’s name is an acronym for ‘Cost of Living Adjustment’, which is both a dry source of inspiration for a rock band and incredibly prescient for the times we’re living in. Ought’s 2014 debut album More Than Any Other Day was a masterclass in tetchy, talkative art punk and Cola’s debut carries on a similar vein. Darcy’s lyrics speak to human connection and introspection just as they always have, but the music has evolved into more minimalist soft rock and moody piano. The latest iteration of this project arrives at Sunderland’s community hub Pop Recs Ltd., on August Bank Holiday Sunday.

Cola play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Sunday 28^th August.