King Tuff

King Tuff is Vermont native Kyle Thomas, better known as the frontman of Happy Birthday and vocalist for J. Mascis’ band Witch. His 2008 debut as King Tuff, Was Dead, preferred garage rock over Witch’s heavy metal, and in 2010 he moved in an even lighter direction with Happy Birthday’s lo-fi fuzz pop, but Thomas returns to classic-rock territory for King Tuff’s self-titled follow-up. With a bluesy swagger and thick reverb gloss, Thomas pays loving homage to T. Rex and retro glam bands. King Tuff bops and boogies to simple, raw melodies, a throwback to a time when people actually danced to guitar-driven songs. It’s a record that would play equally well in an arena or blasted out the back of a parked station wagon with a cheap six-pack. 

Updated 06/26/2012