Hutchie

There are those for whom music is a dalliance, a distraction from the mundane. Then there are those that can’t exist free of melody for even a moment. Music is the fabric from which they stitch together their reality, sanity, and livelihood. We call these chosen few “lifers”.

Seattle, WA’s Hutchie – comprised of avowed lifers Michelle Pannell (Le Saboteur), Kyle Latham (Ol’ Doris), and Doug Finley (BUGS) – crafts a sound that wraps flecks of pop and Americana around a core built on punk rock sensibilities. Their hook-filled, exceedingly catchy, and profoundly touching music balances poignant lyrical vignettes with sing-along choruses. Today, Big Takeover is hosting an exclusive premiere of their new LP Some Other Way (out July 15th via Moodkiller Records).

Hutchie formed in 2021 when Pannell found the seams of her fabric ripping; the drummer of Le Saboteur had moved back to San Diego. “I was disappointed and needed to feel seen,” explains Pannell, “so I reached out to Kyle because I knew he was someone like me, who had to write songs to be okay.” Latham and Finley had been playing together occasionally, and when they all ended up in the same room things just absolutely clicked.

Written mainly between the bands two practice spaces at the Old Rainier Brewery and old Josephine building in Seattle, Some Other Way draws on the timeless imagery of the rock ‘n’ roll outcast; subjects range from long-distance heartbreak (“Seat Next 2 U”), feeling alienated from the escalating political discourse (“Out Here”), witnessing a friend’s spiral into drug abuse (“The Summer Your Dog Died”), and looking back at a life lived “on the run” (“Small Fish in a Small Pond”). “I try to draw from emotions and situations that I know other people can relate to” explains Pannell. “This is a record full of disappointment, sadness, addiction, and isolation, sure. But’s that’s balanced against an equal dose of love, lust and hopefulness.”

Ultimately, Hutchie just want people to feel less alone. That’s where the hooks come in – these songs stick with you. “This band was formed during the pandemic and has been a cathartic experience” says Pannell. “All of these emotions are all things that people are experiencing right now. I hope others find reprieve in knowing we feel the same.”

Exclusive quote from Michelle Pannell:
“I think ultimately with this album we just wanted to really hone in on our ability to write sticky-sweet hooks that really stick with you throughout the day. There are three members and all three of us are songwriters in this band, so we really focused on playing to our strength of combined songwriting. It can be difficult as musicians not to over-complicate while writing because you naturally wan’t to show off your abilities. I think we succeeded in doing what was right for the songs themselves and not our egos on this album. I get the satisfaction of people telling me which of our songs got stuck in their heads after the shows – sometimes for days at a time – that’s incredible to me!” - Big Takeover

My first exposure to Seattle’s Hutchie was through the Barenaked Ladies (BNL) of all things. Razorcake contributor extraordinaire, Kayla Greet, invited an assortment of folks to go see BNL, the Gin Blossoms, and Toad The Wet Sprocket on what I like to call “the 90s Alt Rock Nostalgia Tour.” One of the members of our eclectic group was Hutchie’s singer Michelle Pannell. Soon after we met, Michelle was getting called out by the Gin Blossoms’ guitarist Jesse Valenzuela from the stage for her Lucero shirt. A moment that reflects well on both individuals.

A few weeks later, I was down in Olympia to see Portland’s Divers, Erica Freas (formerly of RVIVR), and II:II (pronounced eleven, eleven), the new band from Mattie Jo Canino (formerly of RVIVR & Latterman). While there, I was introduced to the other photographer in the crowd, Kyle Latham, who turned out to be the guitarist of Hutchie. At this point, I realized it was about time to check out this local punk band I keep running into.

I managed to catch Hutchie a couple times in 2022 and boy am I glad I did! There is a dichotomy between guitarist Kyle’s bouncing around the stage in a Westerburgian way with singer Michelle’s exclamatory groove. It’s a beautiful balance that’s a blast to watch. In their ad in Razorcake, they refer to themselves as “Creedence Clearwater RVIVR,” which nails it. They play a mix of melodic pop punk and roots rock with melodies that are catchy without being cheesy. This blend of different genres allows them to walk between worlds, at home sharing stages with gruff punk, alt-country, and straight-up rock’n’roll bands. - Razorcake

Defined from the beginning as having no stylistic agenda, Hutchie picks freely from the rock and roll canon. With several decades’ worth of punk bona fides between them, the three thirty-somethings were eager to explore the full range of influences they had absorbed throughout their lives as musicians. What emerged is a sound that wraps flecks of pop and Americana around a core built on punk rock sensibilities.

Today Hutchie drops the stellar track coming off their upcoming album Some Other Way (out July 15th via Moodkiller Records), “Small Fish, Small Pond.” The track encapsulates Hutchie’s fervent approach musically with an emotional energy that’s irresistible to audiences within the Seattle area and beyond. “‘Small Fish Small Pond’ is a song about being caught between our past and future selves. At some point, all of us decide whether we prefer the bells and whistles of the city or the simplicity of rural life. It conjures the nostalgia of open roads and being surrounded by nature, but also the fear of slipping back into narrow, small-town ideologies,” says vocalist Michelle Pannell. - GhettoBlaster

It’s almost not fair for me to review this record. Yes, they’re friends of mine but that’s never stopped me from writing an honest review. What worries me is that I don’t have enough distance from it. I’ve known Michelle Pannell for over a decade and Kyle Latham for about the same, and have reviewed other bands from both of them in Razorcake. Hutchie is an entirely different beast. I’m worried I won’t be able to get across how absolutely stunning of a band they are. They’d easily fit on a bill with The Gateway District, Bash And Pop, Lemuria, and American Steel. The music is a mix of indie, power pop, and a bit of Americana. My favorite track is “Unanticipated Grays,” especially for the lines, “Every night she called you / every name in the goddamn book / to try and destroy all of you / well some of it took.” These aren’t just songs, they’re stories. The kind that dig into your unconscious so deeply that you may mistake them for sense memories. I caught their first show which was on a super weird bill with The Slow Death and Toecutter. They were certainly the catchiest of the night, with melodies you’ll be humming for days –Kayla Greet (Mood Killer) - Razorcake

We’re premiering a brand new single and accompanying music video from Hutchie, a newer band out of Seattle. The group comprised of members from Ol’ Doris, Le Saboteur, and BUGS and they combine Power-Pop and Americana with just enough sweetness to rot your teeth.

The new single, “Unanticipated Grays,” is the first release off the band’s upcoming album, Some Other Way, which will be released via Moodkiller Records later this year.

The “Unanticipated Grays” music video was made in part by : Michelle Pannell (Writer) and Joe Petty (Co-Writer), Brad Curran (Director of Photography), and Cassandra Piester (Executive Producer). It stars Michelle Pannell, Kyle Latham, Doug Finley, Joe Petty, Panda, Cassandra Piester, and Benajah Weiss.

Check out the video for “Unanticipated Grays” below and check back here soon for more from Hutchie! - The Bad Copy