The Minges have never been afraid to laugh at disaster, usually their own. On their sophomore EP Ono, Oh Yeah!, out now via Z Minus Records, they transform life’s catastrophes into sing-alongs you’ll be shouting before you realize how hard they hit home.
Fronted by the charismatic vocalist Jessica Moinichen, The Minges have carved out a loud and lively corner of the Las Vegas punk scene. Her onstage banter and sharp wit are as much a part of their act as the riffs themselves. The final track, ‘Little Girl’, marks a clear evolution for the band, as they trade their signature raw bar punk energy for a more melodic, emotionally direct and narratively developed mid-tempo approach.
Undoubtedly the jewel in the EP’s crown, this track serves as a sequel to ‘Telephone Daddy’ from The Minges’ debut album Trim. It’s a raw warning from a wiser, battle-scarred veteran to an idealistic young person, delivered with punk cynicism and tough love. The Minges have mastered this style, blending humour with hard truths, and you could argue that this is their most vulnerable song yet. It’s still unmistakably The Minges, but with the humour dialled down just enough to let the feelings land.
While ‘Little Girl’ reveals their emotional side, the rest of the EP showcases their mischievous humour. They ironically reflect on their experiences and laugh at themselves. ‘Geezer Pleaser’ is their hilarious punk ode to intergenerational attraction, specifically, a younger woman’s gleeful lust for much older men, delivered with zero shame and maximum snark. The raw ‘Purple Trailer’ showcases the band’s ability to laugh at life’s absurdities and recounts the band members’ real struggles, transforming trauma into an entertaining yet fierce sing-along that will drag you through the weirdest horror story you’ll scream along to this year.
Finally, ‘Wendy Ode’ is a chaotic punk poetry tribute to Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics, channelling her anti-authority, anti-conformity rage through absurd, violent imagery and gleeful depravity. This track resurrects Wendy O. Williams as punk’s patron saint of chaos: the Minges’ filthiest, funniest history lesson.
On this EP, The Minges prove their ability to bring together their diverse musical influences — punk, hard rock, psychedelia, blues and rock ‘n’ roll — to create an eclectic style that will delight fans of classic artists such as Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Joan Jett and Janis Joplin.
The band is currently filming a music video for ‘Geezer Pleaser’ with Chris Reject, who also directed and edited their debut video for ‘Jiffy’.
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