The world is so chaotic it’s exhausting, and any excuse to escape it all is welcome. Even better if that excuse comes from Thee Headcoatees, the goddesses of garage punk. Holly Golightly, Ludella Black, Kyra LaRubia and Bongo Debbie are determined to show us a good time with Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy, a riot of noise, fun and dancing that’ll have you singing along more than you ever would at karaoke, even if you don’t know the words (which I very much doubt).
Emerging from the Medway scene between the late 1980s and early 1990s, and closely tied to Billy Childish and Thee Headcoats, the four became a leading force in garage punk thanks to their mix of cheek, humour and primitive rock and roll. After their 2025 comeback with “Man-Trap”, they’re back with a new album on Damaged Goods, out at the same time as “Children of the Sect“, the latest from their partners in crime Thee Headcoats.
Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy is more than a collection of covers. It’s a conversation between generations and a trip through the family tree of garage and punk, from the British beat of The Kinks and the rhythm and blues of Bo Diddley to the incendiary garage of The Sonics and the punk romanticism of Ramones. It even finds room for the psychedelic garage of The Other Half, whose “Mr Pharmacist” was later made famous by The Fall. Anything goes at this party, from gritty guitars and catchy rhythms to vocals with plenty of attitude.
From the euphoric opener and title track, the momentum never lets up. “Louie Louie” comes in at full throttle, “I’ve Been Shot Down” sounds furious, and “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” makes the Ramones classic their own by giving the original love song a female perspective. From the Billy Childish songbook come “Miss Ludella Black”, “Sex and Flys” and “I’m Good Enough”, a much-needed shot of self-esteem. And for a bit of in-house mischief there’s “He’s Not Billie Eilish”, a dig at those who mistake Childish for someone he isn’t, and at the idea of him ever becoming a pop star.
But what really matters is what Thee Headcoatees do with these songs. They don’t just copy them. They make them their own with their sass, playful backing vocals, the odd shift in perspective and that irresistible blend of punk rawness and 60s melody. They don’t need to reinvent anything or bring their sound up to date. Their charm lies in playing however they please, with a freshness many bands lost long ago.
When “Mr Pharmacist” closes the album with the guitars cranked up, it’s clear these four have plenty left in the tank. The world will still be a mess, but for twelve songs Thee Headcoatees make us care a lot less. So, darling, turn it up, push the furniture back and dance. There’ll be time to feel miserable later.
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