Bobby Bognar’s Handsome

Music, like memory, is a living archive- an art form that evolves within us and grows as we pass through time. Before I was a young music journalist, I learned the rock musical history from the British Invasion to New Wave, to Punk and Post Punk with hints of Heavy Metal, Country and Hip Hop. As a journalist, I enjoyed finding up-and-coming bands in the LA scene who spoke a language I had learned on the radio, in high school hallways and dinghy college bars. However, the optimism of the early Aughts LA music scene changed with the advent of streaming, and I withdrew from the discovery of new music as it felt like the industry passed me by.

Now, as I restart my journalistic journey, I find myself finding voices of that past. I covered many of the young, unsigned bands of that decade and The Piper Downs, led by the charismatic Bobby Bognar, were one of the fun groups I came to enjoy. Now, Bobby Bognar’s band, Handsome and their new release, ‘…And Then Some‘, brings me back to that moment in time while evolving into something different and new.

An interesting blend of a mature sound, mixed with strong and catchy hooks, brings to mind the best of the Piper Downs but with a resonance and confidence that comes with age and experience. The sharp guitar influence of Ian Robbins stellar work creates an edge that provides a rich texture to the album. The musicality of the band, with Jason Rarick, Norman Kelsey on drums and bass, and the backing vocals of a wonderous Jeddrah De La Luna, is evident in this fun album and though their influence is significant, the fingerprints of Bobby Bognar are all over this record.

From the catchy pop of ‘Brave’ to the riffs of ‘Get Out’, Handsome crackles with an enthusiastic energy that pervades. Songs like ‘Angry Little Bird’ speak to their roots as a rock band while ‘One Step Closer’ feels like a step into adulthood while holding onto the past. ‘Kansas City’, a personal favorite, harkens back to the playful side of Bognar’s writing, bringing to mind the Piper Downs ’10 Speed’ with a nudge and a wink mixed in with great lyrics and solid riffs.

At their recent album release party at Molly Malone’s in Hollywood, Handsome played a tight set, covering, not only their album but older Piper Downs tunes with a special guest appearance from Brad Shepherd, guitarist of the legendary Australian band, Hoodoo Gurus playing ‘Alex Chilton’. It was a wonderful show and brought a smile to this older music journalist. Standing and watching people my age, evolve and grow into a new era of their music was uplifting. It felt as if I’d emerged from a long winters nap and when I came to, an old friend was telling me to sit tight and enjoy the music. And I did and I do.