Ronan O'BrienSelf-proclaimed “pint-punkers”, The Béchamel Boys strut their stuff on their newest single. Absurdity, humour and incredible energy, these boys are anything but creamy.
The Béchamel Boys
A band that is relatively new to me, I stumbled across The Béchamel Boys courtesy of a friend. The band’s ludicrous energy certainly grabbed my attention and the hilarity in the lyrical content only added to my enjoyment.
A hybrid of Cork and Galway men, The Béchamel Boys first appeared on the scene with their first single, “The Stout Shall Rise Again“ in 2024. The quartet, consisting of Shane Groarke, Eóghan Walsh, Morgan Doogue and Luke Stapleton, have since continued with momentum. A slew of singles released since their debut have allowed the group to amass a fine discography.
While still relatively underground, the band are definitely on an upward trend. Following a fantastic performance at Sally Longs in Galway last month, the boys introduced themselves to the world in remarkable fashion. With absolutely electric energy, their style is unique. Think of it as a mix between Viagra Boys and Parquet Courts with some Rubberbandits sprinkled over the top. It’s inane and quite frankly ridiculous, but I’m absolutely here for it.
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The song starts as it means to go on. A heavy, mean guitar riff to make your teeth grit opens the track. Vocals are courtesy of Luke Stapleton, whose Cork-twinged accent rips through with malicious intent. The lyrics consist of absurd narration, delivered with sarcastic sneer. These lyrics paint a picture of the typical small-town hooligan, with some very clever references throughout. Perhaps even a homage to a fellow Munster legend, Paul O’Connell, with “Steer clear / When he’s near / He’ll put the fear of god in ya”.
There is a stark difference between this character’s life in the streets and when they are home. While this degenerate is a “Big man / Drinking cans / Doesn’t wash his fucking hands”, there is a much softer side to their personal life. The same troublemaker “Pours a glass of wine has it stuffed in his clutch / And then its bath and bubble time cos it’s tough being tough”. This contrast is so brilliantly described throughout the sub-two minute track in such humorous fashion.
Instrumentally, the band are on point. There is chemistry evident in such a short track, as is the energy. The drums and bass guitar compliment each other so tastefully, while the guitar rips shreds through the air. The track isn’t even two minutes long, which leaves me wanting more after each listen. It probably explains why I’ve played it on repeat for so many times.
Looking Ahead
While still relatively new to the music scene, The Béchamel Boys only have one direction to travel. And that’s up. The band does have another upcoming single in the works, alongside a number of live performances. Judging from their previous shows, the band has incredible live energy and a hunger for the sesh. Whether we will see a full-length album coming from the band in the near future, it’s something I am definitely hoping for. There are few bands on the scene at the moment that have this type of energy about them, and even those struggle to match that of The Béchamel Boys.
As the band put it, they’re anything but plain.
