PALILA

The black-masked bunting is a highly specialised finch in Hawaii that is threatened by extinction and has a melodious song. It is also known as the palila. Whether Matthias Schwettmann and Christoph Kirchner thought about this when they founded their band of the same name is not clear. Nevertheless, their timeless indie rock is characterised by catchy melodies and a specialisation in emotional sound design that is reminiscent of the genre’s heyday in the 1990s. Walls of guitar like the Smashing Pumpkins, shimmering fuzz à la Dinosaur Jr., and the harmonious coolness of Built To Spill come together on albums such as their debut, ‘Rock’n’Roll Sadness’ (2021), and its follow-up, ‘Mind My Mind’ (2023), to create a style that combines classic indie virtues with fresh ideas. The self-proclaimed animal lovers tackle topics that they package in almost fairy-tale-like parables, such as in the song ‘Nemesis’. Their new album, ‘Children Will Be Furious’ (2025), with which they will also be coming to Hamburg in September, deals with ecological issues, future generations, and the world we are leaving behind for them. A real treat for indie connoisseurs.