Some bands form by chance. Busses feel more like fate. Born out of deep-rooted friendship, the Chicago-based quartet—Ray, Armando, Lizardi, and Marcos—reunited decades after first sharing riffs and beers, stepping into Cypher Suites Recording Studio with little fanfare but plenty of history. The result is a six-track debut EP that hums with rawness, memory, and momentum—rock music that feels lived-in, loud, and entirely unforced.
The self-titled Bus Bus Busses EP hits like a sonic time capsule cracked open with purpose. There’s a gritty honesty in the way the band blends worn-in riffs with punchy arrangements that speak to years of life lived outside the studio. Special guests like Kellii Scott (Failure) and Dave Lysien (One Arm Giant) lend their weight, but this isn’t a guest-driven record—it’s a portrait of four musicians finishing the sentences each other started years ago.
Half the project consists of originals; the other half, handpicked covers reframed through the lens of seasoned players who never lost their edge. Whether blazing through distorted rockers or pulling emotion from unexpected corners, the EP isn’t about proving anything—it’s about preserving something. You can feel it in the tone, the tempo, and the small imperfections left unpolished. It’s a rock with wrinkles, and that’s exactly the point.
There’s a clarity in purpose here that’s rare for debut projects. These aren’t songs trying to chase charts—they’re statements from a band with nothing to prove and everything to say. The production is direct, the chemistry palpable, and the performances tight without losing their human texture. It’s the sound of friends plugged in, tuned up, and fully aligned.
With more music already in the works, Bus Bus Busses show no signs of slowing down. The group makes clear this wasn’t just a nostalgic studio weekend—it was the start of a new chapter. “This EP was step one,” they suggest, with a follow-up already on the horizon.
For listeners tired of the algorithm-chasing gloss, Bus Bus Busses offers something far more vital: genuine connection, grounded in friendship and driven by feeling. Real rock music doesn’t just remind you of who you were—it helps you remember who you still are.