Stray Dogs, four Auckland based chaps with a penchant for a catchy tune and the slickest pop-punk production you’ll hear this side of nowhere else. From the up-coming album Stay Loyal, the guys – Josh (vocals), Cam (guitar), Steve (bass) and Grant (drums) – present us with the single and video for their second release Life Of The Party.

From the visuals in their social media you can believe the headline sentiment. Cray cray in the total fun style! The video for the single is simple in concept, which is how I like it. At a party having a good time; but listen to the lyrics. Way more depth of vision: the heart of the clown, weeping beneath the greasepaint and slapstick. The video does exactly what you want it to do, and does not clutter or confuse. Less is more, and whoever directed and edited, well done. Cool lighting, good shots, nothing cheesy or flashy. Kudos.

A wonderfully written song, the genre is one I’ve always liked. It allows for a lot of freedom of expression, and can be uplifting or educational, inane or melancholy. Takes me to the All American Rejects, and early Veronicas (a la The Secret Life Of… era). It’s very well engineered and slickly mastered. A thudding bottom end performed with ease, complimenting some very excellent rhythm and lead guitars, beefy and teasing with a touch of sonics. And then Josh Pinho starts to sing.

I’ve actually known Josh for a few years now. How could I describe the vocal performance here? Well. The guy has the heart of a lion, the soul of a cherubim, and the lung capacity of a fully mature African bull Elephant. Add to that the epitome of front-man vibes and imagery, and you have a man who should be a star already, and will be soon. A flawless performance, with a catchy yet rockin’ melody delivered from the depths of wherever it is he can pull that stuff from. The same number of tattoos as every member of Motley Crue put together only adds to the overall goods.

Yes it’s pop-punk, and this is a genre that fits effortlessly into any era and makes people jump up and down, smiling as they spill their beer. It’s music to make you feel. Feel good. Feel nostalgic. Feel anything. And that’s part of the magic music delivers to us all anyway. This song, and this band, can be listened to in bars, in the car, in concert – large or small, at the barbie, out for a run. The list goes on. It’s a winning formula when the elements that make it a whole are done well and come together as a cohesive one. Life Of The Party has achieved that.

Pay attention to Stray Dogs. Rather excellent!