Mod Lang

***"Shh Shh...a minute! Mod Lang, the group we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived with their debut 45! After a year of demos and in-person performances that impressed everyone from The Lemon Twigs to your mom (what!), Mod Lang can finally poly-phonically dent your ear drums with wax.

Yes, Mod Lang named themselves after a Big Star song. Big deal. No, they’re not accepting suggestions for a more “original name” but thanks for your concern.

Born out of Detroit’s underground rock ‘n’ roll circuit, Mod Lang came together in the summer ’24 when scenesters Antonio Keka (guitar/vox) and Alex Belfie (guitar/vox) joined forces with Ava East (bass/vox) and Ben Taber (drums) to put their sharp pop rock instincts front and center.

As you’ll hear on both sides of this single, Keka’s and Belfie’s bright harmonies sound Everly-tight with a youthful and slightly ragged exuberance that’s very convincing. Clever hooks, heartfelt grit, and a sense of fun. That’s what we need most in these dreadful times. 'TV Star' consumes side-A and hits with the immediacy of a lost-era ‘70s power-pop classic. What exactly is a TV star? Write your answer here____________________. On the flip side, '3+1' is a fiery but tuneful collision with blistering guitars and a militant groove that one day will have 45 collectors shouting about.

For a group that’s spent its first year and a half building a reputation onstage with no album out, this single puts their strengths on full display. What started as a new outlet between their other groups (Sugar Tradition, Secondary Colors, Shadow Show, Fen Fen) quickly turned into one of the most energized groups we’ve seen in years. Motor City rock ‘n’ roll at last. Biff! Bang! Pow!"

—Joe Massaro (Hot Sounds)