How many dudes are out there in 2023 sexually abusing woman via carriage service? They say not all men, so how goddamn many exactly? The scientific estimate is so many that Wollongong punks Private Wives had to address the issue via song.
Fresh from the press, ‘Thirsty’ is a throbbing and hard song…not unlike the tension headache that comes along with copping revolting messages from unknown internet strangers. Bass-driven; stabbing and stomping in its structure, Thirsty is the sound of Doc Martens-clad foot being put the fuck down. Unapologetic, shameless and highly confronting, Thirsty moves to its own groove. There’s syncopation, balance and layers but none of that takes away from the total chaos, with a teeth-gritting frustration that can be felt from the opening moments.
But if there was a prevailing emotion to some from the punk rock rubble of ‘Thirsty’, it’s honesty. The narrative bounces between explanatory to threatening to stern to confusion to humour, running the gamut of these emotions but all the while remaining honest as they retell a story that actually happened to the band.
“A tale as old as time… men harassing women. With the takeover of social media in young people’s lives comes the consequences of such a creation: Men sending unsolicited and inappropriate messages. Being victims of the sexual harassment that unfortunately comes with posting a normal selfie with your gal pals, Private Wives tell a story we all know too well, shaming those perpetrators for their vulgar behaviour.”
[Thirsty features] Loud riffs filled with feedback and lyrics jumping between attitude and humor, retelling and quoting an interaction the girls themselves went through. The song juxtaposing between the initial contact and the reaction to the interaction in this comedic back and forth, concluding with a final blow to the man’s ego, Thirsty is a plea for men to leave us alone in these internet exchanges.”
No doubt some dudes are gonna see this as a challenge but we absolutely pity any fools who chose this moment to sliver into the band’s DMs.
Just four singles into the game, 2021’s ‘Annoyed’, 2022’s ‘Party’ and ‘Never Again’, and now ‘Thirsty’, Private Wives haven’t been in the game all that long, but are clearly wasting no time with their oeuvre, making it as clear as possible what they’re about. There’s no subtle context here, no sneaky bread crumbs leading to the real message – Private Wives are screaming bloody equality from the rooftops.
The band will be hitting Sydney for a live show this Friday alongside Downgirl at the Lansdowne as part of The Graveyard Shift (and it’s free).
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