Milwaukee’s The Pulltops might just be indie rock’s best-growing band. With 7,799 monthly Spotify listeners, this powerhouse duo has established a particular sound, drawing from an expansive well of musical influences. At the heartbeat behind the creative chemistry of this musically dynamic duo are Mark Pierret on drums and Tom Crowell on guitar.
Their collaboration has all the trappings of a timeless opposite-attract tale: Pierret brings an abiding love of classic country and soul, while Crowell’s musical DNA is encoded with experimental and underground leanings.
The Pulltops perform this musical alchemy with sparkle on their newest single, “Red Eye Open Sky,” where their skill at marrying classic pop structures to unexpected melodies is elevated to new heights. It is everything that has made The Pulltops special: honoring traditional rock formulas while managing to sneak in elements of their variegated musical obsessions and make it feel timeless and distinctly modern.
The production has a sentimental quality to it, but with a contemporary crispness that plants it firmly in the now. The guitar toggles between assertive power chords and crystalline broken arpeggios, and Pierret’s drumming provides momentum, but with a distinctly Midwestern swagger. The verses cruise along with the steady determination of a midnight highway, while the chorus opens up like catching sight of the Milky Way through your windshield.
The bridge section is undoubtedly worthy of special mention, as a series of ascending progressions go to build genuine tension. With that Crowell’s underground influences peek through. The mix makes room for each element to breathe while keeping intact the cohesive feel of a band playing live. Vocal treatment, in particular, hits that sweet spot between tenderness and strength, flawlessly riding atop the instrumental bed without dominating it.
“Red Eye Open Sky” tempts you toward filling up the tank, pointing your car toward the horizon, and driving to get away. In that sense, “Red Eye Open Sky” is not about the journey at all; it’s about the promise that makes the journey worth taking.
Let me cut to the chase: The Pulltops are the kind of band that makes this job worth it. Since “Red Eye Open Sky” fell into my hands, it has not left my playlist rotation. Do yourself a favor and queue up “Red Eye Open Sky” tonight. Let it be your guide when you feel entirely lost and found. Stream it, save it, and share it with everyone you know.