The songs featured on Trust Your Gut are part of an unapologetic journey to self-acceptance and each have a distinctive sound all their own. On “Top 5,” bold guitars and a Hammond organ wrestle with the victors and villains of the pandemic years. In contrast, the stripped down, indie-rock reflection “Cloudy and 55” quietly longs for the comfort of home while building independence. On the track Lauren Denitzio’s voice sounds as simultaneously comforting and devastating as ever.
Worriers became Denitzio’s main focus after the wake-up call of open-heart surgery at just 25 years old. The event shook them into leaving a toxic creative partnership and starting a band that could evolve along with them. That priority takes center stage on Trust Your Gut, as Denitzio’s 2019 move from the East Coast to Los Angeles found them collaborating with Atom Willard (Against Me!, Social Distortion) as a fun exercise, only to realize they had started writing the next album together.
The sonic goals for the album led to the addition of Denitzio’s friend Franz Nicolay (The Hold Steady) after tweeting that they were trying to write in his style. His response was “Send me demos!” and the results are now foundational melodies layered throughout the album.
With Frank Piegaro (whose signature guitar style was featured on 2020’s You Or Someone You Know) returning to the lineup, the final addition was Cayetana’s Allegra Anka on bass. It’s not every day an artist gets to share the stage with bands like the above, but Denitzio’s remarkable talent lies in their ability to turn admiration into meaningful collaborations. They credit these partnerships as a springboard to showcase their personal development as a songwriter.
The band’s moniker, Worriers, is a homonym. When introducing someone new to the band, it’s important to specify “Worriers, as in to fret, not to fight.” But Worriers have finally done plenty of fighting on Trust Your Gut. Lest anyone thinks they’ve forgotten the political-punk roots of their debut album Imaginary Life, it wouldn’t be a Worriers record without referencing things like dystopian robot security dogs, dancing on the grave of a fascist, or a nod to the activist-themed novel Stay and Fight.
In a time when people were desperate for connection and leaning into relationships, Denitzio was scrawling a cathartic manifesto denouncing the things that no longer served them. But this is not a record of angst and scorekeeping. Trust Your Gut is an honest and often witty journey through heartbreak on its way to strength. In a way, Denitzio was also starting a new and incredibly vital relationship: one with themself.
To get where you’re going, you have to get away from where you’ve been. Coming up in the DIY scene, Worriers have earned the mark of a seasoned traveler, ready to demonstrate all they’ve learned along the way. Come for the biting self-empowerment and stay for the nods to pop, rock, indie, and folk. On Trust Your Gut, Denitzio emerges from the ashes, not as a phoenix reborn per se, but rather fortified by their past to build a more resilient future.09.29 – Seattle, WA @ Vera Project
09.30 – Portland, OR @ Dante’s
10.02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Quarters DLC
10.05 – Burnsville, MN @ The Garage
10.06 – Chicago, IL @ The Chop Shop
10.07 – New Kensington, PA @ Preserving Underground
10.08 – Washington, DC @ DC9
10.10 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
10.11 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall
10.12 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
10.13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
10.14 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Broadway
10.16 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dees
10.17 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
10.18 – Grand Rapid, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
10.20 – Lincoln, NE @ 1867 Bar
10.21 – Denver, CO @ Black Buzzard
10.24 – Sacramento, CA @ Goldfield Midtown
10.25 – San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside
10.27 – Mesa, AZ @ Nile Underground
10.29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Resident
UK Tour Dates with PAWS
11.06 – Milton Keynes @ The Craufurd Arms
11.07 – Norwich @ Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom
11.08 – Bristol @ Crofter’s Rights
11.09 – Swansea @ Bunkhouse
11.10 – Manchester @ Factory
11.12 – Blackpool @ The Bootleg Social
11.13 – Glasgow @ Nice N Sleazy (NO PAWS)
11.14 – Birkenhead @ Future Yard
11.15 – London @ New Cross Inn
11.16 – Plymouth @ Junction
. The album arrives after the release of singles "Top){kind=link}