The Julies
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1 review across 1 release
The Julies are an alternative guitar band formed in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in the early 1990s. With Chris Newkirk handling vocals and lyrics, they built songs from British shoegaze, melodic indie rock and noisy guitar textures, with echoes of Adorable alongside the sharper edges of Archers of Loaf. The six songs on the 1996 EP Lovelife were compact but densely arranged, driven by singing melodies and an intense live energy. The band played the CMJ showcase in New York and attracted interest from major labels, yet the financial problems surrounding Flying Tart Records delayed its release.
The Julies had already broken up when Lovelife was released in 1996. Several members moved into other projects, including the former drummer's later work with Dunebuggy, while some of the remaining members continued as Riviera. The band's music resurfaced through a 2020 reissue, and three original members - Alex Yost, Patrick Zbyszewski and Chris Newkirk - reunited for new recordings. Their first full-length, Always & Always, appeared in 2023, more than two decades after the breakup, followed by Cherisher in 2026. The revived Julies remained based in Philadelphia, with Yost and Zbyszewski handling much of the instrumental work around Newkirk's vocals and words.
1 release reviewed
Lovelife