Discreet Charms

***"Brooklyn art-punk conglomerate Discreet Charms is proof that you can go home again, especially if home is the cool dive bar on the wrong side of town. The place where the grizzled intellectuals teach the new bohemians how to drink, fight and fuck. Punked-out, hard-rocking and adroit, Discreet Charms is the soundtrack to such sordid yet elevated undertakings.

Kicking off in 2023, the original trio of Jose Moreno (guitar/vocals/synth), Nate Knaebel (bass/vocals) and Tom Hyland (drums/vocals) came off like a fresh coat of paint on your favorite whip. Moreno plays with Portland, Maine-based Beefheart-ian outsiders Celebrity Handshake, while Knaebel once cavorted with indie rock royalty in Victoria Lucas. Hyland’s last band was underrated late ‘00s post-punkers Imaginary Icons, who even backed up the Homosexuals’ Bruno Wizard for a spell. You may also recognize these gentlemen under different monikers—Knaebel is Nate the K and Hyland is Tom Dash on freeform radio stalwart WFMU. With a line-up like that, you’d think Discreet Charms were sitting pretty, but when they added guitarist Theresa Smith everything locked into place. Smith’s CV highlights her time in scuzz-rockers Ballroom and avant-pop ensemble Home Blitz, two of NYC’s finest of the past decade. After dropping a cassette EP, Discreet Charms is now on the offensive with Delivery Model Stateholder Meeting..."—Erick Bradshaw (Spin Age Blasters with Creamo Coyl on WFMU)