How did the U.S. respond to the British Invasion? Garage Rock. But what is garage rock, exactly? Let’s define it, talk about its history, and identify what it sounds like. Let’s also talk about some of the fantastic bands that defined Garage Rock.

Made up of individuals who perform with immense raw energy, these guys are often called the first wave of do-it-yourself punk rockers. These may have been amateur musicians, but these guys were inspired by the same 50s Rhythm and Blues acts that the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Kinks started their careers covering. They did it rawer, heavier, and wilder. Garage Rock is still going strong today, with acts like Ty Segall, and Thee Oh Sees making music with those 60s garage rock sounds.

To learn more about the many, many, many different genres of rock music, subscribe to Break Rock Down on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episode Links:

Garage Rock Spotify Playlist

Nuggets

Goldie and the Gingerbreads

Sources:

Garage Rock

Garage Rock Music Guide

Garage Rock AllMusic

The Best Garage Rock Albums of 1966

Nuggets

The Kingsmen Biography

The Sonics

The Beau Bremmels

Goldie and the Gingerbreads

Ty Segall

How Thee Oh Sees Became Cult Garage Rock Icons