“You could think of it as dad rock that actually rocks,” says Mike Pomranz, describing Pancho Grande. Made up of middle-aged Sheffielders juggling day jobs and a gaggle of kids, the band might not fit the typical DIY rock ‘n’ roll hellraiser mould, but as he explains during our coffee meeting in Kelham Island, that’s precisely what gives them their edge.
Philadelphia-born Pomranz has been a musician since he was a kid, playing his first gigs as a singer-songwriter on the Sunset Strip in the late 90s. “I was always an acoustic artist and made some decent traction on the LA solo acoustic scene, but honestly, after 20 years of that grind, I was done,” he says. “I wasn’t getting anywhere, and I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. It felt stale.” Inspired by a desire to inject some life back into his music, he bought a cheap electric guitar from Rich Tone on Broadfield Road and met Neil, Pancho Grande’s drummer. “I wanted to play the drunkest, rowdiest, don’t-give-a-shit rock and roll I could. No more overthinking or polished acoustic stuff. Just pure, fun garage rock.”
“You could think of it as dad rock that actually rocks.”
Digging a little deeper, he describes this concoction as “Slop Rock” – a genre defined by its rawness and energy, not technical perfection. “I don’t want to just stand there and play,” Mike says. “We bring a lot of energy. I always say if I’m not close to having a heart attack by the end of the show, I haven’t done my job.” Their gigs are a mix of self-aware humour and high-energy rock, something Mike partly attributes to his years as a stand-up comic while living in New York. “I like talking to the crowd, cracking jokes, making people uncomfortable. It’s all part of the fun.”
It’s an ethos that underpins everything Pancho Grande does. The band’s name itself (Spanish for ‘big hot dog’) is a tongue-in-cheek reflection of their playful attitude. “It’s basically a name a bunch of drunk kids would come up with, so it fits perfectly with our M.O.,” he laughs. This irreverence carries into their music, where the focus is on straightforward, catchy riffs and lyrics that reflect their everyday lives. “I write songs about being a middle-aged man who still likes getting drunk, hates the stress of owning a house and wishes he could do more of the fun stuff if it weren’t for the kids.”
Mike points towards the honesty of their music as a key factor in creating a genuinely cathartic outlet, something he felt was missing during his years as a solo artist. “Back then, I was working so hard to write ‘good songs’ that I sucked the honesty out of them. There was this constant need to make some sort of grand statement, you know? Now, it’s all about what’s real to me: being a dad, getting older, dealing with the mundane stuff. As I said, it’s dad rock, but in a more raw, messy way.”
Pancho Grande’s sound draws from classic punk and garage rock influences like The Stooges with a sprinkle of Brooklyn post-hardcore band Le Savy Fav, but there’s also an element of DIY ethos that runs through the band’s work. They self-produce, self-mix and often involve their kids in the creative process – literally. Their last EP, We Paid For This?, features artwork by bassist Matt’s child. “It’s all about keeping things close to home and organic,” Mike says. “We’re not trying to be too polished; we just want to have fun and put out music we enjoy.”
As for their upcoming show in Sheffield, Mike is particularly excited about headlining Sidney & Matilda. “We were supposed to have a few more gigs, but some fell through. Of course, Sheffield is the big one. We’re going to push as hard as we can and make it an exciting show. People want energy. They want a show. I don’t know why people would work all week and watch some shoegazey shit without once acknowledging the audience. It’s supposed to be fun for everyone, right? So let’s make it that way.”
Catch Pancho Grande at Sidney & Matilda on 8th October, where they’ll be belting out their signature brand of rowdy, honest slop rock with support from Cure For Conspiracy and Modern Problems. Tickets (£5 adv/£8 OTD) are available here.
