Video Premiere: Exotic Fruitica released new track and video featuring Paul Leary

Exotic Fruitica has released a music video paired with a new single ahead of their upcoming album out this summer. The new song features Texas legend Paul Leary of  weirdo Texas legends, Butthole Surfers. The compressed drums and guitars, along with the fuzzy manic vocal delivery, bode well for this new formation of the band, which comes with a new member lineup and a new record on local Austin label Mr. Pink Records on August 10. To warm us up for the album release, Exotic Fruitica has released “Dirtiest Scum,” a track that provides an abrasive mission statement for what’s to come for the Austin band. 

“This song originated in a previous iteration of the band, Exotic Fruits, and when we decided to release it under our new namesake, I reached out to Paul to see if he would lay down some guitar leads. What he did to the song was supersonic. He really brought his iconic tone and angular guitar style to it, reminding me of the first time I heard “Who Was In My Room Last Night.”

When I asked Paul about what it was like working on the song, he said, ‘It’s a little bit humbling to be asked to contribute to something that already oozes with powerful guitars. ‘Dirtiest Scum’ is mean and aggressive, just my kind of song.”

“As a punk band from Austin, TX, having a prolific noise rocker collaborate on our first single is everything. Such an honor.” French says.

The video for the new track shows Exotic Frutica going on an explorative montage of Austin’s vibrant music scene, showing clips of singer/guitarist Jon French and drummer Aaron Gilligan walking Austin’s East Side and Red River Cultural District. The video shows menacing psychedelic visuals, including venue footage with warped heat signature shots of distorted Exotic Fruitica concert footage.

Exotic Fruitica was formed in Austin in 2022 by guitarist/vocalist Jon French and drummer Aaron Gilligan, two longtime friends. French and Gilligan waited nearly thirteen years to write together again since their first indie project in 2009. Gilligan, a citizen of New Zealand, applied for the green card lottery twelve times before finally winning his ticket to the U.S.. In August of 2021, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gilligan permanently relocated to Texas. Exotic Fruitca then expanded to a trio with the addition of Charlie Cruz on lead guitar.

Exotic Fruitica will release their new album on Mr. Pink Records, an eclectic, and long-running music label. Mr. Pink Records is owned and founded by Austin native Jonas Wilson, who also plays in the Austin band Heartless Bastards. Wilson has been involved with Night Glitter, Chief White Lightning, My Jerusalem, and many more. Grab the new track for next to nothing at the trio’s Bandcamp page. 

Catch Exotic Fruitica celebrating their single release at Hotel Vegas June 15 (tonight). The evening’s lineup includes Farmer’s Wife, Geranium Drive, and Kali Yuga. Give this new cut a listen if you are a fan of the noisy antics of METZ and the sun-baked hooks of Viagra Boys. This one isn’t for the faint of heart.

Dirtiest Scum Lyrics:

I like it when I can come on strong

And whip around with my woman

To the sound of a dirty sub

A damn sound like a whoopee

 

I like a town with the city tough

I go walking in the middle

I make a mess when I blow my top

And do something with a whistle

 

And I pull up tough

With no warning  

And I blow my top

 

I’ll be just smoking hash

With a vicious cult and a death drum

And it’s such a shame

That poor Johnnie’s gone and lost his cool

Wish me god’s hand

Being oppressed and bored by the boring man

And it’s such a shame

But I’d rather be dead then a living like a sucker

 

I like the pulse of the throbbing scum

The floor is covered with a slew

I raise my hand and do the ghost

The DJ’s down with some voodoo

 

I like the kids in an endless summer

They didn’t star in the war

Just hippies with vintage cars

That rolled around with a crew

 

I’ll be just cutting lines

With a vicious cult and a death drum

And it’s such a shame

That you couldn’t join me

Always shaking hands

With the dirtiest scum north the Rio Grande

And it’s such a shame

That I’d rather be bored than living by the book

And I pull up tough

With no warning

And I blow my top