Vancouver rock band The Get Arounds are building on their power-pop and alternative-rock foundations with Going Out Tonight, a 13-track second full-length that presents a more focused approach to songwriting, production and the group’s evolving musical identity.
Following their debut album, I Wanna Live, the band has tightened its blend of alternative rock, indie rock, power pop and pop-punk. The new record centers on prominent guitar work, driving rhythms and concise choruses while drawing inspiration from acts including Blondie, Dead Boys, L7, Bikini Kill, Sex Pistols and The Pretenders.
Key tracks include “Going Out Tonight,” “Black Corvette,” “Bones” and “Hideaway,” with the broader album moving between energetic punk-influenced material and more restrained melodic songs.
The Get Arounds Put Greater Focus on Songwriting
For Carman Lethbridge, the second album reflects a clearer understanding of what The Get Arounds should sound like after the experimentation surrounding the group’s debut.
“I think the new record is a little more focused on the songwriting,” says Carman Lethbridge. “On the first record we didn’t really know what kind of band we were or where we wanted to take it. We were looking for a sound and I think we found it on this one. The Get Arounds are a modern version of a classic radio rock band. We love great songs with choruses and big guitars and kick ass drums. Who doesn’t?”
The band’s origins date to the lockdown period, when Lethbridge began writing and recording material with drummer Lana Ryma. The project developed further when Ryma moved from behind the drums into the lead vocal position, helping establish the vocal identity that now anchors the group.
The title track developed particularly quickly during the songwriting process.
“It was one of those rare magic moments,” says Ryma. “The song took about 30 minutes to write. We even used the first vocal take. There’s a few dissonant notes but I loved how it sounded so we kept it.”
That willingness to preserve imperfections contributes to the record’s direct production style. Tracks including “Fuck Around” and “Shut You Down” emphasize speed and rhythmic momentum, while “Waiting For The Stars” and “Hold On” provide more room for melody. “Black Corvette” and “Stuck In LA” add a more swaggering power-pop approach.
Vancouver Influences Run Through the Record
The album also draws on the atmosphere surrounding Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Rather than making the neighborhood the explicit subject of the record, the band incorporates elements of the city’s nightlife and urban environment into the broader mood of the songs.
Musically, the album moves beyond a single formula. “Kill Or Be Killed,” which features Ryma returning to drums, takes a more direct punk approach, while “Do Or Die” incorporates elements associated with contemporary British pop-rock.
“Bones” moves in another direction, slowing the record down and introducing darker subject matter.
“It’s a hauntingly beautiful song about life and how cruel it can be,” Ryma explains. “The evil some commit and truths they hide.”
Lethbridge said the album’s lyrical development has also been an important part of the band’s progression.
“I’m really proud of this record musically and especially lyrically. I feel like I’m just starting to hit my stride as a songwriter. Trying to cut to the truth. When songs are really personal it’s a bit scary, but people connect with that.”
Studio Work Translates to an Expanded Live Lineup
Going Out Tonight was recorded by Jason Solyom and Lethbridge and mixed by Solyom. Lethbridge performed much of the instrumentation, while Ryma contributed vocals and drums on selected tracks, with Jay Solyom also contributing to the record.
For live performances, The Get Arounds expand their lineup with Sean Stubbs, Lisa Lloyd and Kimi Mah, giving the band additional weight on stage.
“Our live band is killing it right now,” says Lethbridge. “Sean Stubbs is the best drummer I’ve ever played with. Lisa Lloyd is a natural born rock star bass player, and Kimi Mah knows the songs better than I do.”
The expanded lineup gives the group a way to translate the studio arrangements into a heavier live presentation while maintaining the hooks at the center of the material.
For Ryma, the album’s overall purpose remains uncomplicated.
“It’s a rock n’ roll party for sure. I think we kicked ass.”
With Going Out Tonight, The Get Arounds present their second album as a more defined statement of the band’s sound, combining rock-and-roll fundamentals with punk energy, power-pop melodies and a distinctly Vancouver backdrop.
