The deservedly viral subway comedian Kareem Rahma and his Tiny Gun bandmates introduced their brand of “Entertainment” to the world in the shadow of the of NYC skyline of Aughts-appealed dance-punk right as the term “indie sleaze” was creeping its way into Internet vernacular. We’re one year and an absolute dumpster fire of a debut album by the Dare album removed from the era (mis)appropriation, and the Brooklyn band want nothing to do with it even if their aesthetics graze the same piss-stained sidewalks as that of a younger generation trying to relive those times vicariously through lesser art. Instead, they’re getting serious about their sound, and with “Baby I Could Never Win”, the lead single from their forthcoming debut album, No Worries If Not, the band — which has now expanded into a five-piece including guitarist Joe Tirabassi of indie darlings Darlings and bassist Matt Morello of the dearly departed noise rockers Mr. Dream alongside former YVETTE drummer Dale Eisinger and guitarist Tyler McCauley of Motion Studies — there’s no punchlines about it: Tiny Gun are the real deal when it comes to mooding through the city’s steep history of fashionable slacker rock. Or in this case, those on the perpetual losing end. Wink as it might to the late night party scenes set by the Strokes, the Walkmen, and LCD Soundsystem (plus add in a four decades’ worth of local post-punk and underground rock knowledge) in its neon zip of guitars, Eisinger’s hummingbird fury of drumming, and Rahma’s hungover croon, Tiny Gun’s formula wins in the end by valuing substance in how to connects the dots. They’re still deprecating, sure, but there’s an honesty about their sonic lifestyle, so they may as well bang it out with a sincere jam that shows their hand.

Directed by: Will Freeark

Kareem Rahma’s Tiny Gun No Worries If Not will be self-released September 20th.