Rough Houser - “Fewer Discretion”

San Diego five-piece Rough Houser continue to tap into the kind of raw, sweat-slicked energy that defined indie rock in the early 2000s. Their sound pulls from the same garage-rock lineage that launched bands like The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and Rooney — all sharp hooks, dance-friendly rhythms, and a lived-in looseness that feels best played loud.

Comprised of Dylan Alvarado (vocals), Sancho Canlas (guitar), Adam Schaffner (guitar), Brennan Owen (bass), and Garret Lockwood (drums), Rough Houser have been steadily building momentum, stacking singles with the confidence of a band clearly finding its lane. Their latest offering, “Fewer Discretion,” marks their eighth release so far and might be their most immediately infectious yet.

The track is an uptempo rush of pulsating percussion, bright and jangly dueling guitars, and a thick, punchy bassline that keeps everything glued to the floor. Alvarado’s powerfully gravel-tinged vocal performance cuts straight through the mix, channeling a bit of Dave Grohl-style grit without losing melodic punch. It’s the kind of song that begs for a packed room and a sticky dance floor.

With this run of singles, Rough Houser feel like they’re clearly building toward something bigger — and when a full-length finally arrives, we’ll be paying close attention. Until then, give “Fewer Discretion” a spin below.