3 Reasons You Should See Molly Ringworm Live

While perusing the events calendars of my favorite music venues to see who I might want to check out, I made a full stop when I saw the name Molly Ringworm. How on earth could anyone not be interested in knowing more about a band named Molly Ringworm???

With the New Jersey based foursome having a show at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1, I made plans to hit the city, grab a friend, and find out what this fantastically named band is all about.

My trip turned out to be well rewarded, as Molly Ringworm are far more than just a great name, they’re a great band, as well.

Here are three reasons you should see Molly Ringworm live.

1. Their sound is modern indie rock with elements of everything from shoegaze, to grunge 

Longtime readers of this site know I use the term “Bronze music” to describe bands I feel would’ve fit in perfectly on stage at The Bronze, which was the famed nightclub on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Not long into Molly Ringworm’s set, I very happily said – Bronze music!

Bronze music is, in essence, indie rock with elements of shoegaze, and giving any band this distinction is a high compliment, as The Bronze featured acts such as The Breeders, Cibo Matto, Nerf Herder, Michelle Branch, and Aimee Mann, among others.

Put Molly Ringworm up on that Bronze stage, and their sound would’ve played perfectly for Buffy, Willow, Xander, and crew. The band created a similar vibe at Rockwood Music Hall, which, thankfully, continues to be a vampire free zone (at least as far as I know).

2. The band can REALLY play 

Some bands can play, but Molly Ringworm can REALLY play. At one point my buddy and I turned to each other to acknowledge the impressive guitar solo we were witnessing, and not long after that we would – in the words of Public Enemy – hear the drummer get wicked with a fantastic solo of his own (he isn’t pictured in the photo because the drummer is offstage at Rockwood Stage 1, but trust me, he exists, and he’s great).

I am absolutely in favor of bringing the guitar, and drum solo back into fashion … as long as the players are as good as Molly Ringworm’s.

3. They have a healthy love of the ‘90s 

Molly Ringworm had one cover during their set, and they introduced it by asking how many people in the crowd were around in the ‘90s. Much of the crowd cheered. Frontwoman Sarah Holt breathed an audible sigh of relief, and told us when she asked the same question on the previous night it was met with silence.

The band then launched into the Third Eye Blind classic “Never Let You Go,” and those of us who were alive (and, in my case, in high school, and college) in the ‘90s enjoyed every second of it.

Molly Ringworm would close out their set with a song that was pure grunge, and that, paired with their Third Eye Blind cover, made me think perhaps they’re time travelers, and we’re just lucky they chose to land in 2023.

To find out when, and where, Molly Ringworm will be performing next, check out their website for show dates.