Dexter and the Moonrocks

West Texas combo Dexter and the Moonrocks filter country-rooted songwriting through crunchy grunge riffs and alt-rock hooks. They became a surprise viral success with "Couch," a downbeat, slightly haunted single that anchored their eponymous debut EP in late 2021. Over the next two years, they built up their profile on the road, pulling in new fans and eventually notching a contract with Nashville's Severance Records. Borrowing a phrase used by their fans, the Moonrocks titled their label debut Western Space Grunge EP, released in 2024.

Formed in Abilene, Texas, Dexter and the Moonrocks comprise singer/guitarist James Tuffs, guitarist Ryan Anderson, bassist Ty Anderson, and drummer Ryan Fox. Initially, they tried out a more straightforward country sound, but when they began to infuse it with '90s-inspired grunge and alt-rock elements, things began to click. Their debut single, "Couch," was an unlikely viral candidate with a murky tone, and a slow, grungy groove. After releasing it in August 2021, the song began to pick up momentum, eventually notching millions of streams. They included it on their self-titled EP later that year, then hit the road. A similarly noirish single, "Kate McCannon," appeared in 2022, along with several demos and the punchy "Devil Like Me."

By 2023, the Moonrocks had attracted enough national attention to sign a contract with Severance, the newly launched rock imprint of Nashville's Big Loud Records. They became the label's inaugural signing and released a series of singles including "Bird and the Bees" and "She Likes Girls." A second EP, Western Space Grunge, arrived in July 2024. ~ Timothy Monger