It rarely, if ever happens like this anymore…

Five musicians from various pockets of the country, grab their instruments, and gather in the basement of a house in Southern California. Face-to-face, these individuals collectively harnessa vibrant and vital energy into sticky alternative anthems rooted in timeless songcraft, yet magnified through a prism of garage rock, D.I.Y. indie, and psychedelia. Common People churn out of the kind of entrancing, era-agnostic rock you can drift off to on headphones or sing aloudto at your favorite festival. The guitar solos are just as hummable as the hooks are, and the grooves swing with purpose. It’s no wonder they’ve built palpable buzz and attracted the likes of GRAMMY® Award-winning Cage The Elephant co-founder and guitarist Brad Shultz to their corner.

Signing to his Parallel Vision label in partnership with Big Loud Rock, the quintet—Nicky [vocals, guitar], Sam [guitar], Asher [guitar], Konrad [bass, vocals], and Cormac [drums]—instantly captivate on a series of 2025 singles and their forthcoming debut LP.

“Sonically, we never limit ourselves,” Nicky declares. “Our sound isn’t one guitar part, bassline, or drum fill; it’s whatever we’re naturally inspired by in the moment. When we’re arranging songs, it’s almost like we’re in a chemistry lab because we’re bringing in all of these different elements and making them our own. Whether it’s regret, anger, or love, there are a lot of things we experience as humans. We consider these through the Common People lens, so the music is universal and people can potentially connect.”

Common People’s members immediately recognized one another as kindred spirits. Sam hailed from Salt Lake City, and Nicky called Connecticut home. The rest of the band resided up and down the length of the California coastline with Asher from San Francisco, Cormac from San Diego, and Konrad from Los Angeles. Bonding intensely over music, they came together through shared friend groups. Their influences ranged from Radiohead, The Strokes, The Pixies, and Tame Impala to The Grateful Dead, David Bowie, Neil Young, and The Beatles. Soon, the guys found themselves jamming together constantly in the aforementioned basement.

Playing as a hobby organically turned into composing original tunes.

“Everyone in this band has a personal love for music—especially in the live setting,” says Sam. “Once we started clicking, we were like, ‘We need to make something of our own’.”

Over the course of two years, Common People slogged it out on the local scene. They played as many shows as possible across Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Early demos landed in Brad’s hands. Blown away by the songwriting and musicianship, he welcomed them as one of Parallel Vision’s ground floor acts. Simultaneously, he served as an inspiration in the studio.

“He really helped us realize what it means to be a band,” Sam continues. “Recording can be a difficult process, but he’s been like a big brother. He has so much passion for guitar, and he thinks of it as a tool for expression. It made us rethink how we approach the instrument as well.”

“We’ve definitely changed how we go about writing, producing, and working with each other,” agrees Nicky. “He’s family.”

The group’s official debut single “Thank You” hinges on the interplay of a dusty groove and a gritty guitar lick. Anchored to a head-nodding beat, it alternates between introspective verses and an irresistible refrain lifted by Nicky’s breathy high register. Wrestling with contradictions on the chorus, he exhales, “You pick me up and let me down. It’s inside out. You say my name, but I don’t hear the sound. So, thank you for calling, guess you’ll take anybody.” They top off the track with a taut, yet impassioned solo.

“The riff really kickstarted the song,” recalls Nicky. “We leave a lot of the meaning open to interpretation. To me, ‘Thank You’ is about the acceptance of uncertainty. You have expectations, but you accept that life’s not always going to go your way.”

Ultimately, Common People have taken an old school road to becoming your new favorite rock band.

“We’ve noticed there’s a revival of live music and rock out there,” Asher comments. “There’s some motion and momentum from our generation. It’s not an old man’s game anymore. A lot of young people are gravitating towards rock again. We’re going to be there for them.”

“We think deeply about what we do on stage and in the studio,” Sam leaves off. “There are never going to be any boundaries on Common People.”