Worriers are an American melodic punk band from Brooklyn, New York.[1] The band’s music is centered on the songwriting of Lauren Denitzio, the former vocalist/guitarist of The Measure (SA). Primarily a solo project, Worriers has also featured a rotating line-up of both touring musicians and in-studio contributors. The live iteration of Worriers currently includes drummer Atom Willard, lead guitarist Frank Piegaro and bassist Allegra Anka. Alumni of the group includes Rachel Rubino, Audrey Zee Whitesides, Nick Psillas, John McLean, JP Flexner and Denitzio's ex-wife Lou Hanman, among others.[2] They have released records on Don Giovanni, No Idea, SideOneDummy, 6131 Records, Yo-Yo Records, and Ernest Jenning Record Co.[3]
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In 2015 Worriers enlisted Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! to produce their album Imaginary Life.[4] The band signed with SideOneDummy Records in June 2017, and released their second album Survival Pop in September of that year. Their newest record, Warm Blanket, was released on Ernest Jenning April 2023.
Worriers was formed by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Lauren Denitzio in 2011, following the end of The Measure [SA]. Denitzio had also found work as a visual artist, graphic designer and author – work that they continue to this day.[5] The band released their first single "Past Lives" on No Idea Records in May 2011. It served as the title track to a three-track 7-inch EP released that September, which featured the digital bonus track "Made to Mend". Denitzio was joined on this recording by lead guitarist Mike Hunchback, bassist Dan Oestreich and drummer Jonathan Johansen.[6]
2013 saw the release of two EPs from the project: Cruel Optimist via Don Giovanni Records in October,[7] and Sinead O'Rebellion via Yo-Yo Records in November.[8] For these recordings, Denitzio was joined by guitarist Rachel Rubino, bassist Tim Burke and drummer Mike Yannich. In 2015, Worriers released their debut studio album Imaginary Life. All songs were written solely by Denitzio, and produced by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! For this record, the Worriers lineup included Denitzio, Rubino, Yannich, guitarist John McLean and bassist Audrey Zee Whitesides, with Lou Hanman of UK punk band Caves guesting on backing vocals.[5]
The band signed with SideOneDummy Records in June 2017, and released their second album Survival Pop in September of that year. For this record Denitzio was backed by Hanman on guitar, Nick Psillas on bass, and Mikey Erg on drums.[9] With the scaling back of SideOneDummy's operations in early 2018, the band re-released the album with 6131 Records with the addition of two new songs.
On December 12, 2019 Worriers announced they would be releasing a third album titled You or Someone You Know, again with 6131 Records, on March 6, 2020. For this record the lineup beyond Denitzio again included Psillas and Erg, with the addition of Frank Piegaro (ex-Ensign) on guitar. The record was produced by John Agnello.[10] On May 21, 2021, it was announced the band contributed a cover of the Rancid song "Old Friend" to Lavasock Records' tribute to Rancid's album ...And Out Come the Wolves titled ...And Out Come the Lawsuits.[11]
On January 19, 2023, Worriers announced a new full-length album, Warm Blanket, would be released by Ernest Jenning Record Co. on April 7. It was entirely recorded and mixed by Denitzio at home – other than drums contributed remotely by Atom Willard, formerly of bands such as Against Me! and Social Distortion. Along with the announcement was the release of lead single "Pollen In The Air", co-written with David Combs of Bad Moves and The Max Levine Ensemble.[12]
On June 26, 2023, roughly six months after the announcement of Warm Blanket, Denitzio revealed that a second Worriers album would be released that year on September 15 entitled Trust Your Gut. In contrast to Warm Blanket's solo homemade recording process, Trust Your Gut was recorded in a studio with the current touring band line-up, in addition to The Hold Steady keyboardist Franz Nicolay. The title track of the album was released to coincide with the album announcement, with a music video inspired by the film Empire Records.[13]
