Poolish: A Clean and Flawless Band

Poolish Members from left to right Matthew Boyd, James Matthews, and Danny Barney. Missing Tyler Cook. Photo taken by Maddie Voelkel

Poolish, indie-twang-rock band based in Chicago delivered a captivating show at Sunflower House, a DIY intimate attic venue. Named after a pre-ferment used to improve the quality, texture, and taste of bread, Poolish consists of Matthew Boyd and Danny Barney, both on guitar and vocals, Tyler Cook on bass, and James Matthews on drums and vocals, all of whom write the songs we hear. They released their debut EP, “Slip-On,” on September 12th, 2025, and held their release show that same night to an enchanted audience. Thro and Receiver, other local Chicago bands, opened for Poolish.

Find Poolish Here

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Find Poolish Here 〰️

“Slip-On” EP Cover

I have been waiting for this EP to come out since I first saw them in May 2025, when they were performing at the Society House, a small indie venue located in Lincoln Park. Their project is inspired by artists like Modest Mouse, Flooding, Greg Freeman, and Wednesday. It creates a dynamic blend between post-rock and alternative country. Throughout the show, I also heard parallels to MJ Lenderman, specifically his song Wristwatch. None of the members listed him as a source of inspiration, but the twang guitar piared with drive pedals and the loud cymbal crashes are both found throughout Poolish’s EP and Lenderman’s discography. 

People crammed onto couches and into corners to see Poolish. They started their set following the order of songs on the EP, “I am the Breeze,” written by Barney, “Throw It In,” written by Boyd, and “A Day,” written by Matthews. 

James Matthews at the release show. Taken and edited by Ella Stucky

“I am the Breeze” was my most anticipated song. The first time I heard it at Poolish’s Society House show, I was heartbroken to find out that it was unreleased. I particularly like Barney’s voice and the emphasis and elongation added to certain words that make a normal sentence groovy. The accents on the guitar by Boyd during the chorus are particularly satisfying because they pop out and liven up the song. The cymbal crashes played by Matthews elevate the song from a run-of-the-mill rock song and incorporate more elements of contrasting genres, such as post-rock. Barney’s writing is whimsical, allowing us to imagine what it would be like to be the wind. All of these elements make for a great listen.

Shifting into a more melancholic song, “Throw It In,” sung by Boyd, follows a man who has difficulty doing low-effort tasks such as walking home without tripping or getting locked out of the main line. “Showing up ‘right’” has become an impossible task unless aided by alcohol. Boyd’s voice encapsulates a defeated feeling that the song lyrically portrays for the protagonist, who by the end of the song literally throws it in and takes his own life. The resolution to the song was loud, filled with feedback, consistent cymbal crashes, and a bluesy guitar solo that gives a grand finale for the protagonist. 

“A Day” distinguishes itself from the previous songs by having a more personal writing style, depicting the experience of lying in bed and noticing the feelings of dissatisfaction arise. Even when lying close to a partner, you feel alone. After the main muffled, soft, and dispirited vocals are replaced by repetitive, fuzzy, heavy instruments. A melancholic solo closes out the song while the band slows down and instrumentally captures the hopelessness found in the lyrics. 

Straying away from the EP, Poolish played an untitled, unreleased instrumental song written by Cook, which was then followed by another unreleased song written by Boyd titled “Gasoline.” Both songs hopefully will be released in their next project so that their existences are not contained to this brief article and whoever was lucky enough to see their show. To close out the set, “Clean and Flawless,” the last song on the EP, written by Barney, was performed. It followed similar stylistic choices to “I am the Breeze” and had whimsical lyrical elements. Each song was sung by its respective composer, adding a level of diversity and unpredictability to the set that made it more engaging for those in attendance.

Members of Poolish, sans Tyler Cook. Photo taken by Maddie Voelkel

Poolish sets itself apart by curating numerous elements from a wide array of genres that create a unique sound in each song. It is a band with four individuals who all showcase their talents as songwriters and instrumentalists within the project. There is not just a singular vision, but four, that seamlessly intertwined with one another. Their humble presence draws you into their songs and allows you to join them on the journey of fictional stories or simple observations of the mind. 

Stream “Slip-On” by Poolish and make sure to go see them live!

U know u want 2.