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Who are 'The Criticals?!'
You asked, we got answers.
"Groovy," "Genre-Bending," "The coolest band I know."
Nashville's own Parker Forbes and Cole Shugart are stirring the rock scene with raw talent and energy.
As a fan who's been following these guys for a while, getting to sit down with them was an awesome experience. We covered everything—musical roots, tour highlights, and how they're bringing something different to rock. Give their discography a spin, and you'll get it.
How They Got Their Start
Parker and Cole grew up on eclectic mixes. Parker's influences ran from Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake to his dad's metal favorites and his mom's country records. "I got lucky with their taste," - Parker says.
Cole's story?
"I wanted to play guitar, but my parents made me take piano with this guy rocking a mullet—and it was not the cool era of mullets" - Cole joked.
He eventually scored his first guitar when his grandma traded $10 at a bodega so some guy could fill his gas tank.
Both were in and out of bands around Nashville before their paths crossed. "We met playing local gigs," Parker says. "By 15, 16, it got serious."
Musical Bromance at First Sight?
"Yeah, we played a ton of bands and a ton of studio projects together," - Parker. Even when Parker took a brief detour for college, he couldn't shake the pull back to Nashville. "Cole called me about this project we worked on when we were 13, and we talked for hours about it...and I was like, hey dude, I'm moving back home in a bit, maybe going to try and start a band, and then one thing led to another and then we started writing songs together after that and went for it." - Parker
On Their Sound
When asked how they would describe their music, both hesitated—it's not easy to put their sound in a box. "It's vast; it's a bunch of different things," Cole explained. Parker added, "We never intentionally stick to one sound. There are always ups and downs. By the time we got to working on a full album, we were like, 'Okay, maybe we need a cohesive sound,' but even then, it's whatever feels right in the moment."
Their broad influences—from The Stone Roses to Elton John—make their music unpredictable and refreshingly diverse.
Creative Process
As for their songwriting process? There's no formula. "Sometimes it's something Parker brings to the table, sometimes it's me, and sometimes it's just us jamming," Cole said. Their approach is as spontaneous as their sound, which keeps things exciting—not just for them but for their growing fanbase.
New Album on the Horizon
If you're hungry for more music from The Criticals, get excited! "We made a record in England for two months at the start of the year...We dropped our first single a couple of weeks ago, and another one's coming by the end of this year. You can expect the full record soon!" - Parker.
Tour Life Highlights
When it comes to favorite tour memories, the band didn't hesitate to shout out ACL (Austin City Limits). "We played the main stage, which is the second biggest stage in North America. That was kind of surreal. Definitely my favorite memory so far."
With a new album on the way and plenty of tour dates lined up, The Criticals are just getting started. Whether you're into rock or just love good music, you'll want to keep these guys on your radar.
So, what are you waiting for? Go stream their latest single and get ready for even more from The Criticals!
Big Thank You to The Criticals for this awesome opportunity; we can't wait to see you guys live again!
For more awesome photography, make sure to check out Lydia's website here
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