Some bands dream of making it out of the garage — People R Ugly made theirs the main event. The Orange County four-piece have officially unleashed their debut album GARAGE via Verswire, and it’s the kind of record that feels as spontaneous and self-made as its name suggests.
Every track was created, written, and recorded in guitarist Zak Dossi’s actual garage. It’s a bold move, but for a band that thrives on chaos, honesty, and unpredictability, it couldn’t make more sense. With producer Nick Furlong (Papa Roach, The Paradox) behind the scenes, GARAGE collides alternative rock, pop punk, hip hop, and R&B into a sound that’s somehow both unfiltered and stadium-ready — a blend that captures exactly why People R Ugly have become one of 2025’s breakout names.
“We’re beyond excited to finally share our debut album,” the band said. “Every song was created, written, and recorded in Zak’s garage in Orange County. We had a blast experimenting, messing around, and pushing ourselves in new directions. We hope it makes you laugh, cry, dance, mosh — and maybe even smile at a surprise feature you won’t see coming.”
That sense of experimentation and freedom has been central to their rise. This summer, the band became a must-see act on the festival circuit, lighting up stages at Bonnaroo, Warped Tour DC, Summerfest, and Lollapalooza — where they drew the biggest crowd at the BMI Stage and brought out Plain White T’s frontman Tom Higgenson for a surprise cameo.
And they didn’t stop there. Last month, the group teamed up with Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus for a cameo in the music video for “WAKE UP,” which premiered exclusively through Rolling Stone. It’s another sign that People R Ugly are connecting across scenes, generations, and sounds — all while keeping that scrappy, garage-born energy intact.
Their story fits the music perfectly. Drummer Tristan Kevitch spent two years cold-calling venues with no band, no songs, and no name before finally landing a slot at Whisky A Go Go. Within a week, he’d found his lineup — Zak, Bill Biers, and Julian Del Grosso — and sold out their very first show. That spark quickly turned into a loyal following and millions of streams, leading to their signing with Verswire and a debut album that feels as big as their ambition.
GARAGE isn’t just an album — it’s a moment. It’s the sound of a band doing things their way, from the floor of a California garage to festival stages across the country. And if this is just the beginning, People R Ugly might not be the only ones going from the garage to greatness.
