Melbourne-via-Adelaide trio Tough Uncle are heading back to their hometown to celebrate the launch of their second single Doctors.

Tough Uncle’s profile on this side of Bordertown might be relatively low at the moment, but keen bean local bandspotters may remember all three members from the now-defunct former ripitup.com.au Hot Six indie-prog group Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! While the fresh faces behind hits like War Coward and Little Cowboys, Bad Hombres may have grown out into grizzled beards and chiselled cheekbones, their knack for crafting choice rock tunes remains.

Released back in November, the band’s first single Focus sounded like one of Hot Chip’s dance-nerd jams with the synths swapped out for bluesy guitars. Things are a little breezier on Doctors, with a cruising backbeat, stripped back guitars and an affably sung vocal line sharpened by a few falsetto hooks.

It kind of conjures up an alternate universe where Kings of Leon managed to continue their ascent to mainstream stardom while retaining the simple rock n roll formula of Aha Shake Heartbreak, rather than mutating into a kinda stale stadium rock snoozefest.

But enough about the Followills. Tough Uncle launch the single at Ancient World on Saturday, March 12 with support from The Keepsakes, The Scarlet Ives and Rag Valley Witches.

Stream Tough Uncle’s Doctors here:

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Photograph:

Tim Fenby