Fish Hook Smile: noise, weight, and continuity in the American underground

Formed in St. Louis in the early 1990s, Fish Hook Smile was one of those bands that emerged with urgency and disappeared before being properly documented. In just over a year of activity, the group carved out a sound that was heavy, noisy, and instinctive, blending the slow-burning grooves of grunge with the abrasive tension of noise rock.

Influenced by bands like Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, and Tad, Fish Hook Smile worked with drop tunings, saturated tones, and loose song structures. The gear may have been limited, but the conviction was clear. They didn’t sound like anyone around them, and they never intended to.

Fish Hook Smile was a St. Louis band that was originally formed in 1991 by Jason Busiek, Dan Policarpo(guitar) and Ken McCray(drums). In the Summer of 1991, Misha Avrushenko, Matt

Lake and Bryan Pollard joined the band. Although he wasn't originally in the band, Matt Pekny was at damn near every practice and show in the 90’s and was a natural fit for 2nd guitar. These songs were written by Jason Busiek, Matt Lake, Misha Avrushenko, Bryan Pollard, and Dan Policarpo. Although Dan is not on the recording, he was a major player in the formation, writing and the overall honing of this sound, and we are forever grateful for his contributions

Three decades later, the original members reconnected and began revisiting old material with new tools, more experience, and the same restless energy. Split between California and Missouri, they slowly rebuilt the record in home studios, trading files over email, refining arrangements, and rediscovering a creative chemistry that had never really gone away.

This new chapter of Fish Hook Smile isn’t about nostalgia, it's about continuity. They’re not trying to relive the '90s, just finishing what was interrupted. The result is a raw, focused album with texture and density, shaped by basement shows and years of making music in different forms. No grand gestures, no retro posturing, just honest noise from people who still have something to say.

“This is the album we wanted to make in ‘91. Now we had the scars and the tools to do it right.”

Singles

Shiver

First Single - Release Date: August 8th

It’s a warning shot.

“Shiver” drags itself out of the wreckage of the American dream and lights it on fire.
Channeling the raw nerve of '90s grunge with the paranoia of a world gone numb, this track hits like a cold slap in the face.

It’s about power - who has it, how they abuse it, and what happens when you stop asking questions and start obeying like a good little ghost.

Fish Hook Smile ain’t here to make you feel good. They’re here to remind you you’re alive - and that’s not always a comfort.

“Shiver” sets the tone for the entire record. It’s a punchy, electrified protest against passive obedience and the abuse of political power. Channeling the raw energy of ‘90s grunge, the track delivers a haunting atmosphere and biting lyrics that question the status quo.

It’s not just a song - it’s a wake-up call.

ratstar

Second Single - Release Date: August 20th

“Ratstar” is a song for the forgotten. A dirge for those sleeping under billboards while the rich watch from glass towers.
It’s not just about homelessness - it’s about the thin, frayed line between “us” and “them,” between safe and invisible, between human and animal.

This ain’t sympathy. It’s fury.
A soundtrack for the ones walking the edge with rats for company and starlight for shelter.

Fish Hook Smile doesn’t romanticize the gutter - they report from it.

“Ratstar” offers a bleak yet empathetic glimpse into homelessness and social abandonment. With vivid lyrical storytelling and a melancholic sonic weight, the song reflects the fragile boundary between stability and the streets.

It’s a gripping reminder that invisibility can happen to anyone - and connection is a human right.

Fish Hook Smile is:

Jason Busiek - Vocals, production, mixing

Matt Pekny - Guitar

Bryan Pollard - Drums

Misha Avrushenko - Bass

Matt Lake - Guitar