Unlike the “love and peace” hippie archetype or the polished pop-punk star, the Groobygirls embrace pettiness, grudges, and resentment — and turn them into hooks. A Groobygirl song doesn’t just break up with you; it keys your car and writes a bridge about it.
(pronounced GROO-bee-girls ) are a loose collective of female-fronted and gender-expansive rock bands that emerged from the late 2010s DIY scene in rust-belt cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. Their sound: a swampy blend of 1970s glam stomp, 1990s riot grrrl fury, and digital-era lo-fi production. Their ethos: spite as fuel. groobygirls spite i love rock and roll sh best
Let’s break it down. Groobygirls — a word nowhere in official dictionaries, but evocative of groovy (1960s cool) and grungy (1990s grit) merged with girls . Spite — raw, reactive energy. I love rock and roll — the 1982 Joan Jett anthem of joyful rebellion. SH — could be “she” or “shit” or “super hot.” Best — ultimate claim. Unlike the “love and peace” hippie archetype or
She hates the way I dance / I hate the way she lies / But when the bass drum hits / Spite opens my eyes / SH best, SH best / I’m the one they’ll forget last. Their sound: a swampy blend of 1970s glam
The “SH” stands for “Spiteful Honey” — a nickname for the band’s lead singer, known only as “Grooby.” The track is 1 minute and 47 seconds of feedback, a single riff, and a drum fill that sounds like a falling toolbox. It is, by all accounts, the best thing they ever recorded. In an era of algorithm-curated chillness and TikTok-friendly hooks, music driven by spite feels almost revolutionary. The Groobygirls (real or imagined) represent a return to rock’s core promise: that anger can be beautiful, that ugliness can be rhythmic, and that people who tell you to calm down are wrong.
If you enjoyed this article, share it with someone who still buys CDs at merch tables. And if you’re in a band called Groobygirls — please send a demo.