Sibling art rock duo Bimbo (Gretchen and Dawson McKenzie) returned to the studio after a whirlwind tour that’s taken them through the Midwest and beyond. Their goal? Play 100 shows in 2025. As of July 1, they’ve hit 47—and while they joked that December might be packed with 30 pop-up sets, it’s clear their momentum is no laughing matter.
Amid the touring chaos, the band managed to create their second EP, "Bimbo À Deux," which was released on July 9th. The title is a play on folie à deux (a shared madness between two people), which, fittingly, captures their unique musical energy. “There was a list of names,” Gretchen said. “We had Dostoyevsky references, "Bimbotic Plague,"…but this felt like the only time we could use this one.”
True to the ethos they’ve followed since their debut, Bimbo À Deux continues with “no musical rules,” instead leaning into what Dawson calls “big numbers, big math," or exploring odd time signatures and dynamic structures that reflect their mutual jazz influence. “We understand the rules, but we’re not thinking about them,” Gretchen added. “If it sounds cool, it’s a yes.”
The EP features five new tracks—“Easy Math,” “Baby’s Got Rabies,” “Butcher? Hardly Know ‘Er,” “Skip A Step,” and “Get Real!”—titles that reflect both humor and intention. Others stem from lyrics or phrases meant to feel unique: “There’s a million songs called ‘I’m in Love with You,’ but not a lot of ‘Easy Math.’” Recorded in one day at Dead River Sound with Ryan Staples (who also produced their debut), the process felt smoother this time. “Last time, I could barely play guitar,” Gretchen said. “Now that I can, it helped a lot.”
That confidence carried into the creative process, which remains deeply collaborative. “If there’s dissonance, it means the song isn’t right yet,” Dawson said. “We’re never married to our own ideas. It always gets better when we build it together.” As for the guiding theme of “bimbofication,” the band admits they don’t plan it out—it’s just who they are. “We’ve reached a kind of bimbo Zen state,” Gretchen said. “We're still acolytes, not masters. But we’re getting closer.”
Kurt Hauswirth once again spoke with Gretchen and Dawson:
The EP is available digitally and (fittingly for a fully independent band) on cassette, which marks a tangible milestone for Bimbo. While no official release show is set, a July 31 performance at Superior Culture is on the books, and spontaneous pop-ups aren’t off the table.
Above all, Bimbo continues to embrace the strange and sincere. “This is my favorite music I’ve ever been a part of,” Gretchen said. “We’re proud of it. And we’re going to keep playing as much as we can.” And, as Dawson put it: “This one’s better than the last one. And the next one will be even better.”
Find out more at bimboband.com.
The preceding interview was part of a broadcast of The Shuffle on July 12th, 2025.
