Sunday Junkie is a Worcester-based alternative rock duo composed of multi-instrumentalist, lyricist, and vocalist Tom Martin and drummer and percussionist Shawn Pelkey. The band released a pair of debut singles in Fall 2024 (October’s “Vultures” and November’s “Haunted Head”), with If It’s Too Loud praising its ability to present “a sound that is truly all of their own out of some of our favorite musical elements,” and Rock And Roll Fables citing “Martin’s warm bass lines interwoven with his riffs and Pelkey’s drum lines in a perfect sync that’s still a labyrinth-like aural odyssey.” A new single called “Holy, Holy” drops in February 2025, with more new music on the way, leading to Sunday Junkie’s debut album arriving in May, just in time for spring’s bloom.
Album 1: Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream
Tom Martin, guitar, bass, synth, vocals, lyrics, engineering, artwork: Truly a life changing album for me that still holds up today when I listen to it. It informed so much of how I approach songwriting and sonic experimentation.
Album 2: Rush, Moving Pictures
Shawn Pelkey, drums and other percussion, engineering: Seeing Neil Peart in A Show of Hands may have been when I realized I wanted to be a drummer. About a year or so later, Rush toured on Presto and passed through Worcester at the Centrum. I went with my father and one of my uncles, it was my first concert. The live performances were the spark and Moving Pictures was the flame. “Tom Sawyer”, “Red Barchetta” and “Limelight” were some of the first Rush songs I learned. Like many drummers, Neil was my very first teacher. He was such a massive influence for so many of us, it had to be my personal #1. This record will always hold a very special place in my heart.
Album 3: As Cities Burn, Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest
Martin: I know a lot of people cringe when they look back on the early aughts and the explosion of a more listener friendly, post-hardcore experience, but there’s a distinct honesty and heaviness (emotionally and musically) that makes this album special. Also, Cody Bonnette was a HUGE influence on how I approach lead guitar.
Album 4: Tool, Lateralus
Pelkey: Another drummer that I spent my teen years studying. I’d sit in my basement and play along to these songs for hours on end. Danny Carey was a huge influence for me. This was also early 2000s peak Alternative music imo.
Album 5: Explosions in the Sky, The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place
Martin: My first foray into the world of post-rock. The devastating beauty this album achieves without the need of vocals/lyrics is truly impressive and taught me so much about evoking emotion through songwriting.
Album 6: Tame Impala, Lonerism
Pelkey: I grew up in the ‘80s in a musical family, so I grew up around all the sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s. So much so that I didn’t really care for a whole lot of the “‘80s” music at the time. This record was a real throwback to my childhood. Even though it’s very modern in ways, it hits a lot of those notes that are so deeply a part of me. I was a revelation to an extent. A very inspirational record indeed. A big shout out to Chris Oquist for introducing me to these guys.
Album 7: Godspeed You Black Emperor, Lift Yr Skinny Fists…
Martin: A whole other apocalyptic ballgame when it comes to post-rock. I always loved the idea of them playing “movements” rather than songs. Also, if I incorporate any distorted, spoken word samples into songs it’s absolutely their doing.
Album 8: Jeff Buckley, Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk
Pelkey: I know most people that would pick a Buckley record would likely pick Grace, but this is the one for me. The whole story behind it, Jeff initially hating it and scrapping the recordings. The subsequent collaboration between Chris Cornell and Jeff’s mother to bring the record to life. As musicians we have a tendency to get stuck on the “idea of things.” We also tend to loath our own work, which can lead to us getting in our own way. It seems unreal to me that these recordings were all but tossed in the trash. And that it took him passing for them to see the light of day. Would they have eventually been released? Who knows... I understand it’s hard to be objective from the inside. I think as you grow, it's important to understand that songs/things in life usually end up exactly as they should. We never really have much say in the matter. Life gets a lot easier when we just surrender and let things happen.
Album 9: Deftones, Adrenaline
Pelkey: Another ‘90s band that really had a heavy influence inside of our circle of friends/musicians. The tension in this record is palpable and after growing up around the Twin City Hardcore scene, this one fell right in my wheelhouse.
Album 10: Radiohead, OK Computer
Martin: I mean, it’s OK Computer. Enough said.
Pelkey: I tried to avoid repeats, but I have to follow Tom’s lead on this one. As soon as I heard “Paranoid Android” on a WAAF late night show, I was hooked. Looking back, the record seems like the beginning of a modern-day renaissance. Everything about it, the lyrics, music, production. It’s all very symbolic of the technological changes happening in society at the time. I was a total sucker for their “art is a reflection of reality” embellishment. It probably didn’t hurt that I was taking a ton of psychedelics back then, HA!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunday.junkie/