Aaron Brooks is no longer a Trendy punk. Simeon Soul Charger, his mature new rock band, will release its self-titled debut EP on Saturday at Musica in Akron. If you’re looking for the infectious, wiseassed pop-punk Brooks played as frontman of Trendy, you’ll either be disappointed or impressed. “To make a long story short, I grew up, my taste changed, my goals changed, and now I’m here,” says Brooks. “I’m over the lowbrow now.”

Trendy’s 2006 Stupid Generation might be Cleveland’s best pop-punk album. The group signed a management deal with a California company, but things went south, the band grew tired of songs about sloppy sex and tampons, and the players split in late 2007. On the new EP, Brooks emerges as a gifted songwriter who can really sing. The Akron-based quintet rocks on tunes like “Cigarette,” and soul-searching songs like “Rocket” have a cello in the mix. The band plans to use a full choir at the show.

Aaron Brooks
Joe Kidd
Rick Phillips
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