Detroit grit, West Coast glitter, and zero interest in playing by the rules—Hayley and the Crushers are back and louder than ever with Unsubscribe From The Underground. Fresh off their latest EP and gearing up for a Spring 2026 tour, the band is leaning all the way into their self-described “poolside glitter trash” sound: raw, hooky, chaotic, and impossible to ignore.

We caught up with Hayley Cain to talk Detroit vs. L.A., writing fast and loud, and why “unsubscribing” might be the most punk move you can make right now. Expect grit, sparkle, and just enough snarl to keep things dangerous.

You’re heading out on a Spring 2026 tour behind your latest EP Unsubscribe From The Underground—what feels different about this current era of the band compared to previous releases?

Leaner, meaner and more raw power! Since moving to Detroit we've edged closer to the core of our poolside glitter trash sound, which is about combining grit, sweetness and melodic hooks into one record store nerd approved-package. Seriously, record store nerds love us!

How would you describe Unsubscribe From The Underground in three words?

 Grit. Glitter. Glue.

You’ve described your sound as blending “gritty Detroit energy with melodic West Coast sparkle”—what does that look like in practice when you’re writing or performing? 

At a Crushers show you're going to get glamor and spectacle but you'll also probably get ribbed by Dr. Cain, and end the night a happy, sweaty mess. We are that one-two punch. We also record our records in our guitarist Ryan's basement in Detroit and the swanky Kitten Robot Studio in L.A., so we truly do get the best of both worlds.

Where do surf-punk, power pop, and garage rock each show up most clearly in this EP (Unsubscribe From The Underground)?

Well, the second half of the EP (B side vinyl exclusive!) was recorded "live" for that raw, immediate kind of sound, which is the essence of garage rock. "Gidget's Revenge" is a classic surf punk song with all the reverb, while songs like "Bad Girls" and "Angelyne" border on power pop. "Blood and Treasure" is straight up 60s girl-group vibes with a little western pedal steel thrown in for good measure. I mean, you're getting a lot of personality in a Crushers record. So if you're a straight-laced listener, we're not for you!

Were there any specific artists or scenes that shaped Unsubscribe more than others?

Our move to Detroit prompted us to craft the album a bit differently, with that half-Detroit, half-LA sensibility, and I think that comes through in the music. The songwriting itself is inspired by everything from my love of oldies radio to Dr. Cain's love of country music. We do a cover of "Queen of Hearts," a country banger popularized by Juice Newton back in the 80's. I think we follow our interests and instincts, and we're all a little (or a LOT) ADHD.

What does “unsubscribing” mean to you personally—musically or emotionally?

Not giving in to the rules of any group, whether that be a mainstream group or a subculture. Listening to your heart, always.

Do you see your music as an escape from that chaos, or a way to confront it?

Escape, for sure. While we have our confrontational moments, like the song "Unsubscribe,” our music always comes back to the joy of a great melodic hook. We want people to feel that sense of joy and temporary escape when they come to our shows. It's why we've put on events with tropical backdrops made of cardboard, it's why our music videos are colorful and silly. It's why we do what we do! The Crusherverse is about feeling that sense of abandon, if only for two minutes and thirty seconds.

Did the songs on Unsubscribe come together quickly, or was it more of a slow evolution?

Very quickly. I wanted to write from the POV of an old head annoyed that new/younger people were coming into his scene.  So many of us can relate to being on either side of that equation (myself included). I wrote from that small-minded, defensive place, and it was super interesting to feel that release. The verses are in the defensive voice while the chorus is more of a call to action. The music flowed along with the lyrics naturally. Not all songs are like that, so I am grateful when they do come along!

How does the band balance writting sharp, witty lyrics with bright, catchy melodies?

I don't think it's something we consciously even strive to achieve, but more of what we create organically. I have always been a very colorful person with a bit of an acid tongue and a love of bubble-gummy melodies. Dr. Cain is stoic, inventive and intense, always coming up with unexpected riffs or ways to make a song off-kilter in the best way. These two elements of our personalities come together in our co-songwriting duties in a really natural way. The result is sparkly music with some teeth to it! 

Was there a moment during the recording of this upcoming album where you felt like, “Okay, this is the new direction”?

Yes. After we first heard Unsubscribe. I knew then I wanted everything that came after it to feel like this song. It balances our polarities perfectly. 

You mentioned this era has unlocked a “whole new live intensity”—what's changed on stage?

We're doing more of everything live. More is more. Jumps, props, crowd-work. It's like we're the same band, but more focused and on steroids. Moving cross country will do that to you. We felt like, OK, this is our new life and this is the new band. This is game time. Let's crank it to 11! 

You’ll be opening for Screeching Weasel and The Queers—how does it feel to share a bill with bands like that?

Amazing, because I grew up on these bands. I learned a lot of Screeching Weasel songs on guitar as a teenager and I’ve been a fan of them and Riverdales ever since. All of this is surreal and we are grateful. We know we're getting a huge leg-up thanks to these headliners and all we want to do is rise to the occasion. Every night, we aim to give as much energy as we possibly can to the audience. In return, the audience seems to be receiving us in a positive way! I particularly love seeing punk dads and their cool daughters at the merch table. It's really multigenerational! I want to find a way to get all the girls on stage at some point, like Nikki Corvette is known to do. Being the only woman on these bills is not lost on me.

What does each member bring to the “snarl vs. sparkle” balance in your sound?

I think it's fairly obvious. Hint: I wear a metallic silver jumpsuit. : ) Dr. Cain brings the grit. He's rough around the edges and a true Gen X sarcasm machine. Ryan's the maniac, put a quarter in him and watch him spin. Our new drummer Stacy is the new kid on the block and we're just getting to see what she can do. 

How do you keep things fun and high-energy as a group, especially on a long tour?

The runs have only been 3-4 days at a time, which is nice. We bring our chihuahua and tour manager, Gidget, with us. She loves hanging in the green room and getting everyone's scraps. It's hard not to feed her. She's too cute. Ben is supposedly bringing his new pup, Feta, to the next run, which is exciting. I think a few things that help are trying to eat as well as you can, not just fast food all the time. The old adage of sleep when you can also comes to mind. Hope for the best, plan for malfunctions.

If Unsubscribe From The Underground and your upcoming album were a color palette, what would it look like?

Black, neon pink and toxic waste yellow! 

What’s one “very online” habit you’d actually never unsubscribe from?

Watching Erin Parson's makeup videos on Youtube, especially when she puts her historian cap on. There is so much more to makeup than meets the eye, and transforming yourself into a fiercer version of yourself.

What do you hope fans take away after seeing you live on this tour?

Well, THAT was fun! Let's do it again.

What’s next after this run—more music, more chaos, or something unexpected?

 Two back-to-back Punk Rock Night headlining shows in Louisville KY April 24 and Indianapolis IN April 25. A Star Wars themed event in Detroit May 1. Then, we're playing a few festivals, including Say it Louder Fest in Newport KY and Savage Mountain Punk Fest in Cumberland MD. Excited for that one because Agent Orange is also on the lineup! Look for new singles and music videos all summer leading up to our new album in September on Kitten Robot Records. And if you want to follow along, join us on Substack (Crusher Talk with Hayley podcast) and Instagram!