By Sage Spirk, Contributor

[Gauzey; 2025]

Rating: 7/10

A new band is on the prowl by the name of The Mock-Ups, and they just released their debut song, “I Wanna Know Your Name,” via Gauzey Records on September 16. It might seem strange for a seemingly unknown band to already be making mainstream headlines with their first single, but that’s because the band is a supergroup! Vocalist Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance along with Kevin Bivona, Jesse Bivona, and Aimee Allen of The Interrupters make up The Mock-Ups. 

The Interrupters merge their ska-punk sound with Way’s unmistakable voice, generating a song that feels like it could be ripped straight off of Hesitant Alien, Way’s 2014 debut solo album. 

Read more: Single Review: Zach Hill & Lucas Abela – “Combat Boxes”

While the song’s release certainly feels spontaneous, it was produced by the late Doug McKean, who passed away in 2022. It’s likely then that this song has been collecting dust in the vault for the last few years, with Way and The Interrupters waiting for the right moment to let the public hear it.

The song is simple but addictive. It reminds me of ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll, adorned with overdrive and fuzz pedals and a punk rock edge. The repetition of “I just wanna know your name!” throughout the chorus and bridge is endearingly juvenile, but the energy Way brings to the track makes it hard to put down: “Because it feels so long/ I’m like a ticking bomb!/ Television keeps us tame/ But I would rather watch you walk this way.”

As “I Wanna Know Your Name” makes its rounds and The Mock-Ups continue to gain intrigue, one can only hope for a future album with this same enthusiastic sound coming from such revered musicians. If you’re feeling down and need some pep in your step, give this song a listen!