The Bobby Lees Story: A Raw Garage Punk Revival Fueled by Jason Momoa

How Jason Momoa’s unexpected support revived the Bobby Lees' punk spirit and led to their breakthrough album.

If you've ever rooted for an underdog band clawing at the edges of the music world, the Bobby Lees' journey hits all the right notes. Their story feels straight out of a gritty indie film—struggles, raw energy, and a guardian angel no one saw coming: Jason Momoa. Yes, the actor with a penchant for classic rock covers swooped in to save a band on the brink, proving sometimes a single believer can rewrite your fate.

From the Brink of Breakup: When the Bobby Lees Hit Pause

November 2023 marked a somber moment for fans of the Bobby Lees. The garage punk band posted an "indefinite hiatus" update on Instagram, a phrase that's becoming all too familiar in the DIY music scene. The post was less about defeat and more a rallying cry—a hope that someone with influence might hear their plea to "restore value to music."

Lead singer Sam Quartin recalls that anxious time with vivid clarity. “After we put out the statement, I was freaked out. I remember I went to the river and took a swim because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” she shares, flipping her old-school flip phone onto the Zoom screen as if to emphasize her detachment from social media's constant buzz.

She avoided checking their social accounts for two whole days—too nervous to face the fallout. But then came the message that changed everything. It was from Jason Momoa himself, recorded in his car: “I’m sad. We gotta do something. Call me. By the way, I’m hosting ‘SNL’ next week. Are you guys in New York? Let’s meet up.”

Jason Momoa: More Than Just Aquaman, A Punk Rock Fan

Momoa isn’t just a Hollywood heavyweight; he's also a musician who plays in the classic rock and heavy metal cover band ÖOF TATATÁ. His passion for music runs deep, and spotting the Bobby Lees online, he fell in love with their fierce sound and spirit.

In an Instagram video with Jack Black, Momoa explained, "I found them on Insta and I fell in love with them. Then they were trying to break up and I was like, hell no, we need to talk about this."

Sam expected nothing when she handed over her phone number. Yet soon, her phone rang. “Jason? We talked for an hour,” she says. “He wanted to know everything: what we’ve been doing, how it works, why we’re not making money. He said, something doesn’t add up here.”

Against All Odds: The Bobby Lees’ Journey Through The Music Machine

For fans and critics alike, the Bobby Lees were no secret. Formed in Woodstock, New York, in 2017, the band had steadily built a loyal following, releasing three albums—including Skin Suit, produced by Jon Spencer—and selling out headline shows. They toured alongside punk and alternative legends like Helmet and the Black Lips. Icons such as Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, and Debbie Harry praised their gritty, witty punk sound.

Yet, despite the accolades and growing fan base, the band's financials told a different story. “We worked so hard, put it all in, but when you fund everything yourself, you just break even,” Quartin explains. “We wanted our break. Like, is someone gonna help us? What are we doing wrong?”

Drummer Macky Bowman captures the brutal grind: “It feels like people are standing in a line waiting to kick you in the balls. Then you realize there’s a big machine putting them in line right in front of you. I didn’t even know where to go from there.”

A Hollywood Lifeline: Funding, Filming, and Family

Ironically, it was only after waving the white flag that the band found their lifeline—not from a record label, but from a compassionate actor with a platform. Momoa pledged to help fund their next record, simply because he loved their music.

Weeks later, the band traveled to New York City to meet with Momoa and flesh out plans. An inventive “fair exchange” emerged: Momoa would film their creative process for an episode of his HBO travel docuseries On The Roam in return for financing their album.

The episode premiered on May 14, kicking off the show’s second season. The series follows Momoa crisscrossing America, spotlighting creators who share his passions. For the Bobby Lees, becoming part of the "ohana" (family) Momoa speaks of was both surreal and heartwarming.

Bowman reflects, “In the music industry, it’s usually all about money or trends. For someone to say, ‘I love music, I love your band, I want to help make a record’ without cynicism—that was amazing.”

New Self: The Album Where Punk Meets Funk and Hip-Hop Flow

The fruits of this collaboration materialized in New Self, the Bobby Lees' latest album, released June 12 on their new label home, Epitaph Records. Their sound—a sharp fusion of punk, garage rock, hip-hop rhythms, and a dash of funk—finds them in good company alongside labelmates like Bad Religion and Social Distortion.

Each band member’s musical influences paint a vivid picture of their energetic style:

• Macky Bowman’s all-time favorite concert? Fishbone.
• Kendall Wind? Black Sabbath.
• Sam Quartin? A tie between Little Richard’s explosive energy and an early My Chemical Romance show sneaked into as a kid.

“The energy, the loudmouth spirit—that’s what we bonded over,” Wind says. It’s this very intensity that pulses through New Self’s eight tracks, including a blistering, one-take cover of PJ Harvey’s “50ft Queenie.”

Though brief—less than 25 minutes total—the album lands hard with tracks like the nu-metal inspired “Give” and punk-poetry anthem “Napoleon,” both taking aim at the music industry juggernaut with ferocity and clarity.

Learning from Literature and Life: The Meaning Behind “Napoleon”

If you thought “Napoleon” was a victory anthem, think again. The song nods to Law of Success by Napoleon Hill—a book Quartin dove into during the band’s break. Without the distractions of a smartphone, she’s embraced reading to sift through the noise.

“I started it as a joke because someone I know was reading Think and Grow Rich. I thought, ‘Aren’t you embarrassed?’ But it’s not about money; it’s about positive thinking,” she explains. “As a band, we’ve been trying to balance hope with reality—knowing it’s tough to be a band now, but music is still essential.”

This growth shines on the album’s title track, New Self, a reflection of how all members evolved personally and artistically during their hiatus.

Wind sums it up: “Taking a break helped me discover who I was outside the band. I’d been in it since I was 17. That growth changed everything.”

From Woodstock Roots to Touring Triumphs

Back in 2017, Kendall Wind was on track to become a film scorer, accepted at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute. But fate intervened when she met Sam Quartin at Woodstock’s Rock Academy Music School, where a teenage Macky Bowman was already jamming.

Sam had recently moved upstate after trying—and failing—to start a band in New York City. “I met a producer and told him I wanted to make a record but didn’t know anyone,” she recalls. “He introduced me to the Rock Academy, and we just gelled.”

Their humble beginnings included a debut show at a Chinese restaurant, with one guy eating lo mein in the back—a far cry from the sold-out gigs to come.

Quartin now lives in Tulsa with her husband, filmmaker John Swab, who is the band's “unofficial” fourth member, handling all their visuals including a cinematographic album accompaniment for New Self. She also dabbles in acting, starring in recent projects directed by Swab.

Wind’s hobbies include MMA and kickboxing, while Bowman pursues painting, showcasing his art under the handle Macky_saint_hubbins. Yet music remains their shared heartbeat.

“We’ve always been on the same page. Because what else would we do?” Wind laughs.

Battling On: The Spirit Behind the Mask

The band’s name, Bobby Lees, comes from a ghostly figure Sam once hallucinated during a harrowing time battling mental health and sobriety—an experience that also shaped much of their 2022 album Bellevue. Though “Bobby Lee” hasn’t appeared since, the spirit lingers in their hearts.

The band’s live energy skyrocketed after initial shows at small venues like the Chinese restaurant. They moved on to iconic New York spots like Berlin and Bowery Electric—milestones that felt like dreams fulfilled.

They self-booked upwards of 60 shows during the COVID-19 pandemic year before cancellations swept the world. Since then, the Bobby Lees have been rebuilding their momentum.

With Momoa’s support, the band finally feels like they’re turning a corner. Quartin states, “This is a new chapter. I’ve stopped blaming anyone. When we took that break, we were pissed. Now, it’s liberating to choose this path and not be angry.”

The Wrestling Mask on the Album Art: Fighting Spirit Personified

The New Self album cover features a masked lucha libre wrestler sticking out his tongue—ready to dive back into the fray. This nod to wrestling was inspired by the band watching vintage WWE matches during their studio sessions.

Bowman recalls obsessively watching the legendary 1998 “Mankind vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell” match. “It’s the one where Undertaker throws Mankind off the cage, and he almost goes into a coma, but then he gets up and keeps fighting,” Bowman says. “That’s us. We never stop getting up.”

And like that iconic battle, the Bobby Lees are here to stay—raw, relentless, and roaring louder than ever.

FAQ

• What sparked Jason Momoa’s involvement with the Bobby Lees?
  Jason Momoa discovered the band on Instagram, loved their music, and reached out after hearing they were considering breaking up, offering support and funding for their album.
• What style of music do the Bobby Lees play?
  They blend garage punk with elements of hip-hop flow and funk, creating an energetic, brash sound.
• How did the band start?
  The group formed in Woodstock, NY, in 2017, with members meeting at the Rock Academy Music School and initially playing small local shows.
• What is the significance of the band’s name?
  It comes from a ghost named Bobby Lee that lead singer Sam Quartin hallucinated about during a difficult period in her life.
• What makes the New Self album stand out?
  It’s a concise but fierce album with eight songs that capture the band’s raw energy and commentary on the challenges facing musicians today, funded and supported uniquely through a partnership with Jason Momoa.

For those who want to celebrate the Bobby Lees’ journey and energy daily, consider shopping our collection of favorite album cover posters. Capture the spirit of New Self and more at Architeg Prints—the perfect way to bring punk passion into your space.