On a humid May night, a crowd of roughly 30 people stand and chat amongst each other before the DIY stage. The crowd edges closer as Pinkie Promise takes their places, their presence underscored by the thrum of a bass guitar and the eager rattle of a drum set. Tucked away behind Houston’s music haunt, The End, and down a brightly lit alley, the band animates the cobbled-together platform—strewn with a tarp secured to wooden planks and a chain-link fence. The 20-year-old lead singer, Abby Miller, saunters the stage, her voice melding in harmony with 17-year-old bassist, Lola Howell, before letting out a guttural scream. Before that night, dozens of acts had graced Ground Control’s rostrum, but tonight it was Pinkie Promise’s turn to steal the spotlight of the underground scene.
Raised in Houston, the four-member band needs no descriptive title to articulate the sheer pop potency of their music, and the hard-hitting songs that lie in their discography. After meeting through music lessons and becoming close friends, Pinkie Promise came to fruition as a more productive way to spend their time.
“It started as a Blink-182 cover band and it was just a joke,” Howell said. “Then I overheard someone say, ‘If I was in a pop punk band, I would name it Pinkie Promise.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, well, I’m stealing that.’ So then we became a pop punk band called Pinkie Promise.”
After completing their five-song performance, Howell mingles with local fans at the foldable merchandise table, where the ‘I love PP’ pins are especially popular. The band prioritizes fun, drawing much of their inspiration from light-hearted banter with friends and exchanges in their group chat. Howell later reveals that ‘pool song’ is influenced by the pool scene in the 2009 film “Whip It,” transforming it lyrically into a celebration of spontaneity. The latter half of the song surprises listeners with a hidden track that blends bounce riffs, gritty screams, and lyrics challenging Greg Abbott—elements not immediately anticipated from the initial play.
“We’re all about the bit. We’re like, ‘We need a song where we do something like this because that’d be funny,'” Howell said. “Then we’re like, ‘Oh, that would be funny.’ And then we actually end up doing it.”
Released in April 2024, Pinkie Promise’s debut EP ‘collective’ delves into a melodically rich sound, encapsulating lyrical themes of everyday discontent, the allure of adventure and classic pop-punk power chords. Howell and 19-year-old guitarist Ali Wiley crafted the bulk of the lyrics, with the track ‘dribble queen’ penned exclusively by Miller. Wiley also contests for 21-year-old drummer Kaelynn Wright’s love for and influence from pop punk band Paramore.
“For guitar, a lot of my parts are influenced by My Chemical Romance, they used a lot of 2000s post-hardcore stuff,” Wiley said. “A lot of Lola’s parts are influenced by Mark Hoppus. Something that Lola is good at is, if there’s something in a song, like if we have a certain sound, Lola’s gonna really pull it in and make it sound like that.”
As Pinkie Promise launches into their first single, ‘i wish that you would die’ on stage, any lingering nerves dissipate, replaced by a serene composure that permeates their performance. Since its release in May 2023, the band has become adept at delivering its signature melodies. Both logistically and artistically, the band has gained valuable insights from the song’s success. Yet, as they delve deeper into the music scene, they increasingly encounter the harsh reality of underlying misogyny within the industry.
“I think people put us into a thing of like, ‘Oh Pinkie Promise they’re my favorite girl band.’ Why can’t we just be your favorite band,” Howell questions. “There’s regular music and then there’s girl music. It’s kind of a lesser-than thing.”
Howell’s frustration with the industry’s gender-based categorization reflects a deeper, systemic issue that the band faces regularly. Such comments not only highlight the prevalent biases but also serve as a stark reminder of the obstacles that still exist for women in music—a sentiment echoed by Wiley’s own encounters with backhanded compliments.
“Somebody went up to me and said, ‘I didn’t expect you to be able to play that well,’ and that to me was not that great of a compliment,” Wiley said.
Despite facing challenges in the industry, Pinkie Promise is eagerly preparing for their second Pinkie Prom event, set to take place at VFW 8790 on May 25. Initially conceived as a humorous idea by a friend of the band, Pinkie Prom has evolved into a lively music event that recreates a prom-like environment. The band is particularly excited about the opportunity to dress up for the occasion and encourages attendees to don their own interpretations of formal attire to join in the fun.
“I heard a lot of people say that they never got to go to their prom because of COVID, and a lot of people don’t like going to their school’s prom for whatever reason so I think this is a fun way to do that,” Howell said.
As Pinkie Promise starts to take recognition in the fertile soils of the Houston scene, their influence is poised to expand beyond local boundaries. With a sonically rich sound that combines raw energy, catchy hooks, and introspective lyrics, they have attracted a loyal following and are hinting at out-of-state shows soon. In the meantime, follow the band’s Instagram @pinkiepromiseband to keep up with their latest shows and music releases.