AceShowbiz - It's rare to catch members of Brigitte Calls Me Baby off guard or offended by comparisons, as they've become accustomed to a wide range of descriptions. "People say, 'Oh, it's like Elvis had sex with the Strokes, who invited the 1975 and Interpol to the orgy,'" says frontman Wes Leavins. He adds that such eclectic analogies ultimately spark curiosity rather than irritation, because no other band quite blends those influences in the same way.

The band's distinctive sound, a fusion of post-punk revival and nods to iconic groups like The Smiths, has propelled Brigitte Calls Me Baby to impressive heights in just four years. They've amassed millions of streams on Spotify, appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and earned spots opening for major acts such as The Strokes, Muse, and Morrissey. Their relentless touring schedule has included sold-out club dates worldwide, underscoring their rapid ascent.

"Touring is exhausting," admits bassist Devin Wessels. "But it’s the only thing we really know how to do—and the only thing we want to do. It’s a dream to be so far from home and have people actually know who you are."

For Leavins, home is the small town of Nederland, Texas, near the Louisiana border. Growing up in the early 2000s, his musical tastes were broad, ranging from disco to 1990s hip-hop to punk. As he matured, his preferences leaned toward the post-punk and new wave sounds of the 1980s, which he regards as the dawn of alternative music. "Guitars became something different, and there was the invention of certain synths. It was an innovative time," he explains.

Cable television opened windows to bigger musical worlds for him. "I watched MTV, MTV2, even BET. The videos featured bands like The Strokes, Modest Mouse, and Arctic Monkeys. I loved that—it lit me up. It was a reality some people had, and I knew I wanted to be part of it."

Leavins made a significant leap toward that dream in 2016 when he landed the role of Elvis Presley in the touring Broadway production Million Dollar Quartet, dramatizing the legendary 1954 Sun City Records session with Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

"It was a great chance to earn money and get out of Texas for a while," he says. "Performing in front of people every night for a year taught me that your voice is a muscle and that singing is a craft. It was a constant rush experiencing something new each night."

At the time, director Baz Luhrmann was beginning work on his Presley biopic Elvis but had yet to find an actor who could also handle the vocals. Veteran Nashville producer Dave Cobb, known for his work with Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson, discovered Leavins through Million Dollar Quartet and thought he would be a perfect fit for the vocal role.

Though Austin Butler ultimately performed both acting and singing duties in the film, the connection between Cobb and Leavins endured. "Dave was the first successful industry person who saw something in me," says Leavins. "We bonded over shared love for bands like The Cure, The Sundays, and Cocteau Twins. I was surprised by how eclectic his tastes are."

By then based in Chicago, Leavins formed Brigitte Calls Me Baby after collaborating on a low-profile solo record with Cobb in 2021. The band’s name comes from an unusual pen-pal connection Leavins had with French actress Brigitte Bardot during his teenage years.

The group played their first gig at New York’s Mercury Lounge in summer 2022. Soon after, they performed at a Lollapalooza afterparty in Chicago, sharing the bill with Inhaler. Their energetic live shows and genre-blending sound quickly generated buzz, landing them an opening slot for Muse at Chicago’s 2,500-seat Riviera Theater. "That was mind-blowing—it was only our fourth gig," recalls Leavins. "But I didn’t feel pressure, just pure excitement."

After signing with ATO Records, the band entered the studio with Cobb to record their debut LP, The Future Is Our Way Out, released in 2024. Their first single, "Impressively Average," climbed to Number Nine on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart and garnered nearly 1.5 million Spotify streams. They also supported Morrissey on three European dates, including his hometown of Manchester.

Leavins is often compared to Morrissey because of their similar vocal styles and his signature pompadour hairstyle reminiscent of Moz circa 1985. "My voice is unique, and I’ve known that since I was a teenager," he reflects. "I once tried to sound like Victoria Legrand or Damon Albarn, but I don’t. I accept the similarity to Morrissey. When you hear Morrissey sing, you know it’s him—same with Jeff Buckley or Alex Turner. To be recognized in that vein is flattering."

When the two finally met, Morrissey was warm and supportive. "Morrissey was welcoming and funny," says Leavins. "He did a lot by putting us on those shows and giving us a platform. I think some of his audience now comes to our shows."

The band also includes guitarist Jack Fluegel and drummer Jeremy Benshish. They released their second album, Irreversible, in March 2026. "It’s very different from the first record," says Wessels. "On our debut, Wes brought many songs he had already written. They were great. But for the second album, we worked as a band to decide what we wanted. Having the time and intention to map out our direction made a huge difference."

Their latest single, "I Can Take the Sun Out of the Sky," originated from a quick voice memo Leavins and Wessels recorded while waiting at an airport. "We had the song structured and arranged in minutes and refined it over five days," explains Leavins.

The music video creatively features a young woman flipping through a magazine filled with band imagery and lyrics on nearly every page, even in the ads. "Leavins says, "It’s like a magazine where you can enter the band’s world. We thought it would be fun to turn it into a magazine showcasing the most inventive critiques we’ve ever received."

Brigitte Calls Me Baby welcomes such critiques as part of their ongoing evolution. Their unique sound and captivating performances continue to resonate with fans worldwide, solidifying their place in the post-punk landscape while paying homage to their diverse inspirations.