Psych of the Rock
Perchard’s Wall is not merely a band, it’s an anchor point in the churning waters of Jersey’s music scene. Since their formation in 2020, this four-piece psychedelic blues rock machine has carved out a sound that feels both historically reverent and utterly of the moment. Their music is a high-octane synthesis of ’60s indie melodicism and the raw, unbridled fury of psych and garage rock. It’s a sound built for live performance, a reputation they’ve cemented with a devoted following across the Channel Islands.
The band’s origin story is less a tale of serendipity and more a strategic baptism by fire. The initial lineup of James Perchard on bass and vocals, Greg Alliban and Joe Hutchinson on guitars, and Lucas Saunter on drums, spent their formative years in a good solid run of gigs at local haunts, cultivating their sound in front of a crowd before they ever committed it to tape. This focus on the stage laid the groundwork for their reputation as an explosive live act. A critical evolution followed when Aaron Bouchard took over drumming duties by the time of their debut EP. Yet, Saunter’s story didn’t end there; he became a pivotal force behind the boards, engineering and producing the record with an intimate understanding of the band’s vision. The Wall was built not just with musicians, but with a community.
That community-driven ethos is captured with stunning clarity on their debut EP, The Tea Pea, released on April 26, 2024, through independent label Bubblebrain Records. The band’s mission was to translate the “live raw sound that the cosmonauts who have attended our gigs over the years have come to know and love” into a durable format. The EP is a testament to that success.
The Indie Scene praised a collection that is “by no means light on tungsten-heavy protein,” drawing favourable comparisons to fuzz-rock luminaries like King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. From the “reverb filled fuzzing guitars” of Hands to the “low down and dirty rock ‘n’ roll vibe” of the finale, Munchausen, the EP is a recorded document of a band in full command of its powers.
But to truly understand Perchard’s Wall, you must experience the live performance. They are a household name in Jersey, known for a show that is an experience of musical persuasion that leaves both the die hard fan and casual listener captivated and inspired. Accounts from a 2023 performance at the Vale Earth Fair suggest the band all but stole the show with a special Grateful Dead tribute set. A later gig at The Yacht in Guernsey in 2025 further solidified their mystique, with a reviewer noting their ability to walk a fine line between controlled musicianship and what appeared to be chaotic jams, all while delivering a non-stop 90-minutes-plus musical journey.
The Wall is a central node in a larger ecosystem, a micro-scene centred on Rat City Promotions. This is where the lines between band and community truly dissolve. Frontman James Perchard and drummer Aaron Bouchard also lend their talents to the trash rockers known as Peace Slips. That band, in turn, includes Adam ‘Boots’ Bouteloup, the proprietor of Rat City. It’s a self-sustaining model where musicians create their own stages, turning the challenges of island life into a shared narrative of collaboration.
With a well-received EP under their belt and a Channel Islands World Tour that brought a pipe dream to reality, the band is now poised for the next phase. According to guitarist Greg Alliban, the tour funding will also go toward the recording of a new album. Perchard’s Wall is building on its foundation, turning passion, humour, and a deep-seated love for the form into a durable legacy.