Dexter and the Moonrocks

Dexter and the Moonrocks
OriginThrockmorton, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active2021–present
LabelsSeverance Records, Big Loud[2]
Members
  • James Tuffs
  • Ryan Fox
  • Ryan Anderson
  • Ty Anderson
Websitedexterandthemoonrocks.com

Dexter and the Moonrocks are an American rock band from Throckmorton, Texas formed in 2021. Combining elements of country and rock music, they have described their genre as "Western space grunge", which they chose to name their 2024 EP after.[3] The band gained traction after a clip for their song "Couch" went viral on TikTok.[4] Their song "Freakin Out" peaked at 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

History

2021–2024: Formation and early years

James Tuffs had been friends with cousins Ryan and Ty Anderson since they were in 8th grade.[5] After the three of them graduated high school, they all pursued jobs and higher education, until Tuffs' parents entered him into a songwriting contest without him knowing. Although Tuffs did not win, after some encouragement, he decided to form a band with the Andersons.[6] Originally going by the name "James Tuffs and the Southern Trouble",[7] the band would recruit drummer Ryan Fox from an ad online in late 2021[8] and change their name to Dexter and the Moonrocks. Explaining the name, lead singer James Tuffs has said "I was thinking of something cool. My name is James. And Dexter and the Moonrocks sounds way cooler than James and the Moonrocks. There wasn't much thought put in. It was about that quick".[9]. Drummer Ryan Fox has also stated that the "Moonrocks" part of the name is a reference to marijuana.[10]

While various media sources have listed their hometown as being Abilene, they are from rural Throckmorton County, which is 70 miles northeast.[11] By the band's own admission, their hometown has no local music scene to speak of, with Fox stating: "We had to drive like two-and-a-half hours just to get into a scene... and even then they'd pay us 300 bucks and tell us to go fuck off".[12] The band has described early shows before they got signed as being very lightly attended affairs, with Tuffs recalling: "There was one where we showed up... and the only person there is the bartender. That's the one person there. And even the bartender, while we're playing, is like, 'Could you kind of keep it down?'... We booked a show there. We didn't keep it down. So, it was an experience, but those are the shows that you really learn from. It's good for you. We've played many of those."[13]

In 2023, the band signed with Severance Records, an offshoot of Big Loud Records, where they would be the flagship artist. Severance Records was founded by Mike Easterlin and Steve "Stevo" Robertson, both of whom have had careers in bringing rock bands to prominence, with Robertson having signed acts like Paramore and Shinedown to major labels, while Easterlin had done talent development with bands like Blur, Smashing Pumpkins, and Nickelback.[14] This opportunity meant that the band would have industry veterans promoting them, while also ensuring that they would not be lost in the shuffle of a bigger label. They agreed immediately to the signing.[15]

2024–present: Rise to the mainstream and Friends That I Don't Like

In late 2024, Dexter and the Moonrocks began seeing major success. That December, their song "Sad in Carolina" topped the Billboard Alternative Airplay charts, their first time on any Billboard chart.[16] The next year, the band released the single "Ritalin", which also hit the top 10 on the same radio chart.[17] Outside of alternative rock radio, though, these songs didn't get traction elsewhere.

The band's commercial breakthrough was "Freakin' Out", which became not only their first Billboard Hot 100 entry, but also their first top 40 hit.[18] This rise has been attributed by Severence Records president Steve Robertson to the band's use of social media to promote themselves, saying of the band's drummer Ryan Fox "he understands internet culture better than anyone, as evidenced by the worldwide explosion of 'Freakin' Out'".[19]

As "Freakin' Out" started getting traction in the US, it also started gaining success in the rest of the Anglosphere, hitting the top 40 in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as scraping onto the charts in the UK. Capitalizing off of this movement, the band was invited to play at Strummingbird Festival 2026, representing not only the first time they had scheduled a show in Australia, but also the first time they played any show outside of North America.[20]

On May 27, 2026, the band released their follow up to "Freakin' Out", "12 Steps", featuring the band Treaty Oak Revival.[21]

In July, Ryan Fox stated on the Whiskey Riff podcast that the band was working on their debut album, saying that the goal was having it released before the end of the year.[22] That same month, they also dropped a new single, “If You Could Talk”.[23] It was also announced that month the band would be playing at Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh later that year.[24]

In August of 2026, Dexter and the Moonrocks formally announced their debut album, Friends that I Don't Like, with a release date of October 2nd. The announcement came with another advanced single, "It's A Lot". On Thursday the 20th that same month, the band made their debut on late night TV, playing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[25]

Styles and influences

The band has consistently described their style as "western space grunge". Stated influences include Foo Fighters, Deftones, Blink-182, Nirvana, Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Charles Wesley Godwin and the Turnpike Troubadours.[26] The band has also done covers of songs by Black Sabbath,[27] Green Day,[28] Queens of the Stone Age,[29] and Surf Curse,[30] either in the studio or in their live shows.

Attempted Cheez-Its Sponsorship

In their live shows, the band has made a ritual of throwing Cheez-its at their audience due to it being their favorite snack. They did this for their first couple of years in the hopes of getting a sponsorship from the snack company,[31] until Cheez-its asked them to stop, prompting them to instead start getting their audiences to chant "fuck Cheez-its".[32][33]

Discography

Albums

  • Friends That I Don't Like (2026)

EPs

  • Dexter and the Moonrocks (2021)
  • Western Space Grunge (2024)
  • Happy to Be Here (2025)
  • Donkey Flats (2025)

Singles

List of singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[34]		 US
Alt.
[35]		 US
Rock
[36]		 AUS
[37]		 CAN
[38]		 CAN
Rock
[39]		 IRE
[40]		 NZ
Hot
[41]		 UK
[42]		 WW
[43]
"Sad in Carolina" 2024 — 1 —[A] — — 10 — — — — Western Space Grunge
"Ritalin" 2025 — 4 —[B] — — 29 — — — — Happy to Be Here
"Freakin' Out" 2026 33 1 7 30 35 12 84 27 76 86 Friends That I Don't Like
"12 Steps"
(featuring Treaty Oak Revival)		 —[C] — 25 — — — — — — —
"If You Could Talk" — — — — — — — — — —
"It's a Lot" — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

Year Title Director
2023 "Space Invader" Trent Starks
2024 "For Once" Michael Herrick
"Messed Up Kid"
2025 "Say I..."
"Happy to Be Here"
2026 "Flavorless" Ilona Donovan
"Freakin' Out"
"If You Could Talk" Ilona Donovan, Ryan Fox and Derek Hockemeyer
"It's a Lot" Ryan Fox

Notes

  1. ↑ "Sad in Carolina" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number nine on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[44]
  2. ↑ "Ritalin" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 25 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[45]
  3. ↑ "12 Steps" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[47]

References

  1. ↑ Storrs, Mikaila (December 3, 2024). "Dexter & the Moonrocks announce tour to start this February". // MELODIC Magazine » Melodic Magazine keeps you up to date on your favorite musicians with interviews, tour dates, live photos, and live show reviews.
  2. ↑ "News: Dexter and the Moonrocks to Release New EP". April 22, 2025.
  3. ↑ "The New Y'allternative Sound is Straight Out of Abilene". May 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks rides wave of momentum into the Radio Room: Upstate Beat". February 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks Live at the HiFi Annex". October 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ "The New Y'allternative Sound is Straight Out of Abilene". May 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Grunge comes back to Portland – from Texas". December 25, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks bring their rare Western grunge music to the Knit". July 25, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Exclusive interview with Dexter and the Moonrocks". April 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ ""Hick-A** Band": Did You Know Dexter & The Moonrocks Used To Have A Different Name?". July 14, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks Live at the HiFi Annex". October 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Meet Dexter And The Moonrocks: The Viral 'Western Space Grunge' Band Coming For Australia". May 12, 2026.
  13. ↑ "The New Y'allternative Sound is Straight Out of Abilene". May 16, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Big Loud Launches Severance Records & Signs Flagship Act". January 16, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Signing Story with Dexter and the Moonrocks". August 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks' Debut Hit 'Sad in Carolina' Tops Alternative Airplay Chart". December 3, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Dexter and The Moonrocks Drop "Happy To Be Here" EP". May 7, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Save the Eye Roll, Rock Is Really Back — And All Over the Charts". May 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ "How Rising Rock Bands Edgehill & Dexter and the Moonrocks Landed Their Biggest Chart Hits to Date". April 17, 2026. Archived from the original on April 18, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ↑ "Meet Dexter And The Moonrocks: The Viral 'Western Space Grunge' Band Coming For Australia". May 12, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Listen to new Dexter and the Moonrocks song, '12 Steps'". May 27, 2026.
  22. ↑ ""Hick-A** Band": Did You Know Dexter & The Moonrocks Used To Have A Different Name?". July 14, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Dexter And The Moonrocks Shares "If You Could Talk" Music Video". July 15, 2026.
  24. ↑ Breihan, Tom. "Hopscotch Fest Announces 2026 Lineup". Stereogum. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  25. ↑ Ragusa, Paolo. "Dexter and the Moonrocks Announce New Album Friends That I Don't Like, Reveal "It's A Lot": Stream". Consequence of Sound.
  26. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks bring their rare Western grunge music to the Knit". July 25, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks release cover of Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid'". July 2, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Concert review: Dexter and the Moonrocks' final stop on tour did not disappoint". July 30, 2024.
  29. ↑ "The New Y'allternative Sound is Straight Out of Abilene". May 16, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Dexter & The Moonrocks bring western space grunge from Texas to LA". February 10, 2026.
  31. ↑ "The New Y'allternative Sound is Straight Out of Abilene". May 16, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks Bring Joy to Carolina". February 28, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Dexter and the Moonrocks killer show at the Egyptian Room". November 8, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of May 2, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  35. ↑ Peaks on the Alternative Airplay chart:
  36. ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of May 2, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  37. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 18, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: Week of May 23, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  39. ↑ Peaks on the Canada rock charts:
  40. ↑ "irishcharts.com - Discography Dexter and the Moonrocks". irishcharts.com. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Dexter & the Moonrock songs and albums | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Billboard Global 200: Week of May 23, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Rock & Alternative Airplay: Week of December 21, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Rock & Alternative Airplay: Week of May 24, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  46. ↑ "American certifications – Dexter and the Moonrocks". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of June 13, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
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