SPILL NEW MUSIC: LOS ANGELES COASTAL COLLECTIVE SCROUNGY DOGS DEBUTS WITH “MIDNIGHT BLUE” | SOCAL GROUP SCROUNGY DOGS INTRODUCES A CREATIVE PROJECT ROOTED IN SURF CULTURE, REGGAE GROOVES, FOLK-PUNK GRIT BORN FROM LATE-NIGHT CALIFORNIA SONGWRITING SESSIONS

LOS ANGELES COASTAL COLLECTIVE SCROUNGY DOGS DEBUTS WITH “MIDNIGHT BLUE”

SOCAL GROUP SCROUNGY DOGS INTRODUCES A CREATIVE PROJECT ROOTED IN SURF CULTURE, REGGAE GROOVES, FOLK-PUNK GRIT BORN FROM LATE-NIGHT CALIFORNIA SONGWRITING SESSIONS

Scroungy Dogs, a new Los Angeles-area coastal music collective blending alternative reggae, reggae-rock, surf folk and folk-punk energy, has officially arrived with the release of its debut single, “Midnight Blue.”

Rather than operating as a traditional band with fixed roles, press photos and a predictable rollout, Scroungy Dogs is taking a looser, more mysterious path. Led creatively by seasoned bassist and songwriter Ted Wenri, known for his work with Bemus, Ag Session, and Centershift, along with LA area singer-songwriter Matt Clark. The project features a rotating collective of musicians and friends, including Rob Basile of OneSideZero, with producer Jose Alcantar, known for his work with The All-American Rejects and Linkin Park, helping shape multiple new singles planned for summer and fall release.

The idea behind Scroungy Dogs is simple: if someone brings something cool to the table and it works, it may find its way into a song. In that sense, the group functions more like a creative collective than a conventional band, with an open-door spirit that allows the music to grow naturally through collaboration, instinct and chemistry.

Scroungy Dogs came together through the kind of loose, coastal creativity that defines Southern California’s surf towns, from post-session hangs and bonfire nights to casual backyard jams between friends. Started by two local surfers from the Ventura and Santa Barbara scene, the project pulls from reggae, surf folk and gritty folk-punk, creating a sound that feels relaxed on the surface but rough enough around the edges to keep it honest. With raw acoustic melodies, easygoing rhythms and a little DIY chaos, Scroungy Dogs captures the feeling of beach days, late nights and songs written without overthinking the moment.

“We’re kind of like Steely Dan in the sense that we don’t have that traditional band in the typical sense of the word,” bassist Ted Wenri says. “We’re more of a collective of like-minded musicians that meet up, drink tons of whiskey and write great songs.”

The debut single “Midnight Blue” introduces that world with a laid-back California feel and a thoughtful message. The song is a reminder to look up. In a world where glowing screens constantly demand attention, “Midnight Blue” reflects on how easily people miss the simple beauty happening around them: the colors of a sunset, the sound of the ocean, the stars above and the people beside them.

For Wenri, Scroungy Dogs marks another creative chapter in a life that has never followed one straight line. A bassist, songwriter, entrepreneur, aircraft mechanic and U.S. Air Force Veteran, Wenri brings a grounded, no-frills perspective to the project. While Scroungy Dogs is new, the musicians behind it are not, with the collective built by longtime players more focused on songs, atmosphere and honest collaboration than image.

With its relaxed groove, coastal atmosphere and reflective message, “Midnight Blue” encourages listeners to put the phone down, be present and reconnect with the world that has been waiting all along.

“Midnight Blue” is available now on streaming platforms.

Midnight Blue
[Single]
(Scroungy Records)
Release Date: June 15, 2026

Artist Link