MAN ON MAN (M.O.M.), the musical project started by boyfriends Joey Holman (HOLMAN) and Roddy Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen, CRICKETS, Nastie Band), is infused with indie-rock distortion and soaked in gay pop confidence while still maintaining an acerbic and pure sense of humor.

For MAN ON MAN, the duo of boyfriends Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman, 2021 was a monumental year. Without knowing exactly what they were making the year prior, the couple had recorded a batch of songs while traveling across the country to be with their ailing mothers during the pandemic, both of whom passed away in the span of just 6 months. The songs that came out during this time celebrated the love they have for each other while championing the queer scenes they surround themselves with. They are deeply intentional and their overall message is rooted in the Queer experience – songs about gay love, pride, acceptance, self-empowerment, and appropriation. The tracks would eventually appear on their self-titled debut album, which instantly garnered critical acclaim in outlets such as Paste, them, and Rolling Stone, who called it “a new type of queer anthem that celebrates body image and diversity, while also remaining ironic and subversive.”

On the band’s second album, Provincetown, Bottum and Holman sharpened their songwriting and production choices with an adrenalized agenda. Mixed by Steven James Aguilar (The Head and the Heart, Moby), the album is more focused and cohesive, showcasing themes of encouragement and support for the Queer community in ways that may be seen as provocative or unorthodox – it’s loud and abrasive rock music with a message. Standouts like “Showgirls” and “Take It From Me” reinforce the band’s inspiring sense of confidence and love for their community, while tracks like “Piggy” and “Hush (featuring J Mascis)” feature intense and biting distortion that elevates the album’s energy and strong throughline. If MAN ON MAN introduced the world to the gay anthems of two supportive lovers, Provincetown turns it up a notch – M.O.M. are taking risks, putting themselves out there and shouting for what they believe in.

Photos by AF Cortes