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Radio Free Alice puts their own spin on the classic “gotta get out of my hometown” rock trope with new single “Lunch Money,” an ode to the ex who left them behind. 

The band takes aim at a lover who moved out of a shared hometown, while lead singer Noah Learmonth admits, “I’m still working in the outdoor stockroom back at home.”

Radio Free Alice artfully turns a well-known story on its head as the would-be rockstar is the one being left behind, backing the lyrics up with rock production that calls to mind garage bands of the early 00s. 

While the song’s narrator points out that there are plenty of reasons someone might skip town (“Was it the work or the money?”), he eventually blames those “cynical boys at the back of the bus” who “always took your lunch money.”

The driving bass line and drumbeat work in tandem with a Killers-esque guitar riff as Learmonth confesses the real reason for his frustration — “I had a dream of your arms around me // but now I come alone.”

“Lunch Money” marks Radio Free Alice’s first release of 2026, as well as their first release with Atlantic Records, and will be part of their upcoming debut album, which the group told Rolling Stone Australia “is extremely exciting for us.”

The band has also been earning new fans on tour, whether it was their opener spot on fellow rock band Geese’s Australian leg, or their upcoming slots at Gov Ball, Reading Festival, and many more festivals. 

“Lunch Money” is a strong first single, showcasing Radio Free Alice’s talent for crafting catchy melodies, as well as confessional lyrics that draw the listener in. We can’t wait to hear what the rest of the album has in store! 

Listen to "Lunch Money" below: