This pic should look familiar, because I posted the first version in 2018. But now the group has a new member who  Jerberjer was kind enough to add to the image. Read about Gabriel and his bandmates below!

One of my passions is rock music, especially outsider genres such as noise rock, psychedelic rock and garage rock, so I've added some new characters to the Crimestrikers universe who play that kind of disreputable trash. The band's name is Toes Never Lie, and they're one of the Creaturian equivalents to artsy, experimental real world groups like Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Pere Ubu, Flipper, and The Pop Group, along with Riot Grrrl performers like Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney and Team Dresch. They may be cute anthros and perfectly nice people, but their music is often harsh and abrasive, sometimes even frightening. They'll never be stars, but they've earned an enthusiastic following among fans of underground music, Their performances are a combination of crazed intensity and snarky, often self-deprecating humor.

The band members, left to right:

* Gabriel Novak-Tasifa. Somali goat. Various instruments and occasional vocals. A snarky, nerdy multi-instrumentalist who guested on TNL's first five albums, then became a permanent member. He started dating Dayton (ha!) and now they're in a relationship. He's played everything from sax and violins (ha again!) to harmonica to, yes, bagpipes.
* Dayton Kitamura. Ussuri brown bear. Vocals and guitar. Handsome, witty, confident in his bandmates' talents as well as his own. Dabbles in visual art. His subtle, methodical playing style contrasts with Vesra's wild, instinctive approach. Secretly dreams of being a cabaret singer.
* Lorinda Rosenfeld. Mouse. Electronics, samples, keyboards, occasional vocals. A lovably eccentric "mad scientist of sound" who specializes in mutating and manipulating noises. As unpredictable as she is kindhearted. As sweet and innocent as any member of a noise rock/riot grrrl band can be.
* Vesra Dorantes. Jaguarundi/domestic cat crossbreed. Vocals and guitar. Formed TNL because she and Lorinda fell in love and wanted to make music together. This contributed to the breakup of her previous group, which she feels a little guilty about (though they were on their way out anyway). She's usually the face of the band, although she gives everyone in TNL a chance to shine and have a say in group decisions. Master of the DreamWorks Face.
* Zira McFarren. Golden Irish dog (half golden retriever/half Irish setter). Vocals and bass. Immigrated to Bonita Harbor from Calebernia. Grateful that TNL has helped her escape poverty and depression. Keeps a journal of band activities. Plays left-handed. Has convinced her bandmates to play many benefits.
* Stuart Rydecker. Smooth green snake. Drums and percussion. The most "normal" and grounded TNL member. A friendly goofball offstage, although like the other Toes, he goes a little crazy while performing. Unlike the others, he doesn't pursue grandiose artistic visions; he just wants to be the best drummer -- and the best friend -- he possibly can. During the hiatus, he helped keep the lines of communication open between the band members because he was the one everybody got along with.

The origin of the name? Vesra says, "It supposedly comes from the porn world. It means that when you see a performer during a sex scene and her toes are spreading or curling or whatever, it proves she's really enjoying the sex, not just faking it for the cameras."

Art by  jerberjer, who has done his usual magnificent job. You can fave his version of the original 2018 pic here.

P.S. This "photo" is from the same "session" as the cover of TNL's sixth album, Feet, Sand and a Broken Record.

P.P.S. Toes Never Lie are friends with my other Creaturian bands, The Wild Guesses and Six String Vendetta.