Skeleton Goode began as a quiet concept in the Vietnamese underground music world before fully crystallizing into a psych/surf/prog outfit based in Ho Chi Minh City. Guitarist and vocalist Jack Briggs, originally from the UK, spearheaded the project after moving to Vietnam, bringing with him a love for surf rock, psych textures, and adventurous songcraft.

In its earliest form, Skeleton Goode was a modest affair, part solo experiment, part jam project. Briggs fleshed out the band’s identity through recording trips and low-key performances around Southeast Asia. Over time, the lineup coalesced, bringing together expatriate and local musicians to give the project shape and direction. In 2025, the band expanded into a five-piece by bringing in Ben Litwicki on saxophone and Stephen Murphy on organ, additions that added harmonic weight and new textural possibilities.

Skeleton Goode’s music defies simple categorization. At face value, the surf‑rock influence is unmistakable in the tremolo guitar lines, sun-bleached reverb, and taut rhythm approach. But that foundation is layered with progressive rock complexity, unexpected turns, shifting dynamics, and compositional ambition. Ambient passages, industrial grit, and dark textures often punctuate the songs, transforming them from retro surf jams into cinematic journeys.

The band’s writing process is collaborative: Briggs might bring a skeletal melody, chord structure, or lyrical idea, and the rhythm section, sax, and keys reinterpret and expand on it. The result: songs that feel spontaneous yet carefully woven, where hooks sit side‑by‑side with musical risk.

In recent years, Skeleton Goode has been climbing stages across Vietnam and beyond. One of their standout moments came at HOZO Festival, where they played before a crowd of around 10,000, a watershed in exposure for the band. They’ve also had the unique opportunity to support mainstream acts: most notably, they opened for Jack White during his Supply Chain Issues Tour in Ho Chi Minh City, which gave them national visibility. They’ve also shared bills with stomping names like The Black Lips and The Lemonheads, bringing their sonic palettes to audiences steeped in rock tradition.

Skeleton Goode has frequently toured Southeast Asia and Japan post‑COVID, building a regional footprint and establishing a reputation as an act that thrives live. They have also played in Hanoi, notably headlining a Noise Hanoi event at Hanoi Rock City—a sign of their cross‑regional appeal.