Long running Canadian hardcore band, Fucked Up, have announced a brand new album, One Day, and shared the passionate title track.
The album is so named because it is literal—the album was written and each band member contributed their parts in twenty four hour time periods. The idea to approach the album this way came to guitarist Mike Haliechuk towards the end of 2019, who said it helped him “reconnect with the core of his and the band’s songwriting essence in the process.” He explained “I wanted to see what I could record in one day. After you’ve been in a band for this long, you lose track of what your sound actually is,” continuing, “Twenty-four hours can feel like a long time, but you can get a lot done then, too. It can feel like forever and one minute at the same time. If you work on something for one day, it can end up being really special.”
Each band member completed their parts remotely, adhering to the twenty four hour rule in place for their contributions. Drummer Jonah Falco saying “I got this email from Mike saying ‘I made this record in one day, and I want you to record drums on it—but you can’t listen to it before you get into the studio’. I saw layers upon layers of guitar loops, and I dove in head-first and came out with a finished record.”
Vocalist Damian Abraham was set to complete his vocal parts when the Covid lockdowns hit and the album was subsequently shelved for two years to allow the band to complete their epic Year of the Horse project. But the delay and the isolation of lockdown did have creative benefits and Abraham returned to writing lyrics for the first time since 2014’s Glass Boys. On the lyrical themes he elaborated “What do I want to say to friends who aren’t here anymore? What do I want to say to myself? There was a lot of inner reflection going on, and after retreating into the fantasy world withYear of the Horse, this record is like we’re returning to real life,” also saying that at the time “It almost felt like it might be the last time I’d ever get to record vocals for anything.”
“This record is about how we see time passing in our lives,” Falco continued “It represents the realization of what Fucked Up’s songwriting process has always been, which is the genesis of an idea from one person spread to other members. All of the development happened spontaneously with this album, which meant no time to second-guess. You had to be confident.”
One Day cover art
The song is paired with a new music video directed by Colin Medley who said “When I first heard ‘One Day,’ it sounded to me like a song about two people overcoming all odds to find love and happiness with each other. Right away I knew that I wanted to tell the story through two dancers. I decided to shoot at the Great Hall in Toronto the day Fucked Up were scheduled to play a show there. I plotted out the basic structure of the video, deciding that it would end with the two characters searching for each other in the crowd as Fucked Up performed on stage.” The dance performances were choreographed by Lauren Runions and feature dancers Amanda Pye and Tavia Christina.
Watch the video below and stream the track on all major streamers. One Day is available for pre-order now and releases in full on January 27, 2023 via Merge.
Fresh on the heels of the release of their recent single “Alien” (read our thoughts), and tearing back through our tympanic membranes like a siren, TVOD has landed back to earth and crashed its ship on the rocky shores of Brooklyn with a brand new single “Mantis.” “It’s the year of the mantis and everybody’s gone crazy!” This crunchy synth pop freak out party track has a bit of a classic retro sci-fi vibe that would feel quite at home on The Lillingtons’Death by Television.
The creature collective, that bills themselves as “more of a cult less of a band,” who are “hell bent on bathing in the blood of punk rock infamy” is led by monster front man, Tyler Wright,and features an all star cast of Brooklyn musicians from a myriad of other projects—Mem Pahl (Jeffrey Lewis), Lizzy Black (Fruit and Flowers), Jenna Mark (Tilden), Serge Zibrizer (Daddies) and Jason Wornoff (Vacant Company)—and as a group, they put on some of the most energetic and entertaining shows you’re going to find in New York or anywhere, really. Capturing some of that wild energy, the band hit the studio and are now in the midst of sharing a series of brand new singles, “Mantis” being the second release and we have your exclusive first listen to this dynamic new track!
Slightly spooky and just in time for Halloween, “Mantis,” is loaded with dark ear-worm hooks reminiscent of Hüsker Dü, Q and Not U and the secret Green Day side project, The Network. Complete with sinister screams, groovy synths and a driving lead guitar line, the sing-along chorus will bore directly to the back of your brain and plug straight into your nervous system: “I’m in love with your body. I’m in love with the way you make me feel.”
Said vocalist Tyler Wright on the track: “For a solid month, I was seeing praying mantises everywhere. It was the weirdest thing and since then, I have yet to see another one. I used them as the mascot for what felt like the end of times in NYC during the pandemic. Riding the subway home on March 14th 2020, when I lost my job, it felt like the entire world was about to explode, [and that] inspired a lot of the lyrics and tones in this song.”
Whether or not 2022 is the year of the mantis, only time will tell. One thing though is for certain, Wright and crew are going to lure you in and then bite your head off. Listen to the song and watch the video directed by John Clouse below.
“Mantis” hits all major streaming platforms on 10/26.
Hello and welcome to FTA’s list of what we are excited for this Bandcamp Friday, aka every music nerds favorite day! A bunch of us weighed in on what we’ve been into lately and we’ve got plenty of goodies old and new for you to dig into over a wide range of genres. But don’t take our word for it, dive into these tracks/albums and judge for yourself. Feel free to let us know what you think and tell us your suggestions.
IZAGUF– Not So Sweet and Still Low. A very interesting collection of slowed down and sludged out Fugazi covers which is described as “Nine Fugazi tracks performed at exactly half-pace and dragged through a thick, moldy swamp via producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Aaron D.C. Edge of Hellvetika. This comes complete with instrumental “musac for metalheads” versions,” and anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that this ticks a lot of boxes for me—interesting covers that make the song their own, some of my favorite Fugazi songs, and the inclusion of the instrumental versions to really put the cherry on top. It even got an endorsement from Guy Picciotto who said “Hey Aaron – just wanted to send props for these Izaguf covers. They’re fucking crushing! thx for engaging with the songs.”
Lung– Let It Be Gone. The latest from this bombastic cello and drums due from Cincinnati who also happen to be one of the hardest working DIY bands going and one of my all time favorites. They keep getting better and better with every release and this one is no different. And in fact this newest collection of songs showcases a new refined poise and a slightly more subdued sound from their previous highly intense offerings, though the songs are no less emotional and cathartic despite the dialed back approach; it’s a direction I’m very happy to hear and embrace. They are currently on tour with Mac Sabbath and will make their first stop in NYC since before the pandemic on 10/21 at Brooklyn Bowl.
Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All– Act fast on this one because it’s only available for one day. Per the Bandcamp page, this “is a compilation made up entirely of previously unreleased recordings from some of the most important names in music today. The album features never-before-heard new songs, covers, remixes, live versions, and unreleased demos from incredible artists across many genres. The collection is available exclusively for 24 hours only via Bandcamp TODAY Friday, October 7”
For $19.73 minimum donation you get 49 songs from prominent artists like Bully, Death Cab, Fleet Foxes, King Gizzard, Maya Hawke, Sunflower Bean and many more. There’s also limited edition shirts for pre-order that were designed by Kim Gordon. Proceeds go to benefit Brigid Alliance, Abortion Care Network and Noise For Now. Brigid Alliance is a referral-based service that provides travel, food, lodging, child care and other logistical support for people seeking abortions. Noise For Now is a national initiative that enables artists and entertainers to connect with and financially support grassroots organizations that work in the field of Reproductive Justice, including abortion access and is working with Abortion Care Network to support independent abortion clinics.
Panic Shack– Baby Shack. Up until my recent trip to the UK, I’d only heard one song by this band and didn’t know much else about them, but if the line to get in to see them was any indication, they are pretty popular. I was waiting for Los Bitchos to play at a venue down the street when I found myself with a little extra time and thus stuffed against the back wall of a very crowded Rough Trade in Bristol watching this Cardiff based band, loving what I was hearing. While I wasn’t able to to stay for their whole set, I have enjoyed listening to the EP they released this past April, Baby Shack, several times since the night of that show. Snarky and zippy grunge punk tunes that are right in my musical wheelhouse, I definitely will be keeping my eyes on this band and watching for when they (hopefully) come to the States.
Petrol Girls– Baby. One of the most crucial political bands currently going, their latest album, Baby, is unflinchingly feminist and sharply critical of the interlocking systems of oppression that seek to crush all who are not rich, white, cis, straight and male. And it’s also their most ambitious offering yet musically, an incredibly nuanced and complex record with clever compositions and arrangements, far from the usual “crash and bash” sound the words “political hardcore band” tends to bring to mind with rich layers to uncover as you listen again and again. I just saw the band play in Cardiff and asked them when they think they’ll make it to the States (a 2020 tour was scrapped due to visa issues right as Covid loomed on the horizon) and they said that while no plans are concrete yet, they are hoping to come over in the latter half of 2023. Fingers crossed that this comes to pass because you know I’ll be there front and center.
Chantal- Contributing Writer
Kam Claudel– Romantic Atrocities. Cassette and zine that tells the story, in poignant, poetic singer-songwriter style, of two boys on a road trip in 1997. B-side is a tribute to a beloved 70’s manga. If you know, you know.
Karl Hohn– dirby dreams. A fun EP of surf-rocky tunes that act as a concept for a videogame soundtrack. Come for the guitar work, stay for the groovy Casiotone MT-45.
Nick Vivid– No More Secrets. Funky danceable tunes that will please fans of Midnite Vultures and Skeletal Lamping. I caught him live a few months ago and I definitely recommend that!
Oddysseys– Softcore. Another band I first heard live, Oddysseys (note the spelling) have a dark punk sound and a DIY spirit (and zines at the merch table <3).
amelia cry til I die– high on my own supply. Amelia Swain (drums in Sadurn and bass in Ther) has an amazing solo project I didn’t know about until last week. Her songs are genuine, angsty, and healing as a warm bowl of soup. They’re actually so good I made a fun day trip out of going to see her play in Philly last week. I highly recommend this album to anyone who’s ever felt different or misunderstood.
MOP– Bloodlust. This new album by MOP is another shoegaze banger by Oakland duo Moira Brown
and Samuelito Cruz. I found this band by looking through the bands covered by TAGABOW’s label, Smoking Room. It looks like MOP doesn’t tour or have any social media accounts so they’re truly a diamond in the rough in my opinion. Both this album and their prior EP are amazing. Check ’em out!
Mx Lonely– Cadonia. As FTA’s resident shoegaze lover, I wanted to share one of my favorite new albums by Mx Lonely, a cerebral shoegaze band from BK. My favorite track is “Paper Cranes” with the opening track being a close second. The album is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever battled with addiction or just loves hard-hitting slow rock.
Thus Love– Memorial. I’ve been waiting a while for this EP to come out, so I’ll be listening along with anyone who picks up this record. Thus Love’s music is a great listen for anyone who loves Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division, or any melancholic post-punk really.
Kate Bell- Contributing Writer
Bacchae– Left of the Dial Live. I recently caught Bacchae opening up for The Linda Lindas at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and they blew me away. Frantic fun from Washington DC!
Elk City– Above the Water. WFMU has been giving a lot of love to this great group from Montclair, New Jersey, and as always, I’m grateful to the best radio station in the world for introducing me to yet another fantastic-sounding band. This doesn’t officially release until 10/22, but you can pre-order now, and they are playing live to celebrate their release on 10/27 at Mama Tried and on 10/30 in Montclair at a house/yard party. I hope to catch one or both of those shows; haven’t seen them live yet.
Johanna Warren– Lessons of Mutants. One of my absolute favorite artists that I discovered during the pandemic, this is Johanna Warren’s first full-length release since 2020’s Chaotic Good, and I could not be more excited. Musical magic from Wales, this album is released on Friday 10/7 aka today!
Leopardo– Malcantone. These lovely folx were on a bill with my band at Our Wicked Lady in September, and they got me dancing. They were on tour all the way from Switzerland.
Mike Borchardt- Contributing Writer
Brook Pridemore– Glad to Be Alive. I’ve already said enough about this beautiful record (read my review here). The hand-painted lyric test pressings are all sold out, but the record itself is available for purchase and highly recommended.
Haybaby– Their Entire Catalog. One of the best is calling it quits after a decade of making some killer music. If you can’t make the band’s final show Oct 21 at Purgatory, then definitely make sure you snag some Haybaby swag on their Bandcamp cuz it’s going fast and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
A Very Special Episode– Remix Your Hearts or Die. I had the pleasure of doing a remix of one of the band’s songs off their 2021 full length release Fix Your Hearts or Die. Artists like Ilithios, Atlas Engine, Colatura, and Jon Daily contributed beautiful reimaginings of an already kickass record. The Cigarettes For Breakfast remix alone is worth scooting over to their Bandcamp and purchasing a copy.
Ray Rusinak- Contributing Photographer
Closure-Innocence.This is almost a perfect storm kind of Bandcamp Friday kind of release because to the best of my knowledge bandcamp is the ONLY way to hear or procure this. Making this as short and simple as possible, Closure is a post punk quintet out of Indonesia that harkens back to the days of early The Cure, The Chameleons (UK) and especially Sisters of Mercy, this album will immediately make you want to load up on that black eyeliner.
Drew Beskin & The Sunshine-Somewhere Sideways Same As You. Beskin just might be the most talented and prolific songwriter absolutely no one (outside of Athens, GA) knows of. He’s been churning out masterful albums for over 10 years now with bands like The District Attorneys, Party Dolls, Purses, as well as under his own name. Somewhere Same As You follows in his tried and true formula of intelligent lyrics backed by soulful pop with a southern sensibility.
Nick Cory Young- Crow Got Drunk. If you, like me, are a fan of mid 90’s alternative rock that wore its allegiance to Neil Young right on its sleeve for all to see and more importantly hear, then Crow Got Drunk is the album for you. I’m talking about bands like The Lemonheads, Soul Asylum, early Wilco and The Old 97s to name just a few. You’ll hear traces of all of these and then some throughout Crow Got Drunk.
Remember Sports-Leap Day EP. Remember Sports is yet another Philly indie band that has captured my attention over the past couple of years. With a vocal style which reminds me of Katie Crutchfeld of Waxahatchee, vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter, Carmen Perry sounds as good as ever on this one. Interestingly, while listening to Leap Day, I did think to myself that this one definitely had a little bit more of a synthy/dance kind of feel to it compared to past efforts. Then I saw that the band recorded this EP without a human drummer and I can’t help but feel that the drum machines and the rhythms produced had a direct cause and effect on this sound…one which I quite liked, I might add.
Timeshares-Limb. Timeshares have been making the rounds on the pop punk touring circuite (especially here in the Northeast (they currently call Philadelphia home but are originally from Long Island) and have really hit their stride with Limb, their fourth full length. Playing a version of pop punk which incorporates both the punk rawness (and sometimes sloppiness) of The Replacements mixed with the alt-country sensibilities of a band like Slobberbone, Limb just might be their most accomplished album thus far.
Recently, an absolutely insane and incredible lineup of bands hit the rooftop of Our Wicked Lady, eight bands in all, ranging from noise to synth punk to hardcore. It was one for the books and featured some of NYC’s best current DIY bands.
The show was organized by MG Stillwaggon, lead singer of Spite FuXXX, and was a benefit for Gaza Mutual Aid Collective and Palestinian Youth Movement, both organizations doing vital work for Palestine in the face of the despicable US sanctioned cruelty Palestinians face on a daily basis. Despite the chilly and rainy day, a sizable crowd came out to support and made the entire day a back and forth from artist to performers with band members jumping into the crowd often and audience members grabbing instruments and mics to join in just as often. $1300 was raised at the door with additional donations being made via merch sales and by those who wished to donate via Venmo directly to the organizations.
The lineup was stacked from start to finish and not one set left me disappointed. In order of the day, the show featured: intense noise punk from Ken Mujo, cathartic as fuck transcore punk from The Dilators, bass and drums horror punk from Winter Wolf, trashy synth punk from Spite FuXXX, and a range of sharply political hardcore from the final four acts— La Milagrosa, Kartel, Dog Breath, and All Torn Up! who was playing one of their first NYC shows since the start of the pandemic. If you were going to make a list of some of my favorite current NYC bands, each and every one of these bands would be on it. (La Milagrosa and Dog Breath are newer to me so I’m still exploring their recorded output but both put on amazing, hard hitting sets.)
All Torn Up!
After the show, Spite FuXXX said on Instagram “Thank you everyone for making this happen!!! The energy (and crowd participation!) at this show was full of what truly punk is and has always been about—we all know the system don’t got our backs, but WE have each other’s backs ❤️❤️❤️ every band brought the fire and the audience gave it right back, everyone respected and looked out for and boosted each other.🔥 THIS🔥IS 🔥 WHY 🔥 WE 🔥 DO 🔥 THIS! 🔥”
I took a plethora of pics at the show, it was so high energy and the vibes so good as the community came together, it was hard to hold back. I’ll let the pics speak for themselves and recommend you check out all of these bands, all of whom are doing vital work in the community here in NYC and well beyond. And if you have the means, please consider donating to one of these organizations to help aide in the fight against the oppression of Palestine.
Scroll down for pics of the show (photos by Kate Hoos)
Cue drumroll! Snapping right out of the gate with the big pianos hooks, Sean Spada is pounding the keys with a shiny new record, The Wild Ride, out this week, and we here at Full Time Aesthetic have your exclusive first listen.
Bigger vocals, spacey synths, and his full backing band, the Doppelgängers, accompany Spada’s classic keys this time around, as he warbles his way through troubled times navigating a world filled with anxiety and peril. The Brooklyn piano man takes a deep dive into the darker corners of the mind exploring the psyche as he never quite has before. Maybe that’s why, sometimes subdued and loungy, sometimes big full band swing, throughout the The Wild Ride, Spada often teeters somewhere between Randy Newman and Huey Lewis.
Pop sensible beyond its lyrical wake, it’s apparent in the more structured places like “When You’re Crazy” and “Getting on the Highway.” Other times, the albums zags over into looser jam territories like on “Spacing Out” or the six and a half minute epic “Doppleganger Jungle” that really showcase the skill of the album’s players.
Not every track here is a “Radio Friendly Unit Shifter” nor does it need to be. Just like not every thought in our heads should be uttered aloud, Spada indeed takes us on a wild ride, navigating the spectrum of the human psyche, or one possible version therein. Sometimes things are clear cut and make sense, other times they don’t, and sometimes things get weird. It’s usually a little of both a whole lot of the other.
For students of the music and the mind, should they dare, the sheet music for the entire album will be available for purchase on both Spada’s Bandcamp and website. The record itself will be available for mass consumption across all streaming platforms this Friday Oct 7th. And Spada will be celebrating with a release show and performing it live with the full band of Doppelgängers along with Onesie and Pete Donnelly Combo next Tuesday Oct 11 at Pianos. Get tickets here and take a listen to the full album below:
Three years after announcing their reunion, esteemed American rock band My Chemical Romance finally went back out on tour and—for many of us—provided a much-needed space to collectively scream while donning our darkest eyeshadows. Here in the New York City area, the group played two nights at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on September 10th and 11th before playing their largest hometown shows yet on September 20th and 21st at Newark’s Prudential Center. Many convened from around the country to see the band on these dates, with some purchasing plane tickets and hotel rooms to see them in different cities along their tour route.
Although I didn’t make a road trip out of seeing the band, I did attend all four of their NYC-area shows, which marked my first time seeing them since 2005. I had even been lucky enough to see them play a 2,300 cap venue as a teenager in San Francisco opening for Story of the Year. Things have changed a lot since then and this time around, the band had a few more songs under their belts (and I no longer had a studded belt).
My Chemical Romance
When it came to their setlists, My Chemical Romance honored their past while leaving room for their future by including a wide variety of songs from their discography. They opened every show with their latest single, “The Foundations of Decay,” while also programming select visuals and sound effects from the song’s music video onto the venue’s screens about 15 minutes prior to the start time of their set to get the audience buzzing. Setlist staples included hits such as “Helena,” “I’m Not Okay,” “Teenagers,” and “Welcome to the Black Parade,” while tracks such as “Boy Division,” “Cemetery Drive,” and “S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W” also made an appearance a few times across the four shows. A few songs were also played for the first time in several years at their Newark and Brooklyn shows. “I Never Told You What I Do for a Living” and “Desert Song” were both played live for the first time since 2008 while “Demolition Lovers” was performed for the first time since 2004 on their first night at Prudential Center.
Visually, the stage featured a backdrop of crumbling infrastructure and debris, perhaps a nod to their most recent single. Most of the band members wore casual clothing while Gerard Way had on a few different costumes for different shows, including a bat costume and a glittery gold blazer with a bow tie, designed by Marina Toybina. No matter how they were dressed, the band’s energy radiated throughout the venue, getting people to rock from all parts of the arena.
In addition to the band’s intense preparation being obvious was the level of care the band had for the audience. Singer Gerard Way instructed members of the pit to take “three steps back” throughout the night to make more room for others on the floor. The band also stopped and then restarted “It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Fucking Deathwish” after a man was trying to start a fight with someone in the crowd. And while MCR didn’t make many remarks about their Newark concerts being their first hometown shows in over ten years, the setlist, costumes, and band lineups spoke for themselves.
My Chemical Romance
Joining My Chemical Romance onstage for both Brooklyn shows and their first night in Newark was New Jersey’s legendary post-hardcore band Thursday—singer Geoff Rickly is a longtime friend of the band who also produced their first record, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. Rickly played a substantial role in helping MCR get to where they are today so getting to witness the camaraderie between the two bands was particularly special. During their second Newark show, Gerard Way joined Thursday onstage for a spectacular performance of Thursday’s “Jet Black New Year” while Rickly later joined MCR onstage for “This Is The Best Day Ever,” which Rickly also sang on for Bullets. Thursday were also joined by Anthony Green for “Understanding In a Car Crash,” who had been touring with them on several of their headlining dates.
Thursday
On their second night in New Jersey, pop-punk outfit Midtown opened for MCR, marking the band’s first show since 2014 after briefly reuniting to play Asbury Park’s Skate and Surf festival. They played fan favorites such as “Become What You Hate,” “Like a Movie,” and “Just Rock and Roll,” without missing a beat, at one point instructing the entire pit to all kneel down and jump back up during one of their songs. They also covered The Killers’ “When You Were Young,” a logical and refreshing addition to a nostalgia-heavy set.
Other supporting acts on MCR’s tour included Badflower, The Lemon Twigs, and Homeless Gospel Choir, the latter of whom were joined by MCR rhythm guitarist Frank Iero for a song in Newark.
The memory of these incredible shows will carry on for years to come and it’s enthralling to exist in an era where My Chemical Romance are truly at their peak. I am hopeful that there’s much more to come from them in the months ahead and I can’t wait until I’m right back in the pit again, singing along with thousands of other people and rocking out with my favorite band of all time.
Scroll down for fan shot videos and pics from across the four shows (photos by Amanda Meth)
