Bad Bad Hats, Emmett Mulrooney
High Noon Saloon 701A E. Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Zoe Prinds-Flash
Bad Bad Hats
$14.
media release: Minneapolis’ beloved indie rock trio Bad Bad Hats shared a new single, “Walkman,” via Under The Radar. Recently signed to Don Giovanni Records, the band will release their upcoming album Walkman on September 17. Full of memorable melodies, sweet harmonies, and a simple yet fun beat, the band pays a nostalgic tribute to their love of rock music on the title-track. Despite it’s lyrical praise for “heavy metal, rock and roll”, the mid-tempo tune owes as much to pop and country traditions as it does the rock canon. While breathing exuberant joy and her singular sense of humor into every syllable, songwriter Kerry Alexander (guitar/vocals) brings personal storytelling and wit into multi-layered lyrics, while wailing on bouncing guitar lines and infectious riffs with bandmates Chris Hoge (bass) and Con Davison (drums).
Kerry shares, “I love music's special power to transport us to certain places and times in our lives. 'Walkman' is inspired by that. It's about having a feeling so strong for someone that whenever you're falling in love, it brings you back to being with that person. This song was just a voice memo when we went into the studio and the direction it took was a pleasant surprise. It ended up being one of our favorite songs on the album.”
Defined by a balance of sweet and sour, the trio’s music honors classic pop songwriting, with nods to nineties rock simplicity and pop-punk frivolity. Searing power-pop lead single “Detroit Basketball” created critical anticipation across BrooklynVegan, The Current, Minneapolis Star Tribune, FLOOD Magazine, Stereogum, Fluxblog, We All Want Someone To Shout For, and more. Walkman is the group’s fourth time working with producer Brett Bullion, including their previous two LPs, Psychic Reader and Lightning Round, and the Wide Right EP. Bullion and the band use the studio as an instrument, resulting in their most polished work to date.
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Chris Lotten