by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Last Fall Chicago's Longface released their full-length debut Hillbilly Wit, an adventurous record that explores both experimental art-rock and early 90's "alternative" inclinations. It's a visionary album that captures the tale of Longface, a drifter like character on his path toward realization. They did a great deal of touring in support of the record, both as a full band and a massive solo tour from Longface mastermind Anthony Focareto (guitars/vocals) together with Bad History Month. Along the way they met video director Austin Morris who was anxious to make a video for the band. Several months passed and the idea had slipped from the band's memory, but Morris has created a stunning video for one of the record's many stand-outs, the hazy and lovelorn "Pace".
It's a tremendous video that captures the character driven spirit of Longface via a psychedelic journey on a bunny (or at least a bunny at heart). The feeling is somewhere between sinister and carefree, a space the band's music rests comfortably in, dragging its feet but embracing the sunshine all the same. The band commented, "It was really special that something this awesome came out of a chance meet" before adding, "It fits in completely with the other three videos that accompanied the roll out of the record, and manifests the song's themes of foreboding and repetition in its concept."
Check out the video and a word from the director below.
Austin Morris, the video's director shared:
"The video is about conformity as a sickness, and its end goal as complete submersion. To me it feels like you can’t have one foot in the river and one on land; you're either being pulled in or fighting your way out. Either way it seems like we are forced to live on some kind of fringe of keeping with the current, or keeping on the perimeter out of sight. The drums come in with such power, and their marching quality drives the song forward, but they seem unconcerned with the rest of the song. So the idea of this bunny with tunnel vision passing through its environment, with no other desire but the carrot, seemed to drive the video along like the drums. From there the song begins to decline into madness or an unhinged state of mind. I wanted to have the bunny march it’s way into its own demise, because of the obsession with the carrot, and it’s own lack of awareness."