by Rachel Adler (@hatchcomic)
“I’m awake everyday. I’m awake in the daytime till the sun falls to the sea, I’m awake in the nighttime cause my brain won’t let me be” are the opening lines to Surfbort’s latest EP Billy, a stressed but bouncy collection of words needed for everyone at this moment. This EP is exciting and driving and with every word you can think of being at a DIY show covered in cheap beer with your best friends.
Spanning four tracks, Surfbort delivers on their stripped yet robust-rock sound for a jumpy EP dedicated to anxiety, romance and of course, pointed animosity towards one #45 president. Opening with “Awake,” front person Dani Miller sings of insomnia and thinking of loving times past, repeating the chorus as it draws more urgent and transforming into the second track, “Flower of Hate”. Written with a more spiteful tone, Miller sings about challenging others and begging for a fight from anyone that opposes, while guitarists Alex Kilgore and David R. Head Jr. deliver a grungier and overall angrier tone compared to other tracks on this release. Rebellious and more of a party song than the others, it’ll make you sing along with a matching confidence and an intense tone just a minute in.
The title track “Billy” clocks in at 2:04, the longest one among the others, and personally this was the favorite. This song in particular evokes so much fun and almost innocent romance that might only be found with young punks in love for the first time. “Hey there Billy won’t you come?” is repeated in an almost cheerful, enthusiastic way as guitars descend and the song comes to a close, opening up to the final track of “Forty Five”. Describing various obscenities said by the president, it transforms within the phrase to a defensive threat. “We’re so sick of you forty five” is repeated and only gets more guttural as it goes throughout the chorus. Drummer Sean Powell’s hits matching every time Miller completes the phrase only helps to accentuate its ferocity, and general “over it” attitude. Its extremely specific lyrics about twitter and fast food only aid in the various point of annoyance, eventually growing into a chant that anyone could join along in.
All in all, this is the kind of short but potent EP that will either make you jump in excitement, angry at the government, or potentially both. Hopefully both.