by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Under the hot simmering sun comes the return of Oakland’s best homespun alt-country fuzz rockers, Half Stack. Set to release their sophomore full length on September 25th via Forged Artifacts (Double Grave, Total Revenge, Dweller) the band are keeping the vibes dusty throughout Wings of Love, but it’s the laid back vibes and easy melodies that help transport everything away from our reality as the world continues to burn. The band shared the excellent title track all the way back in April, a song so catchy it’s been consistently stuck in our mind since it’s release. With their album now less than a month away, the band share “Laguna Seca,” the album’s second single.
While “Wings of Love” was written by Peter Kegler, with vocals from both himself and Marley Lix-Jones (which works like a dream), their latest comes courtesy of guitarist/vocalist Oliver Pinnell, adding a new voice into the mix, but one equally as compelling and comforting. The song tumbles forward like a saloon dust up,, but quickly goes for the swooning charm that Half Stack is known for. There’s plenty of twang, breezy backing vocals, and even a bit of power-pop guitar shredding, with a genuinely blissful guitar solo. What more can you ask for really.
Speaking on the track, Pinnell shared:
"I’m very intentional when it comes to songwriting; every song I write starts out chasing a particular sound or evoking a specific response. Laguna Seca was an opportunity to write a southern rock, country tinged tune that would flesh out the sonic palette for this new Half Stack record. The song really congealed around the opening guitar lick, which I started playing during soundchecks to elicit a giggle or two from my bandmates. Other things I wanted to include were pronounced backing vocals, a slightly southern accent on the vocal delivery, and a 70’s FM radio guitar solo. Lyrically, I aimed for a sort of Eagles-meets-38 Special vibe; name drop a couple California locales while serenading the omnipresent lover we all have, whoever they may be. I’m quite proud of this song, as it fits in nicely with the rest of the tracks on Wings of Love, while still carving out its own comfortable place in the pacing of the record"