by Ben Grigg (@benngrigg)
Philly’s Snoozer is back with a new record entitled Mid-Earth out on Born Losers Records on September 13, 2024. The lead single “Love's Permission” is out today, along with a video. The song is everything beloved about Snoozer and then some. It’s an undeniable head-bobber, with equal parts shy beauty and noise. Brothers Mike and Tom Kelly (Alex G) are the main creative force behind Snoozer. In Mike’s words, “‘Love's Permission’ kicked off this whole record. I wrote the riff in about 20 minutes and later on had to jump out of a shower I was taking to finish the lyrics because they were racing through my mind. I remember showing the demo to Tom that same night and both of us getting so excited. It felt like a huge step forward and we pretty much made the rest of the record around this song.”
The video has some comedic elements, with Mike dressed as a king being driven around in the band’s van. When on foot, brother Tom leads King Mike around. A metaphor for sibling dynamics, or just part of a larger gag? This is the way with Snoozer: always inscrutable, always fun. You become aware of the years and years of inside jokes and shared experiences between these two brothers. Oblivious to the details, you have to laugh along with them.
The song itself is a mouthful of candy, gone too soon and begging repeat listens. The lyrics strike a balance between creepoid and earnest sweetness (“I don’t want to wait for love’s permission”) sung in the choruses with infectious and semi child-like backing vocals. Around 1:35 all hell breaks loose, with guitars and sliding bass sneering over the grinning Sesame Street rhythm. If this track is any indication of how the record will sound, it’ll be well worth the wait!
Catch Snoozer on tour in September:
09/07 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar #
09/08 - Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer #
09/09 - Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 #
09/10 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall #
09/12 - Portland, OR @ Holocene #
09/13 - Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theater #
09/14 - Seattle, WA @ Substation #
09/15 - Boise, ID @ The Shredder #
09/17 - Denver, CO @ Meow Wolf #
09/19 - Chicago, IL @ Chop Shop #
09/20 - Windsor, ON @ Dominion House #
09/21 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace #
09/22 - Montreal, QC @ L'esco #
09/23 - Somerville, MA @ Crystal Ballroom #
09/24 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Monarch #
09/26 - Philadelphia, PA #
09/27 - Washington, DC #
# w/ Brad Stank & Ricewine