I walked into the studio one Sunday for my show, Pontunes, when I saw six very cool looking people I had never met. I was with one of my Cohosts DJ Lemon, and I asked them who they were. It was the park, and they were recording something in our live studio. DJ Lemon later told me that the park had listened to our show and liked it. Cool people who aren’t in our immediate family listened to our show and liked it??? We saw them again a week or so ago and sheepishly peeked through the live session door to see them.
I had never really sat down and listened to their recorded music, but since they’re playing at F88 this upcoming Thursday, I knew I had to listen–I owed them that much if they listened and enjoyed our Yacht Rock and ramblings on Pontunes.
the park (all lowercase) is a “midwest something” band from Columbia and has six members: Via Amos (vocals), Levi Case (guitar), Will Thieves (guitar), Layden Dukes (trumpet), Mikey Alexander (bass), and Grey (drums). Their only record, “demonstrations” has four tracks, and they create this mitski-marceline from the adventure time-midwest emo vibe that I really enjoyed.
sleeping dogs was the track I loved most. Their lyrics “I’d bet you’d call me up if you’d thought I’d answer my phone/ you finally know I won’t” is something I have thought countless times, and it was finally put into words. It perfectly conveys the bittersweet yet relieving feeling of knowing that your ex understands that it’s finally over and won’t contact you again. It’s a great song to mull over your past relationship while not romanticizing it – looking at it from a detached point of view, encouraging yourself to move on from it.
Listening to their EP got me excited to see them live – they’ll be joined by Laika and Flooding along with some DJs at F88. I hope they will be able to get the footing to record and release more music, because what they have released so far has impressed me! Good vibes all around.
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