3 Is A Band: Highly Suspect
January… not only the beginning of a new year, but also pretty much about time to get familiar with the bands who will be playing this year’s South By South West music festival in Austin, Texas which after all is only a mere 10 weeks away from today! And while listening through band after band, I came across quite a few I really liked but so far no other as much as this three piece from Brooklyn. Yeah, I know, this looks like moths swarming to light, I am obsessing with bands creating their music out of Brooklyn but I swear, it’s usually just a coincidence! New York is simply kind of a magnet that attracts all sorts of creative people.
And now back to the first band of the year, I am super excited about: for the last three days, I’ve been listening to Black Ocean, Highly Suspect‘s EP on repeat. Johnny Stevens (vocals, guitar) and the twin brothers Rich Meyer (bass, vocals) and Ryan Meyer (drums, vocals) describe their music as “Rock/Progressive/Blues”, which certainly covers it. Listening to their songs, I can also hear quite a bit of Caleb Followill in Johnny Stevens’ vocals and -because it’s been one of my top favorite albums of 2014- a good dose of Royal Blood as well. The music has power and drive, yet is melodic at the same time with interesting hooks and lyrics. It also feels fresh and original.
I can hardly believe that the trio is around since 2009, originally from Cape Cod (more on this story here) and got signed at the legendary Trash Bar – which soon, from what I’ve heard, will face a similar fate like Glasslands and Spike Hill!
Lydia is probably my favorite song on Black Ocean, closely followed by Bath Salts for which the three piece also created a video. Enjoy both, and stay tuned for the full length album to come. In the meantime stay connected with Highly Suspect on their Facebook page and/or Twitter. Oh… and let’s keep an eye out for their live show(s)!
Lydia (Lyrics by Johnny Stevens)
Black Ocean cold and dark
I am the hungry shark
Fast and merciless
But the only girl that could talk to him
Just couldn’t swim tell me
What’s worse than this
And the echoes in the halls
They dance along the walls
The memories of your ghost
You were the one that I used to love
And I’m still in love
But I never loved you the most
I’ve seen better days
So unafraid in my youth
I can’t breathe
Much less believe
You gave me everything you had
Every little thing you had
A pure love unrehearsed
I’ve seen your best and worst
And at your worst you’re still the best
But at my best I am the worst
It’s a curse
Your eyes are lined in pain
Black tears don’t hide in rain
And I tied you to the tracks
And when I turned around
I heard the sound
I hit the ground
I know there’s no turning back
I’ve seen better days
So unafraid in my youth
I can’t breathe
Much less believe the truth
Better days so unafraid
In my youth
I can’t breathe much less believe
The truth
Black Ocean cold and dark
I am the hungry shark
Fast and merciless
But the only girl that could talk to him
She couldn’t swim tell me
What’s worse than this
What’s worse is all the coke
The ice it numbs my throat
If only for the night
My muscles will contract
Your bones will crack
It’s just a fact
Cause I am here to win this fight
I CANT FUCKING BREATHE
much less believe
The truth
I pick up a gun
Aim for the sun
And shoot
Better days so unafraid
In my youth
I can’t breathe OR believe
The truth
Your eyes are lined in pain
Black tears don’t hide in rain
And I tied you to the tracks
When I turned around
I heard that sound…
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