Mothman and The Thunderbirds to Release Gazer EP June 23
One original and two covers seems innocuous enough until you get to the fact that one of those covers is “All Star.” Anyone see that video where the dude from Smash Mouth is hammered and goes on about going to someone in the audience’s house and murdering their family? If not, it’s both fucked and worth a watch. I don’t know what on earth might’ve possessed Mothman and The Thunderbirds spearhead Alex Parkinson to take on that particularly brutal earworm, beyond a well developed sense of irony, but I’m sorry, I’m not listening to that shit.
I listen to all kinds of music, and I’m up for checking out the original track “Gazer” and their version of “Mr. Spaceman” by The Byrds, and I’ll even dig into the bonus track, but Smash Mouth? That song is so bad it’s poisonous. I’m sure they do it and it’s either great or hilarious — or better, both — but I gotta pass. Just that track. The rest I’ll look forward to mightily.
June 23 is the release date for the Philly outfit’s Gazer EP, a stopgap en route to their next full-length, and they sent the following info down the PR wire:
Mothman and The Thunderbirds – Gazer (EP)
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Spotify Pre-Save Link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mothmanandthethunderbirds/gazer
Mothman and The Thunderbirds have returned once again, this time with the space-themed EP Gazer. The EP features the band’s original track “Gazer”, a space rockin’ song that is equal parts adrenaline and psychedelia. The new song is accompanied by two covers that keep with the cosmic theme: a mystifying version of Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and a totally tripped out take on The Byrds’ “Mr. Spaceman”. The EP will be released on June 23rd, and is recommended for fans of Torche, Hum, Ween, Mutoid Man, Swervedriver, and Truckfighters.
The band welcomes back Joe Sobieski, who previously sang on their 2021 track “Cloud Giant”. Joe penned the lyrics to “Gazer” and sings on the verses for that track and “All Star”. His clean yet animated vocals provide a potent contrast to project leader Alex Parkinson’s explosive choruses. Egor Lappo also returns at the helm of production duties, having previously elevated the band’s sound on their 2021 CKY cover and 2022 split EP with World Eaters. Egor’s mixing and mastering skills shine through once again, tripling down on the cosmic sound Mothman and The Thunderbirds peddle throughout this EP.
When asked for comment on the Gazer EP, Alex had this to say: “this EP is very trippy, and very, very fun!” Pressed for something more insightful to say, he added: “we’ve been hard at work on the next album, so this EP was a nice break. “Gazer” was a song Joe and I wrote in 2018 that we unearthed and recorded earlier this year – I’m super proud of how it turned out! We had a great time putting our own strange spin on those covers too. This EP is a fun pitstop for the band as we prepare to embark on our next big sonic adventure!”
Tracklist:
1) Gazer
2) All Star
3) Mr. Spaceman
4) Liminal Spacetime Continuum (Bonus – Instrumental Demo)
Credits:
Alex Parkinson – lead & backing vocals, guitars, bass, mandolin, synths
Joe Sobieski – lead vocals, whistle solo
Egor Lappo – mixing, mastering, production, drum programming
Lyrics for “Gazer” written by Joe Sobieski, music by Alex Parkinson.
Music for the bonus track “Liminal Spacetime Continuum” was written by Alex Parkinson.
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