Pennsylvania trio Boozewa release their new EP, Developing Good Health, on Nov. 26. Nice, right? Sure. That’s what I like to think of as a safe-bet-good-time. The lockdown-formed trio based in Coatesville (about 45 minutes west of Philly) started this year off by releasing the 90-second instrumental track “Farm Witch (Reprise).” It was the first song they put out, and it was less a song than a herald of things to come, fading in and out around one central riff riding past. Fair enough since they were quick to follow with the demo First Contact (review here) in February and the 7″ Deb (review here) in August, but it seems that with Developing Good Health, which will presumably be their final offering of the year — unless they decide to do that holiday-themed Boozewa and Phantom of the Park Watch TNG Instead of Saving Xmas concept 3LP that I pitched them over the summer — they are giving an answer back to the reprise with “Farm Witch” proper.

A temporal loop? Paradox effect? Who cares, the song rocks. Specifically, in the new video premiering below that they put together for it using a Sony Hi8 Handycam (they make tapes for them again now) and a JVC VHS-C (with the tiny tapes that you need the adapter to put in your VCR), it rocks the basement. We see Boozewa in their element with the cinderblocks behind, the Sunn amps lit for guitarist Rylan Caspar and bassist Jessica Baker and, thanks to the magic of editing, two versions of drummer/vocalist Mike Cummings, one fronting the band, one playing the relatively simple but catchy drum progression. Tap tap tap, and so on. The song runs almost three and a half minutes and calls you handsome in the process, so I fail to see what more you could possibly ask of it.

Boozewa played Maryland Doom Fest this past weekend and by all accounts it was a joy to witness. I don’t doubt it. While a new outfit, the three-piece are no strangers to that or any other stage, having all played in Backwoods Payback, and their suburban heavy cathartopunk is only growing more resonant as the months pass. I haven’t heard Developing Good Health in its entirety yet — I tried, but the band was traveling, blah blah I’m hopeful it’ll show up sooner or later — but at some point earlier this year I warned Boozewa that if they kept it up at the rate they were going, they were bound to turn into a real band. They sure sound like one here.

Okay, back to looking at camcorders on eBay I go.

Enjoy:

Boozewa, “Farm Witch” video premiere

“The video for Farm Witch was shot in our basement by ourselves using Mikes old camcorders. This tune from our new cd EP ‘Developing Good Health’ felt like it needed the old fashioned treatment we all grew up on. The song and video are kind of our love letter to Coatesville PA!”

Developing Good Health

Available everywhere Friday Nov 26

On all digital formats as well as limited edition CD

CATCH BOOZEWA ON THE ROAD!!
Nov 28 – Kung Fu Necktie , Philadelphia PA w/ Human Impact, L.M.I.
Dec 2 – JB Lovedrafts, Harrisburg PA w/ False Gods
Dec 3 – Westside Bowl, Youngstown OH w/ Rebreather, False Gods
Dec 4 – 123 Pleasant St, Morgantown WV w/ Cavern, False Gods
Dec 5 – The Depot. Baltimore MD (matinee) w/ False Gods, Almost Honest
Dec 17 – Ortliebs, Philadelphia PA w/ Infinity Land, Ritual Earth
Dec 18 – TBA, Connecticut w/ Infinity Land, Coma Hole

Boozewa are:
Rylan Caspar – guitar
Jessica Baker – bass/vocals
Michael Rudolph Cummings – vocals/drums

Boozewa on Instagram

Boozewa on Bandcamp

Boozewa website