Shit, man. Maybe you are a fucking bird. I don’t know.

Also: Ha. You wish it was that easy to explain.

In a bit of fun coincidence, I actually decided the other night that in a former life I was some kind of dopey, prehistoric flying creature. Proto-bird, maybe, like an archaeopteryx only nowhere near cool enough to have that name. Ever. It’s the best name. Seriously. Say “archaeopteryx” out loud. You won’t regret it.

By the way, this is my review of the single. How do you like it so far? Well, next time I write about Boozewa, I’m probably going to link back to it. You know, the ol’ “(review here).” I like the thought that someone might click that link in that post and see this.

I also like the fact that “Maybe I’m a Bird” is three minutes long and that around the point when it’s spent the first 90 seconds establishing its verse and chorus with genetically-punk drive and denser fuzz than you’re imagining it throws off its cowl and reveals it was grunge all along. Without giving up its purpose in tone or rawness, “Maybe I’m a Bird” is the most realized work yet from the still-raw-but-recorded-in-a-studio trio, who turn it back to another verse before the repetitions of “Maybe I’m a…” start to build before the more declarative “…bird” stops the song with a bit of done-now noise after.

Boozewa growing as a band, almost in spite of themselves. They keep it up and someone’s gonna start wondering about an album. I kind of already was.

Enjoy the clip. Mike made it:

Boozewa, “Maybe I’m a Bird” official video

BOOZEWA is back and BOOZEWA-ier than ever! The basement dwelling sludgy punk outfit have crawled up from the underground to reveal their first single as the fully realized vision of BOOZEWA. Done in a studio, not the basement! “Maybe I’m A Bird” retains the low-fi vibes BOOZEWA is known for and is a chantable, danceable, fuzzy good ol’ time!

BOOZEWA comments on the single: “Every day you have to go to work and there’s that one person there. That one person that’s always giving you a hard time. Always with the stink eye, always checking their watch to see if you were a minute late. We all know them. They are everywhere. When you see them tomorrow, make eye contact with them. Don’t break it. And let them know ‘HEY! You don’t know me. Maybe I’m A Bird!'”

Bringing a distinctive sound, BOOZEWA draws passionately from the heaviest of the heavy through to the mellowest of the mellow. Emphasized by their unusual recording method, the vintage touch produces a unique tone with a dynamic, atmospheric quality.

Boozewa:
Jessica Baker / bass, hollering
Rylan Caspar / guitar, hollering
Mike Cummings (mRc) / drums, hollering

Boozewa on Facebook

Boozewa on Instagram

Boozewa on Bandcamp

Boozewa on the internet

As it was like three days ago, the memory of Boozewa announcing their new single “Maybe I’m a Bird” is pretty fresh. Not complaining though. It’s a good memory, and at this point I’ve heard the track and it’s easily the highest fidelity and most atmospheric recording they’ve yet had. The trade for that is the rawness of those basement tapes — which definitely have their place and their specific appeal — but here’s the thing: the one doesn’t at all preclude the other. If Boozewa want to follow the pro-shop sound of “Maybe I’m a Bird” with something they tracked vigilante style in a Costco parking lot, that’s allowed — artistically, anyhow.

They’re touring though, and that’s cool. Maybe this is when they decide they’re a real band after all. Maybe not. They were almost willfully casual about their formation, and I’m pretty sure these aren’t the first not-in-PA dates they’ve done, but it’s a tour either way and given the parties involved it likely won’t be the last.

Maybe three days from now they’ll post all the venues and whatnot, and I can’t promise I won’t do a follow-up to this at that time — can’t promise I will either; you’re perfectly capable of finding that information — but front-drummer-except-he’s-in-back Michael Rudolph Cummings (who also put out a solo record last year on Ripple) posted the following on socials with the poster and I happened to have a little time to think about how the band are cool. That time has now ended. On to the next thing.

Till then:

When Backwoods Payback went to hibernate, I don’t think Jess and I really knew what to do. We just wanted to play and have fun. Bionic Rylan deciding to pick up a guitar again around the same time just seemed to make this make sense.

I’m not a drummer, I just fill the gaps where needed.

A lot of these towns were Backwoods Payback mainstays. Can’t wait to see them again from a different part of the stage.

Full details next week, but for now, for this weekend… check your hands and study the lines.

See you all soon

Boozewa:
Jessica Baker / bass, hollering
Rylan Caspar / guitar, hollering
Mike Cummings (mRc) / drums, hollering

http://instagram.com/boozewa
https://boozewa.bandcamp.com/
https://www.BOOZEWA.com

Boozewa, Developing Good Health (2021)

A Boozewa recording? From a studio? Ohh, my medication… [faints].

That’s actually the story here. Boozewa recording in a studio. What studio? I don’t know. That studio could also be a living room for all I know, but even that would be up from the basement — stylistically if not literally speaking — which I’m pretty sure is where most of Boozewa‘s to-date output has been taped. Like, on a four-track. The will toward lo-fi sounds was part of the initial mission as Boozewa splintered off from the (presumed) (for-now at least) end of Backwoods Payback, in which the trio were all members, two of them founders, but if you’re thinking they’ve gone high-gloss for the new single “Maybe I’m a Bird” — it’s already printed on trucker hats; also, I invite you to take this moment to assess if, perhaps, you indeed are a bird — slow down.

While the fidelity of the three-minute song is a definite uptick from even 2021’s Developing Good Health EP (review here), we’re still well within the realm of rough-on-purpose. They’ve just given themselves more space in the mix for shenanigans, and they’ve got the shenanigans to fill it. It’s not streaming yet, but it’s a July 5 release, so I think we’ve got enough lead time, and until then, the PR wire has the background on the song. Thinking debut album, maybe? Does Boozewa put out records?

We’ll find out:

BOOZEWA Will Release New Single “Maybe I’m A Bird”

BOOZEWA is back and BOOZEWA-ier than ever! The basement dwelling sludgy punk outfit have crawled up from the underground to reveal their first single as the fully realized vision of BOOZEWA. Done in a studio, not the basement! “Maybe I’m A Bird” retains the low-fi vibes BOOZEWA is known for and is a chantable, danceable, fuzzy good ol’ time! The song will be released on July 5th 2023 on all streaming platforms.

BOOZEWA comments on the single: “Every day you have to go to work and there’s that one person there. That one person that’s always giving you a hard time. Always with the stink eye, always checking their watch to see if you were a minute late. We all know them. They are everywhere. When you see them tomorrow, make eye contact with them. Don’t break it. And let them know ‘HEY! You don’t know me. Maybe I’m A Bird!’”

Bringing a distinctive sound, BOOZEWA draws passionately from the heaviest of the heavy through to the mellowest of the mellow. Emphasized by their unusual recording method, the vintage touch produces a unique tone with a dynamic, atmospheric quality.

Boozewa:
Jessica Baker / bass, hollering
Rylan Caspar / guitar, hollering
Mike Cummings (mRc) / drums, hollering

http://instagram.com/boozewa
https://boozewa.bandcamp.com/
https://www.BOOZEWA.com

Boozewa, Developing Good Health (2021)