This Friday, Washington D.C.-based heavy punkers Teen Mortgage will offer their second single of 2023 in the form of the right-about-a-bunch-of-stuff “Oligarchy.” The occasion — apart from, you know, the oligarchy — is the fact that the band are set to support Red Fang for three shows in the Northeast, playing Millersville, Pennsylvania, a bit west of Philly, as well as Boston and New York City. That’s just three shows, but Teen Mortgage will also tour with OFF! — who aren’t Black Flag and that’s just fine — in the UK and Ireland this Fall, so there’s more to look forward to.

As for the track itself, “Oligarchy” isn’t streaming yet — I probably should’ve asked to premiere it; why do I never think of these things in time? — but you can hear the prior “Sick Day” at the bottom of this post and that’s a pretty fair representation of the raw but purposeful aggression the band offers and the tones through which they convey it. I guess if you’re going to the Red Fang gigs, you might take this as a heads up to get there early if you’re feeling what you hear below or what’s coming later this week.

From the PR wire:

DC’s Teen Mortgage have a huge new tune coming out on 7/14! They have had some great momentum recently with their single ‘Tuning In’ really attracting a lot of great attention and buzz.

The new single is called ‘Oligarchy’ and it’s a scathing, drum & bass inspired, punk rock stomper with a universal message. It has a bit of an early Ministry vibe though doesn’t lose their typical sneer, unabashed fuzz, and driving rhythms.

From the band:
Once again, the duo lay out the truth – the truth that the oligarchy’s unjust ownership of labor value (or ”billionaires” as the western media refers to them as (the oligarchy owns most major news outlets)) is a global problem that needs to be stopped for the progression of the human race.

The single comes on the heels of three dates opening for Red Fang:

July 18 – Millersville PA @ Phantom Power
July 19 – Cambridge MA @ The Sinclair
July 20 – New York NY @ Gramercy

And they are also doing a UK/Ireland tour supporting OFF! in November.

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https://teenmortgage.bandcamp.com/

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Teen Mortgage, “Sick Day” (2023)

[PHOTO REMOVED BECAUSE THE PHOTOGRAPHER WAS AN ASSHOLE.]

The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.

Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.

Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.

The Obelisk Questionnaire: Edward Barakauskas of Teen Mortgage & Tired All the Time

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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

I currently play drums for the groups, Teen Mortgage and Tired all the Time. Teen Mortgage is a heavy stoner punk duo I joined in 2016 after responding to a craigslist ad. Tired all the Time is a dystopian post-punk project consisting of musicians I’ve collaborated with for the past decade in different musical projects.

I am also a registered nurse, specializing in emergency medicine and ambulatory care. I have a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from University of Maryland Baltimore, where I also minored in music for percussion. After graduation, I joined the Americorps National Preparedness and Response program working at the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross Emergency Services. I went on to work as a medical assistant before going back to school for my second bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Describe your first musical memory.

In kindergarten, I remember my mom talking me out of bringing the Blue Öyster Cult cassette to show and tell. She was afraid the school would think I brought in satanic music.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

It’s tempting to name some shows, where we shared the stage with one of our influences in front of some massive crowd. However, I find it more significant when I realize my music has truly made a connection with someone. Someone told me that one of their best friends passed away shortly after the last show they saw us play. After apologizing for dropping something so heavy on me, he said he was happy the last memory with his friend was rocking out to a Teen Mortgage set.

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

Working as a nurse, I’ve dealt with families during end-of-life decisions. It’s my responsibility to guide and support their choices regardless of my own personal beliefs. I’ve often taken care of patients with little chance of survival or quality of life afterwards. I’ve also taken care of patients that refused care in highly survivable situations.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

I feel that artistic progression coincides with personal progression across a lifetime.

How do you define success?

I don’t believe life has an inherent purpose. The idea that existence is meaningless, is understandably discomforting to many people. However, I’m relieved to believe that we’re not all playing some big game where we’re trying to win by racking up points. I define success as being able to live your life on terms you find agreeable despite whatever compromises or sacrifices you make.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

Philosophically, I have a hard time saying I wish I hadn’t seen something. I’ve learned that negative experiences, though unpleasant, help you better appreciate the positive ones.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

I want to play drums in a much heavier doom or sludge band. I have something in the works right now that might fill the need.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

Being in a band is more than just writing songs and playing music. You’re cultivating a sound, an image, a performance, a story, etc. I view them all as heightened extensions of my personality. When I’m performing, I’m sharing who I am with the audience. If it connects, then I feel like who I am is being understood.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

I renewed my passport and I finally have time to travel more. Though I’ll be using a lot of that time for band touring, I’m looking forward to breaking away with my significant other on some purely recreational vacations.

http://instagram.com/teen_mortgage
http://facebook.com/teenmortgage
https://teenmortgage.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tiredallthetimeband/
https://www.facebook.com/tiredallthetimemusic
https://tiredallthetime.bandcamp.com/

Teen Mortgage, “Valley” official video

Tired All the Time, “Regrets”

Washington D.C. heavy punk two-piece offer 98 seconds of hard-driven shove with the new single Such is Life. It’s according to the band it’s about living in the reality of capitalism embedded as a perceived natural state — oh, you’re getting fucked over and stomped on and you worry if you take a break you’ll lose your job? Well, such is life. That kind of thing.

Yeah that’s fair enough. Shit’s fucked, which I’m sure is news these two dudes, one of whom works as a nurse during a pandemic and both of whom live in the same town as the recently stormed Capitol. D.C.’s long been established as a punk town, so that’s a lineage that I probably don’t need to tell you about, but sometimes you need a blasted bit of fuck-you. As a human being who’s already spent three hours today trying to get a toddler to say what shape stop signs are — octagon; a word he knows perfectly well; a word he learned before he learned square because that’s who he is — I’m more than happy to have Teen Mortgage come along and kick away the existential dust gathered on my state of being. Thanks y’all.

The duo issued their Life / Death EP in March 2019 through King Pizza Records (see also Ghost Funk Orchestra, The Mad Doctors, Sun Voyager, etc.) and the new song arrives with the same backing. Nice to have friends. Friends who might even tell you what shape a stop sign is, or, you know, how to take yourself off the grid or make universal healthcare a reality or whatever. No gods, no masters, no rent.

Brief announcement and track follow:

Teen Mortgage – Such is Life

Teen Mortgage is back with thrashing new single ‘Such is Life’, a fuzzed-out banger detailing hypocrisy and loathing inherent in certain mindsets. Couching socio-political disgust in holy rage, not to mention thundering drums, it should be no surprise these boys hail from DC and are happy carrying the history of its DIY ethos with them into 2021 and beyond.

http://facebook.com/teenmortgage
http://instagram.com/teen_mortgage
https://teenmortgage.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kingpizzarecs
https://kingpizzarecords.storenvy.com/