I first met The No 44’s two summers ago right before the release of their 2017 EP, Venus Eye Trap. See my initial conversation with them from 2017 here.
We meet at a German Bar in Downtown Santa Ana and talked for what seemed like hours. Having met for the very first time that evening, I can honestly say it felt like I had known these guys for much longer. Not only do these studs create killer tunes but they’re, more importantly, some of the most genuine and kind humans I’ve met. Let’s now fast forward to today: The No 44’s have released two new singles that were both recorded in a cabin situated in Runnings Springs, CA. Engineer, Chris Maciel, transported a studio’s worth of gear to Running Springs and thus began the month-long recording process. There are 14 other songs coming out soon from said recording retreat but until then, here are their newly released singles. Being released on an Austin, Texas-based label, Secret Soup Records, I’m so stoked to a part of the community of individuals workings towards further promoting the work of this talented band.
All My Friends
One of the bands older tunes, “All My Friends” has been performed in past No 44 gigs but it has officially been realized as a single today. While the band often gets classified as a psych-rock group, these lads don’t feel the pressures in having to stick within the genre’s confines. In fact, “All My Friends” contains surf rock elements during its instrumental breaks and haunting vocals. That’s what I personally love about these guys— their form of creativity isn’t confined within a box of checked off must-haves, but rather they create what it is they want to create in a manner that’s true to them.
“We’ve been playing All My Friends since around 2017. It was one of the first songs we added harmonies to and as a songwriter it was pretty amazing to hear my song with harmonies sung to it live…” commented Dan Gee (lead vocalist). Gee is the primary songwriter of the band and this is what he had to say about the lyrical creation of ‘All My Friends’… “… It’s about insecurity and comparing yourself to others. It’s about feeling both worse than everyone else at everything and then better. And then worse even still because of the thought that you could be better than someone at something. It’s about feeling guilty and undeserving of the overwhelming kindness I’ve received from people all my life.”
Atmost
Their second single, “Atmost” truly showcases Dan’s vocals as he carries out vocal note after vocal note evoking a troubled and worrisome tone. While this song is also an older one, Gee initially wrote it on an acoustic guitar at a lake house in Upstate Minnesota, “… It, like in All My Friends, started out with the main riff and I built it from there. This, however, was one of the last songs to add harmonies to, since we kind of put it away as a band for so long” stated Gee. Many of us can relate to the ever haunting question that is what is the meaning of life? Or worse, what’s my role in life and how do I achieve it? “Atmost” serves as song representing each one of those thoughts. Gee continues, “Atmost is about grasping for meaning, but coming up short. It’s about being content with what’s here while still quietly yearning for something more. It’s the last breath before the veil is peeled back.”
These two singles are two very introspective songs that will ignite thoughts in our minds. I don’t just mean technical music related questions but it’s through Gee’s words and the tone of the music that will push us into asking ourselves deeper, in-ward thinking questions. In my opinion, if a song can get you to do so, it’s a success because not only have they created something worth listening to but they’ve created something that has reached us in a deep level. They’ve dug into our minds and implanted something that will allow us to question ourselves, in turn, opening up our minds towards something bigger.
There’s no better way to experience the No. 44’s than live! Don’t miss out on their upcoming tour with Stranger Liquids and Lucki Aki. Check out their tour dates below:
3.14 Los Angeles, Harvard and Stone
3.15 Tijuana, MX, Moustache Bar
3.16 Phoenix, AZ, The Sun Room
3.17 El Paso, TX, Neon Rose
3.18 College Station, TX, The Expatriate Shack
3.19 New Orleans, LA, Mudlark Theatre
3.20 Houston, TX, Satellite Bar
3.21 San Marcos, TX, San Marcos Friend Fest
3.22 Austin, TX, Swan Dive
3.23 Dallas, TX, M.A.S.S.
3.24 Albuquerque, NM, Moonlight Lounge
3.25 Denver, CO, Tooey’s
3.29 Pioneertown, CA Socal Psycheout
3.30 Joshua Tree, CA Desert Stars
4.3 Long Beach, CA Alex’s Bar
4.5 Santa Cruz, CA The Crepe Place
4.6 San Francisco, CA The Milk Bar
