RIYL The Weakerthans, The Wrens, The Promise Ring, Ratboys. New album ‘How To Begin’ due out 09/20 via Self Aware Records.

On ‘How To Begin’, the Richmond, VA-based group expertly blend college rock jangle, emo urgency, and alt-country twang into an instantly satisfying strain of indie that’s perfect for the waning weeks of summer. Single follows earlier singles ‘Sinker’, ‘Solstice’, ‘Rootbound’ and highlights band’s ability to pack the grandeur of their earlier work into airtight, hook-led songwriting. Vocalist/guitarist Gordon Phillips discussed the new song, saying:
“This is my best shot at -don’t bore us, get to the chorus- songwriting—which has actually been a bit outside my comfort zone prior to this album. I wanted to channel a mid-2000′s indie-punk songwriter thing with this one and that meant really editing it all the way down to its core essence. Lyrically it’s about the rose-tinted power of nostalgia. I think it can be easy to romanticize things that happened a long time ago, assigning emotional significance to past events in an idealized, one-sided way. At the same time, sometimes there are special little moments that might actually be worth holding onto.”

Since forming in 2016, Downhaul–made up of Phillips, drummer Andrew Seymour, guitarist Robbie Ludvigsen and new bassist Chandler Brooks–have been steadily expanding their sound and earning a cult following of keen listeners who appreciate the band’s pursuit of sonic and personal growth. This Lp is Downhaul’s most flat out accessible output yet, drawing on the energy of their first album and the adventurousness of their second, but applying those elements to a lean 25 minutes of crunchy chords and warm melodies. The result is an record that combines the loquacious catchiness of songwriters like John K. Samson or Blake Schwartzenbach with the vitality and idiosyncrasies of bands like Piebald or The Wrens, and it’s sure to catch the ears of longtime fans and new listeners alike.

‘How To Begin’ tracklist:
1. Blue Flame
2. Sinker
3. Solstice
4. YCBTT
5. Off And On
6. Rootbound
7. Tired Of Trying
8. Cold In The Morning
9. Sleep In The Sunroom
10. Branch

Upcoming Shows:
09/20 Richmond, VA @ The Camel
09/21 Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone Club