In case you have been living under a rock or in a hollow tree, Tim Burton’s latest addition to the Disney universe – the series reimagination of The Addams Family, aptly titled Wednesday – has been making waves since its Netflix release on November 23rd. While purists might not be immediately ready to dive in, I binged the series (3 times) and heavily encourage you to do so as well. Here’s why.
“Wednesday” Is A Welcome Departure From Reality
Reality has been dark. But Wednesday? She’s darker. A teen nightmare who is obsessed with all things evil is absolutely entertaining. The closest we can get to having friends like Wednesday is if we unironically hang out with gothic peers or take a time machine back to the aughts emo scene. Existing in the orbit of someone this maniacal isn’t usually a pleasure we all have.
Watching someone use piranhas for their high school revenge schemes is laughable and unrealistic (for the most part), but so out of left field that it’s funny to watch. Having a detached hand named Thing scurrying around and supporting your educational efforts isn’t something you see every day.
Wednesday Is More Relatable This Time Around
Wednesday – now depicted by the indelible Jenna Ortega – seems even more relatable post-pandemic. The disdain for other humans? Check. The quirky ways she moves through life, particularly on the dancefloor? Check. The constant desire to be alone? Check, check, check.
Wednesday’s Humor Is Elevated
Sure, all former portrayals of the character of Wednesday include some heavy dry humor and sarcasm. But the bits in this revival – and Ortega’s delivery of said bits – are absolute gold. Some of our favorite quotable Wednesday moments?
“I don’t bury hatchets. I sharpen them.”
“But drip [coffee] is for people who hate themselves and know their lives have no real purpose or meaning.”
“I don’t need your help or your pity. I already have a mother and a therapist. That’s enough torture, even for me.”
“It’s not my fault I can’t interpret your emotional Morse code.”
“I find social media to be a soul-sucking void of meaningless affirmation.”
The Easter Eggs Are Amazing
What does everyone want out of a follow-up, sequel, or remake? They want callbacks. Give me all the new material you want, but if you can slide props, quotes, cameos, or similar storylines in for nostalgia, you’ve captured my attention. For example, there is a secret society housed in the walls at Wednesday’s outcast school – where her parents met and fell in love – Nevermore. The “passcode” to enter is a quick two-finger snaps. Where have we heard that before?
How about the archery scenes at Nevermore that harken to scenes of Pugsley and Wednesday practicing archery in Addams Family Values? Plus, Wednesday hates pilgrims… if ever there were a nod to Christina Ricci’s portrayal of the character, this is it. You’ll notice this – plus many more references to previous storylines and even Tim Burton’s work – sprinkled throughout.
Wednesday’s Rendition Of “Paint it Black”
I had never heard anything so painfully beautiful until the first episode of this series when Wednesday plays the cello. Her own siren song, it seems, “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones was performed by Ortega herself, who learned to play cello for the role. If you tune in for nothing else, this moment will change you.
As a player and producer, LesNuby is no stranger to the music world. The virtuoso began in Birmingham, Alabama as the drummer for indie-rock band Verbena but never settled, exploring as many opportunities as he could. Notable endeavours include touring with the esteemed Scottish band Idlewild, as well as playing guitar for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls and the band Vulture Whale. A marvel behind the scenes as well, Nuby has produced releases for artists such as Will Stewart, Sarah Lee Langford, The Dirty Clergy, and Witch’s Wall. Alongside being the current guitarist and vocalist for Holiday Gunfire, he is finally adding a solo album to his repertoire. Clouded will be released on July 10th, 2020.
“Know What She Said” will be the first single, and it lets you in on the secret of what to expect from this long-anticipated album. The song is quite melodic and emanates exciting but controlled energy, meanwhile the surrounding music is made up of skilled instrument playing. A particularly bouncy bass part especially stands out and would be worth keeping an ear out for. In fact, you could listen to this song over and over again and rediscover it each time as you listen to the intricacies of each instrument. The vocals and overall atmosphere of the single is reminiscent of 80s era R.E.M., but the melody points more towards early 90s power pop, and the two blend together wonderfully.
The video is a captivating, artsy black and white live visual that allows you a brief glimpse into Les Nuby’s live performance. It’s enough to make you yearn for pre-Covid days.
You can look forward to these well-executed aspects in Clouded as well. In a culmination of his musical resume, LesNuby produced, engineered, and played all the instruments on the album, and that care and experience is certainly heard in “Know What She Said.”
Be sure to check out Nuby’s earlier release “Never Falling Away” here.
Swedish duo The Radio Dept. just released their latest track “You Fear the Wrong Thing Baby” on March 20th, perfectly showcasing their quintessential dream-pop style that we have all come to know and love. Edging on ethereal, the reverb in this track makes it feel like a glittering kaleidoscope soundscape before we even reach the words. The lyrics of this track, coincidentally enough, fit perfectly with the current global health crisis. “When we recorded the song we had no idea what was coming,” expresses the duo. “The text is against conservatism and a tribute to youth as a progressive force.”
On Wednesday, March 27th, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland opened its doors and welcomed a hefty crowd for the St. Paul & The Broken Bones show. Opener Michael Nau played some acoustic beauts, and we melted into the evening with the incredible Alabama-based collective that truly ignites our souls.
Dance Gavin Dance has just released their new track, “Son of Robot”, the second single from their upcoming record, Artificial Selection. The Sacramento based quintet is made up of drummer Matt Mingus, bassist Tim Feerick, guitarist/vocalist Will Swan, and vocalists Tilian Pearson and Jon Mess. The rock band has now dropped “Son of Robot”, a second taste of what’s to come, following the release of “Midnight Crusade”.
“Son of Robot” is an explosive track, showcasing Pearson and Mess’ powerful vocals, as well as the strong synchronization of the band. With a thoroughly punk chorus of “How could we forget about you?”, “Son of Robot” is a sure sign that Dance Gavin Dance has a great album in store for their fans.
Watch for Artificial Selection, to be released June 8 via Rise Records.
Tour Dates
5.09.18 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre *
5.12.18 – Niagara Falls, NY – The Rapids Theater *
5.13.18 – Somerset, WI – Somerset Amphiteater
5.14.18 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s *
5.15.18 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s *
5.16.18 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s *
5.18.18 – Columbus, OH – Mapfre Stadium
5.19.18 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall *
5.20.18 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre *
5.22.18 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater *
5.23.18 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall *
5.24.18 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory *
5.25.18 – Little Rock, AR – The Metroplex *
5.26.18 – San Antonio, TX – Alamo City Music Hall
5.27.18 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Sports Cafe
5.29.18 – Memphis, TN – Growlers
5.31.18 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
6.02.18 – Pointe Verda Beach, FL – Pointe Verda Concert Hall
6.03.18 – Richmond, VA – The National
6.05.18 – Westbury, NY – The Space @ Westbury
6.06.18 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
6.07.18 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall
6.08.18 – Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert Hall
6.09.18 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
6.10.18 – Rochester, NY – Anthology
6.11.18 – Toronto, ON – Opera House
6.13.18 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Ballroom
6.14.18 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
6.15.18 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
6.16.18 – Louisville, KY – The Mercury Ballroom
6.17.18 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
6.18.18 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
6.20.18 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
6.21.18 -Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
6.22.18 – Sacramento, CA – Concerts In The Park
After the release of her unmistakably incredible single “Little Moon”, Katie Ekin is back to mesmerize music listeners everywhere with her latest song “Someday I Will”. “Someday I Will” shows off Ekin’s skills as a singer, displaying that there is more behind her powerful voice. On top of Ekin’s voice is sift instrumentals that let the listener feel every emotion Katie Ekin feels throughout her music. The song is all about wishing you could have said something to someone when you were living in the moment and not having the opportunity to tell that person how you feel because it is too late. It’s highly relatable, and very powerful.
Your favorite crew here at Imperfect Fifth put together a mish mosh of songs that are perfect for the humans who are SO against the lovey dovey antics of Valentine’s Day, that they just want to listen to sad/angry music. There are a lot of goodies in here, with more to come all day! So check back a few times and see what gets added as we dance our way through the darkness… 😉
On Wednesday, November 1st, the insanely entertaining rock collective Diarrhea Planet rolled through Kansas City, making an exhilarating appearance at Riot Room. In support was local act Witch Jail, which the guys of Diarrhea Planet mentioned had a band name they were jealous of. (But how could you be?) Here are some photos from the evening.
