’68, the rock band fronted by former The Chariot/Norma Jean vocalist Josh Scogin, have announced a new album, Yes, and…, due September 29 via Pure Noise (pre-order). It features recent single “The Captains Sat” and the just-released “Removed Their Hooks,” a swaggering, garagey rock song that embraces Josh’s heavy music roots a little more overtly than ’68 usually does. Josh says:
This is by far the heaviest album ’68 has ever done. It wasn’t on purpose, it just sort of evolved into what it is. As soon as we could see the full gravitas of the album, we just leaned into it. Many of the bluesy tracks didn’t find a home and some of the parts that were on the fence, we doused with gasoline. For us, the pendulum has never been extended so far, in one direction. This is exciting because it was obvious how this album needed to turn out and it pretty much solidifies how the next album will end up as well.
One day while I was in the kitchen making a sandwich, I could hear the news in the distance. They were telling the same ol’ tales of negativity and fear that keep their ratings up and viewers engaged. In response to one of their comments I just said out loud, “Well, tell me something that I don’t know.” This immediately set things in motion. The dominos were already stacked up nice and neat, I just needed to push the first one over. By the time I was done cutting the avocado I was humming a version of the riff. As soon as I was done sprinkling some Tajin seasoning on the avocado, I had the basic outline of the song. Once I was mixing the Sriracha in with the Ranch I had the basic lyrics for the first couple of verses. As I was adding the Gouda cheese, sliced tomato, and cilantro, I could imagine the bridge. The heavy part came to me while I was flipping the sandwich on the grill. Finally, once it was plated, I had the whole song sorted. Well, all except the last minute of the song. That’s a different story altogether. That journey, I could write a whole book about…and maybe I will.
’68 are also opening the fall leg of Thrice‘s The Artist in the Ambulance 20th anniversary tour, including the shows at Long Island’s Mulcahy’s Pub on 10/8 and NJ’s Starland Ballroom on 10/12. All dates are listed below.
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Tracklist
1. With Distance Between
2. The Captains Sat
3. Removed Their Hooks
4. Removed Their Hats
5. “Let’s Be Friends”
6. “End This War”
7. They All Agreed
8. Then Got Bored
9. Within The Hour, They Were No More
’68 — 2023 Tour Dates
Sept 16 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
Oct 5 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock 2023
Oct 6 – Indianapolis, IN – Old National Centre*
Oct 7 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre*
Oct 8 – Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall*
Oct 9 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theater*
Oct 11 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live*
Oct 12 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom*
Oct 13 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa*
Oct 14 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground*
Oct 15 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works*
Oct 17 – Houston, TX – House of Blues*
Oct 18 – Fort Worth, TX – Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall*
Oct 20 – Tucson, AZ – The Rialto Theatre*
* – opening Thrice’s The Artist In The Ambulance 20th anniversary tour