New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Quicksand might be In The Whale's first new EP in almost a year, but by no means have they just been sitting at home. This time around, the five tracks of hard-hitting alternative-punk-blues that their fans have come to know and love is a reflection of the current state of the world. A climate, which singer/guitarist Nate Valdez and drummer Eric Riley, have been experiencing over their last 12 months of non-stop touring. Direct, effective and not sugarcoating their feelings for anyone, Quicksand is now available on iTunes, Spotify, and Bandcamp.
Produced by Bill Stevenson (of The Descendents) and recorded at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, CO, Quicksand is the natural progression of In The Whale's sound. Raw as ever, this collection of songs are their most mature and fully realized to date. The lead-off single, "American Eyes" is a straightforward and urgent expression that touches on feelings of unrequited love of country from the view of a forgotten generation, whereas the second single, "
Galaxie" is a more melodic and riff filled tale of escape and freedom.
While crafting the new material the band was "...trying to put meaning to the feeling of being crushed, suffocated, and occasionally out of control of the things around you, all of these emotions we've encountered over the last year," Valdez said. "The (EP) name came organically, I mean, what is quicksand? Beyond the literal sense, it's a bad or dangerous situation that is hard to escape. Sometimes, you have to take a breath and remember to not get sucked in with no way of getting out."
2016 marked the five-year anniversary of the band, who have continued to grow year after year thanks to their relentless tour schedule, a frantic but tight live show and their desire to entertain and connect wherever they may be. It's not just the fans whose heads have been turned, festivals and other artists have taken notice as well with the band playing the likes of Lollapalooza, Afropunk Festival, Austin City Limits and over 400 self booked shows since their inception. They've also been taken on the road by Jane's Addiction, the Toadies,
Electric Six and many more.
To celebrate the release of the Quicksand EP, In The Whale is performing a handful of Colorado shows, returning to where it all started in Greeley at the Moxi Theater, followed by Hodi's Half Note in Fort Collins and ending the current run at the Larimer Lounge in Denver. For more information visit www.InTheWhaleSucks.com.
Quicksand EP Release Shows
10/21 - Moxi Theater - Greeley, CO
10/22 - Hodi's Half Note - Fort Collins, CO
10/28 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO