Philadelphia fuzz-rock outfit Flatwaves are returning with “Route 38.” The single will be available everywhere tomorrow, but you can check it out today with TGEFM’s exclusive premiere.
The racing new single will be available on the band’s upcoming LP Tell Me Secrets, out this summer via Abandon Everything Records. The track races forward with scorched guitars and a swaggering rhythm, delivering a raw blast of garage energy filtered through a shoegaze haze.
Written in a flash and inspired by a real-life booze run to Martin’s Liquors in Mount Laurel, NJ. According to vocalist/guitarist Tara Sullivan :
This song came about quickly. We were trying to find one last song to round out the record but nothing was really sticking. Eventually we were like, we need a fast song. I had been toying with a really simple and straight forward rock n roll idea inspired by Death Valley Girls (with a touch of Olivia Rodrigo) so I was like, lemme try to finish that. As for the lyrics, it is a literal true story about me buying wine at Martin’s Liquors on Route 38 in Mount Laurel, NJ. It basically came together at practice in like 10 minutes.
Flatwaves will celebrate the release on Saturday, July 12 at Ortlieb’s Lounge in Philadelphia. Tickets here.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/