“Musically, ‘The Summer of Hate’ became our homage to the sounds of The Damned, The MC5, and probably a bit of the Stooges in there as well,” says Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols.
He adds, “The record was the manifestation of our desire to hear a record of heavy raw punk and metal guitar riffs handled in a way that we felt was cooler than the standard knuckle draggin’ man-rock that still tends to dominate a lot of popular culture in America.”
Combining minor chords and styling them into a revved and greased banger, “The Summer of Hate” marks a swift left hook by a band whose ability to defy odds and switch gears has been a trademark of their indefinable alt-rock foundation. A psych-rock manifesto that incorporates gritty guitars and fuzzed-out vocals with a rhythm so supple and sexy that it belongs on constant rotation on a midnight dance floor, it’s the perfect embodiment of what Rock And Folk called “the band we’ve all been waiting for.”
“I want to get down / Just lay on the floor / I can’t remember what it’s like to not feel nervous anymore,” he sings amidst a rhythm of swirling guitars and a muscular rhythm section, embracing the Motor City’s penchant for in-your-face rock. “The summer of 2020 was hell in Portland, Oregon with the riots and destruction of the downtown area,” he explains the song’s distinct and firm origin, encircling the current state of his cherished Pacific Northwest home base.
The neon-drenched video was completely created by A.I. “Apparently A.I. felt that what his track is about is a macabre alien hot cave dance party/’60s mini motorcycle rally, and it pretty much nailed it,” Taylor laughs, pointing out the weird and wild imagery he and the video’s creator concocted. “A.I. is like a brilliant child, complete with ego and defense mechanisms. If you try to control it too much, it will rebel by doing some fucked up shit to your project.”
Renowned for their epic live performances, both sonically and visually, The Dandy Warhols will return once again to Australia and New Zealand in April 2024!
General Tickets On Sale NOW here
