Extra Arms Share "Big Dogs" Music Video from Upcoming Guest-filled Album What Is Even Happening Right Now? (Forge Again Records)
"What is even happening right now?" Good Lord! How many times have you said that to yourself in the last 2... 3... 4... 10 years? Bat-sh*t presidents, natural disasters, a global pandemic, murder hornets, you name it—something f***ed up is always happening. Detroit Power Pop band Extra Arms knows this. They understand it. But instead of accepting it and moving on, they do something about it—they turn up the volume and channel their confusion, frustration, and rage into catchy-as-Hell bangers that make you want to punch a hole in the sky. If you're reading this, perhaps, you've been here before. It's possible that you have cranked their first full band album—2018's Headacher—on a run through your neighborhood. Maybe, you laughed and cried while speeding down the highway listening to 2019's concept/break-up album for the ages, Up from Here.
There's even a chance you've been down since Day One and know some of singer/guitarist/song-writer Ryan Allen's solo albums by heart. But what is even happening RIGHT NOW? Well, Extra Arms has another record to blast into your earholes. And this time, the guys just wanna have fun. Sure there's some existential dread sewn into these 10 cranked up rockers, but there's, also, a sense of joy, positivity, and self-reflection that picks up where "Up from Here" (the album and the song) left off. An 80's video game sample ushers in the relentless, Superchunk-y "Fun Guy"—a redemption song with a title swiped from the infamous nickname of Clippers basketball player Kawhi Leonard—and from there, it's pretty much ON. The album wraps with "I Don't Wanna Die," a go-for-broke jam that throws all of the band's influences into the melting pot, reminding the listener that even in these dark times, there's always something to live for.
By the time it's over, you'll be asking yourself, "what just happened?" And, then, you'll hit Play again. Extra Arms supposedly drew inspiration and influence from Elvis Costello's This Year's Model (1978) and Jawbreaker's Dear You (1995) during the making-of What Is Even Happening Right Now? An album press release name-checks everyone from Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot) to Foo Fighters & Stereolab, as well as Rocket from The Crypt, The Go-Go's, The Cars, and The Ohio Players. Now, we would be remiss if we didn't mention a few details: the album was created in the era of social distance. Demos were made. Files were shared. Zoom calls were had. Masked-up band members convened in small numbers at engineer Charles Huber's Drifting Sun Sound. Tracks were captured there or flown in from home. Experiments were conducted. Bass parts were recorded in comfy pants.
Oh, and we can't forget the guests: Matthew Caws from Nada Surf, Bob Nanna from Braid/Hey Mercedes, Gregory Macdonald from Sloan, Lily Paul from The Plastic Beach, Scott Allen from Thunderbirds Are Now!, Chris Hatfield from Love Axe, and saxophonist Matt Jones can all be found in the fibers of this album. All that was left was for Paul Miner (New Found Glory, Thrice, Touché Amoré) to mix, master, and stick a fork in it. So, the only question left is: "what is even happening... next?" Well, only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: you'll have a killer new Extra Arms album for the soundtrack. Extra Arms' music video for the album's first single, "Big Dogs," premiered over at New Noise Magazine yesterday. "Big Dogs" mixes Allen's choppy delayed guitar with drummer Dan Stover's propulsive beat and a hooky, sing-along bridge, all while being a heartfelt ode to man's best friend. What Is Even Happening Right Now? is currently available for pre-order on limited edition white vinyl and Extra Arms are getting ready for two Flint & Detriot, Michigan Release Shows. Extra Arms' What Is Even Happening Right Now? is out 6/3 on Forge Again Records.
