Upchuck - 'Tired'
Upchuck’s latest raw and visceral single blasts a hole in our understanding of punk as we know it.
Upchuck has been blazing an all-new trail of nonconformity for years now and has doubled down for the latest album ‘I’m Nice Now’ (Releasing October 3rd) by tugging at the roots of injustice and seeing just how much noise they can make in the process. ‘Tired’ opens with a spur of crunching notes from guitarists Mikey Durham and Hoff and bassist Asuar Ward. we know what were in for as soon as this song starts and if their previous tracks ring a bell, get ready to pop that mouthguard in and swing for the hills, as the bass line and drum section carry an immense power that drive you onto your feet and really throw this song in a direction reminiscent of early hardcore punk, this song is a love letter to the all fathers of the genre they hold so dearly and is done in a way they would appreciate, gunning for the man at the top of the staircase who keeps standing on everyone’s heads to stay afloat.
Following critical praise from industry titans like Rolling Stone, who stated that Upchuck were a “A sonic cannon, set to maximum destruction” and Clash, who said “The band’s incendiary live shows are already the stuff of legend”, it’s clear to see that this band’s ascension is nothing short of colossal. They have taken this acclaim and powered forward with the message true to them as KT’s lyrics in this track are consistently pressing and urgent, this sense of pressure drives their listeners to go out and fight for something, with lyrics like “How many times I gotta tell ‘em that our pockets cryin’?... How many people you gon’ lie to and say you’re not lyin’?” spiraling visciously towards the upper class. This smash-and-grab approach to songwriting creates a spark that perfectly contributes to the large pile of gasoline that the rest of the band creates with their rambunctious and violent wall of sound.
‘Tired’ has been released alongside three other singles from the eagerly anticipated album, each creating an equal experience and flawlessly delivering the message the band aims to express. Upchuck's unclean and imperfect sound is the core of punk music and, to any punk fan, feels like home. The rise is bound to be meteoric, with the band set to release ‘I'm Nice Now’ on the 3rd of October and tour both in the United States and across Europe towards the end of the year, including a trip across the pond in November. While we all sit and wait with unbearable anticipation for the new album, follow the message of the track and fight for what’s right, this album will undoubtedly be the soundtrack of an era of anarchy and civil disobedience to come.
Words by Josh Pook
