Glenn VeryClose - Episode 0

If you’ve had even half a conversation with me about Connecticut’s music scene, then undoubtedly you’ve heard me mention indie-rock power trio The 30th of February. They’re prolific songwriters and incredible performers, and I reviewed their latest EP Silence a few months ago, which recently saw a CD release featuring an exclusive bonus track. And as if that wasn’t enough to get me salivating, their frontman Ant just released an EP entitled Episode 0, a collection of stripped-down, dolorous tunes published under the moniker Glenn VeryClose, and I find myself completely lost in this record’s winding chords and lilting melodies.

Sonically, Episode 0 is relatively sparse, with each song stripped almost to the bones. Acoustic guitar and a plucky ukulele provide the foundation over which Ant’s haunting vocals float like fog on early morning streets. Yet he accomplishes so much with this little arsenal: “Walking Past a Burning Building” alternates between gentle melody and roaring, chorus-drenched chords, while “PDF” layers both string instruments to create cascading waves of sound. Glenn VeryClose uses simplicity to maximum effect on this EP, letting the energy and emotion of his chord progressions steep into strong elixirs of song.

The melancholy strings set the tonal foundation of Episode 0, and it’s upon this that Glenn VeryClose builds the tales and trials of each tune. The vocals on this EP are insanely mournful, each word carrying the weight of a thousand disappointments. Lines like “Hate yourself for me” from “Hate” or “Lost / in a space I created all myself” in “Vulnerable” shape atmospheres of intense emotion that are blatant, unencumbered by veil or metaphor. Each line is terribly powerful, and yet in these same songs, the speaker lacks agency to act upon that power, instead asking for permission with the questions “Can I hate you?” and “Am I allowed to stay?”

It is this lyrical approach, one of complete abandon, that makes this EP resonate so strongly with me. Glenn VeryClose embeds the very essence of depression, a simultaneous hopelessness against change and stasis, in every single line. It’s a viciously honest portrayal of how it feels to be alone, even if it’s just in your head. And yet Glenn VeryClose does not simply wallow in this darkness—by writing these songs, committing them to hand and heart and record, he thus begins a journey towards acceptance, and hopefully, healing.

No matter how many times I spin this EP, Episode 0 still hits me in the heart like the loss of a loved one. This record offers an intimate, stripped-down look into the world of an insanely prolific songwriter, and each of the four tracks spells out in heartbreaking detail how tough that world can be. With Episode 0, Glenn VeryClose bares all that there is to bare, trusting us as the listener to understand, to believe, to accept. It’s a vivid listening experience, and as you choose to venture into this odyssey, know you will not return the same as you arrived.

My Top Track(s): “Vulnerable” and “PDF” (I can’t choose!)

You can find more from Glenn VeryClose, including upcoming shows and news, on Facebook. Then head over to his Bandcamp page and grab your own copy of Episode 0.

Shameless Self Promotion: New Single "Tallest Trees, Highest Branches" Drops Today!

"Tallest Trees, Highest Branches"

Hey friends! Brace yourself for some more shameless grandstanding....

In a few weeks, I will be dropping my very first full-length effort, Drops of Dew & Mourning. It's a record I've been working on for years at this point, and I'm excited to get it out in the world finally. So excited that I thought I'd share a song with you now. 

"Tallest Trees, Highest Branches" is probably the best example of what Drops sounds like--bombastic, scattered, DIY, and (hopefully) honest. It features a full arrangement, including programmed drums, vocal harmonies, and two 4-string bass parts. It's also fast becoming one of my favorite songs to play live. 

You can stream "Tallest Trees, Highest Branches" right off the Bandcamp page, and/or download it for free if you so choose. Don't be afraid to leave a review either--I'd love to hear what you think!

Drops of Dew & Mourning "drops" on Saturday March 30th on Bandcamp. Come join me and some great local acts at CBBG in Watertown that night to celebrate the record release and to grab your own physical copy, featuring artwork by the incredibly talented Deanna Burke. 

Thanks for giving this a shot. 

• Drops of Dew & Mourning Record Release Show: https://www.facebook.com/events/1607343876017821/

• "Tallest Trees, Highest Branches" on Bandcamp:https://thejudasobscure.bandcamp.com/album/tallest-trees-highest-branches-single 

• Deanna Burke's Website: http://www.deannaburkeart.com/ 

The 30th of February - Silence

One of the hallmarks of a great record is its ability to grab your attention and get you moving from the first few seconds. More important still is a record’s ability to keep you interested until the very last note. Displaying diversity in sound without underselling a band’s strengths is a daunting task, but with their new EP Silence, CT’s The 30th of February prove that they are more than up to the challenge.

The music that The 30th of February collects on Silence is the very antithesis of the title, raucous and unrestrained. Guitar riffs tower like the walls of an ancient city—every tone is so intimately designed that each listen reveals something new. The drums form hypnotic grooves that rise and fall like ocean waves, while the bass punches up the low end in deep and rumbling tones. The 30th combine all efforts to create gorgeous and brooding soundscapes in each piece, making it too damn easy to get lost in the instrumentation.

There is a ton of dynamic movement across Silence, and nowhere is it more apparent than in the vocals. Verses haunt in quiet corners before striking out furiously in the choruses. Lines like “I can’t cry / I can’t fly / but I won’t die for you” carry a tense and deep emotion that belies their disaffected delivery. Additionally, each song features powerful and pretty harmonies, further adding to the soundscape and tying the human presence into the monstrous instrumentation.

Despite their extremely distinctive sound, The 30th of February manages to impress each track on Silence with its own distinct mood and vitality. “Captain” drawls across a gritty chord progression before colliding with the hyper punk anthem “Codeine Chaser.” “Caffeinated Dreamscape” sulks on a heavy and hypnotic bass riff, and “I’m Alright” rides a simple, undulating chord progression until it rushes forth into a chaotic coda. Each of these four tracks create very distinct impressions of this band’s capability by exploring very different sonic territories and moods. Yet these tracks belong together—to remove any single song or even rearrange them would serve only to diminish the captivating power of this record.

Silence sounds like a voyage into the underworld, each song a leg of the journey deeper into the unknown. Rich soundscapes and emotive performances leave me feeling a palpable charge of energy after each listen. The 30th of February flaunts both their skillful playing and their tight writing on Silence. Their distinctive, driving sound and expressive performances have me completely addicted to this release; I truthfully cannot wait to see where they head next, and I can assure you that wherever this odyssey takes them, I will be right up against the barrier to cheer them on.

My Top Track: “I’m Alright”

You can find more from The 30th of February, including upcoming live shows and news, on Facebook. Then grab your own copy of Silence on their Bandcamp page.