ELEPHANTS & STARS “It’s guitar-driven rock, yes, but not in a chest-thumping way”

FIRST single from new ELEPHANTS AND STARS long-player ‘Philistine Vulgarity’ drops today, one of the heavier tracks on the album, ‘Take It All’ was produced by Ron Hawkins (The Lowest Of The Low).

“The song at its essence is sort of a love letter to the girls – now women – of my generation who have been maybe kind of beaten down by life,” explains frontman, Manfred Sittmann, “age, work and economic stresses, bad relationships, divorces. However, to me they will always be those girls I grew up with, and I wanted to sort of remind them of the fact that they were – and are – still those girls and they should never forget it.  The message is sort of don’t let them take that from you.”

“Before I joined, I did what anyone would do. I listened. A lot,” explains new drummer, J.R. McConvey. “The band has been putting out records steadily over the past several years. I wasn’t around for any of those, so I experienced them the way most listeners would – on headphones, trying to piece together who these people are through the songs.

“What struck me first is how the music feels unforced. It’s guitar-driven rock, yes, but not in a chest-thumping way. Songs unfold patiently. There are hooks, but they don’t beg for attention. Tracks like ‘On The Table’ and ‘Flaw In The System’ have that quality where they grab you on the first listen, then later you realize there’s more going on underneath.

“It’s strange joining a band right as a new album is about to come out. You feel proud of something you didn’t help build. But if you’re looking for a grand statement about what Elephants and Stars represent in the modern musical landscape, I’m not going to deliver it. I’m just the drummer.

“I asked Manfred if he had any quotes he wanted to add, but he said, “Nah, they can listen to the record and figure it out.”

“From where I’m sitting, that’s the best advice.”

Joining Sittmann and McConvey in the band are Michael MacMillan (bass), and Adam Seed (lead guitar/vocs).

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