Over the past couple of years, you may have come across a handful of posts on punk rock trio Terry Malts. Comprised of Corey Cunningham (guitar vocals), Phil Benson (bass, vocals) and Nathan Sweatt (drums), the members of the trio have developed a reputation for doing things in prototypical fashion; in fact, the trio self-produced and self-recorded their first two albums in their rehearsal space. Since the 2013 release of their critically applauded effort, Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere, the members of the punk rock band have been pretty busy. After a busy schedule that included playing a number of local shows and national touring, Cunningham and Benson had spent the better part of the following year writing, re-writing and revising the material that would eventually comprise their long-awaited third full-length effort, Last At The Party in Los Angeles, where Cunningham had relocated.
Now, as you may remember, earlier this month I wrote about “Seen Everything,” Last At The Party‘s first single, and that single revealed a decided change in sonic direction. Reportedly, during the writing sessions for Party, Cunningham and Benson had decided that for their third album, that they wanted to broaden the band’s sound by creating a kaleidoscopic pop album that had a mixture of moods, with each song turning to a different sound inspired by the albums that influenced and inspired the band over the years. And as a result, the album’s material manages to retain the something of the gritty and grimy punk rock that first caught the attention of the blogosphere, while equally drawing from jangling and shimmering indie pop and power pop. Once they were finished writing and felt they were ready to record, the members of the band then enlisted Monte Vallier, best known for his work with Soft Moon and Weekend Swell to co-produce the band’s first album actually recorded in a professional studio.
The album’s second single “Used To Be” much like its predecessor possesses a professional studio sheen while retaining the band’s uncanny penchant for crafting catchy hooks but where “Seen Everything” was a bit scuzzier, “Used To Be” has the band pairing a bittersweet and wistful nostalgia over the things that have and will continue to irrevocably change — i.e. relationships that come and go, complete with their lingering ghosts, resentments and unfinished business — while at the same time, possessing an almost Zen-like acceptance of impermanence. And they do so with a radio-friendly, power pop feel.
The band will be touring to support the new effort, check out the tour dates below. And it includes an October 24 stop at Shea Stadium.
Tour Dates
Oct 8 – Carmel, CA The Rumpus
Oct 9 – Los Angeles, CA – The Hi Hat,(Release show w/ Devon Williams & Susan)
Oct 10 – San Francisco, CA – Hemlock (Release show w/ Chook Race & Lovebirds)
Oct 22 – Baltimore, MD – U+N Fest
Oct 23 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
Oct 24 – Brooklyn, NY – Shea Stadium
Oct 25 – Allston, MA – O’Brien’s Pub
Oct 27 – Detroit, MI – UFO Factory
Oct 28 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
Oct 29 – St Louis, MO – San Loo
Nov 18 – Seattle, WA – Vera Project
Nov 19 – Portland, OR – Bunk Bar