Comprised of Jacob Morrell (guitarist), Mike Shaw (vocals and bass) and Mike’s brother Jack (drums), the Atlanta-based indie rock trio The Head can trace their origins to when the members of the band were in high school. “We formed in high school during our freshman year,” frontman Mike Shaw explains in press notes. “Jack and I were looking for someone to play some songs with—we met Jacob and he ended up becoming one of our best friends.” And although the members of the band are in their early 20s, the band has developed a reputation both locally and nationally for a sound that draws from early 80s post-punk, New Wave and 90s alt rock; in fact, as a result a number of legendary and beloved artists have championed the trio and taken them under their wing including Big Star‘s Jody Stephens, producer Mitch Easter, best known for his work with R.E.M. and Pavement, John Vanderslice and Guided by Voices‘ Doug Gillard.
“Raincoats,” the latest single off the band’s Millipedes EP pairs Shaw’s silky baritone crooning with propulsive drumming that leads a driving, motorik groove, angular guitar played through a gentle bit of reverb and an anthemic hook. Sonically, the song sounds as though it could have been released in 1983 — but while possessing a clean, modern production sheen and a self-assuredness in themselves and their material that belies the band’s relatively young age.
Speaking of the 1980s, the recently released video for “Raincoats” draws heavily from era specific MTV videos as it follows the members of the band driving around, hanging out, goofing off and occasionally doing “serious and cool band stuff,” and quick cuts to the band’s Mike Shaw singing the song while being submerged in a bathtub.
