Alex Edkins has developed and honed a reputation for being a master craftsman of sweaty, mosh pit friendly rippers as the frontman of Toronto-based JOVM mainstays METZ.
Interestingly, Edkins’ new side project Weird Nightmare sees the METZ frontman showcasing a new side of the long-established songwriting that has won him acclaim and fans across the globe: enormous power chord driven rippers with mosh pit friendly hooks and choruses — but paired with a sugary, distorted power pop touch.
Earlier this month, Weird Nightmare released their debut single, “Searching For You,” a fun, straightforward power pop banger featuring shout-along-with-upraised-beer-in-the-mosh-pit choruses, swooningly earnest lyricism, the enormous power chords Edkins is best known for but with an accessible, old-timey inspired craftsmanship that makes the song incredibly radio friendly — as though it Edkins and his METZ bandmates were covering Cheap Trick or Big Star.
“It’s a fun, no nonsense rock ‘n’ roll song,” Edkins explains. “It’s about searching for meaning and inspiration all around us. In my mind, the ‘you’ in the chorus refers to something bigger than companionship or love, it’s that intangible thing we all look for but never find.”
“Lusitania,” Weird Nightmare’s sophomore single is a fun, old school rock/power pop anthem centered around Edkins’ unerring ability to craft an enormous, crowd pleasing hook paired with blistering guitar work and earnest songwriting.
“‘Lusitania’ was a big breakthrough for the entire Weird Nightmare album. I realized that, musically, my goal was to make songs that would make people feel good!” Edkins says in press notes. “This idea of waking up from a terrible dream or winter changing into spring. Momentary relief. We all need that feeling right now and music has always been what I turn to most.”
Directed by Colin Medley, the accompanying video stars Allie Higgins as an exhausted, brown suit clad business person arriving in an empty diner. Presumably Higgins’ businessperson has lost their job as we first see them scanning the Classified section of a local newspaper. After slinking into their seat, Higgins answers the phone — and the rest of the video sees Higgins in an elaborate, expressive dance routine throughout the diner, before paying for a cup of coffee.
Sub Pop will be releasing the Weird Nightmare self-titled debut on May 20, 2022. Edkins and Weird Nightmare will be embarking on a handful of North American co-headlining dates with labelmates Kiwi Jr. The tour includes a July 28, 2022 stop at Baby’s All Right. Check out the rest of the tour dates below.
North American Tour Dates
Sat. May 21st – Toronto, ON – Baby G (Toronto Record Release Show)
Fri. Jun. 17th – Detroit, MI – Third Man Records *
Sat. Jun. 18th – Chicago, IL – Schubas *
Thu. Jul. 28th – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s Alright *
Fri. Jul. 29th – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Dogfish Head Brewery *
Sat. Jul. 30th – Washington, DC – Songbyrd *
Sun. Jul. 31st – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s *
*w/ Kiwi Jr
