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.
His side project Weird Nightmare frequently sees the METZ frontman showcasing a different 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 sensibility.
Last year saw the release of Edkins’ Weird Nightmare self-titled debut, which featured three singles I wrote about:
- “Searching For You,” a fun, straightforward power pop banger, featuring shout-along-with-upraised-beer-in-the-mosh-pit choruses, earnest lyricism and 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.”
- “Wrecked,” a driving and ardent guitar pop anthem centered around big hooks, enormous power chords and sweetly, lived-in lyricism. It’s also the first Edkins song that I can remember that features boy-girl call and response vocals, thanks to a guest spot from Bully‘s Alicia Bogannano. “‘Wrecked’ is about missing something,” Edkins says. “For me, it’s about missing my wife and son while on tour. Being away has become harder and harder to do. I think most people can relate to it. Feeling impossibly far away from the ones you love and coming to the realization that you won’t feel whole again until you return. I was really happy to collaborate with Alicia (Bognanno) on this song and I love what she adds to it. Alicia has a one in a million voice. A voice that you recognize immediately and she really lifts the song way up.”
Weird Nightmare’s first single of the year is a cover of a Ramones classic, “She’s The One.” The Weird Nightmare rendition is a decidedly low-key and slowed down ballad-like take on the original featuring Beatles-like harmonies, fuzz guitar, shimmering pedal steel by Aaron Goldstein paired with Edkins unerring knack for catchy hooks. Interestingly, the ballad-like take on the punk classic, pulls out the swooning and heartfelt sentiment at the heart of the song.
Directed by Ladyhead Design, the animated video follows an animated Dee Dee Ramone skateboarding through the streets of Toronto to some of Edkins’ favorite haunts.
Tour Dates
Fri. Jun. 09 – Toronto, CA – DO WEST FEST
Sun. Jun. 25 – Calgary, CA – Sled Island Festival
Thu. Jul. 12 – Toronto, CA – Horseshoe Tavern $
Sat. Aug. 26 – Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje #
Sun. Aug. 27 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg #
Tue. Aug. 29 – Gothenburg, SE – Pustervik #
Wed. Aug. 30 – Malmo, SE – Folk å Rock #
Fri. Sep. 01 – Kristiansand S, NO – KICK Nattklubb & Scene #
Sat. Sep. 02 – Stavanger, NO – Folken #
Sun. Sep. 03 – Bergen, NO – Landmark #
Mon. Sep 04 – Oslo, NO – Rockefeller Music Hall #
Tue. Sep 05 – Trondheim, NO – Byscenen #
Wed. Sep. 06 – Östersund, SE – Nails Östersund #
Thu. Sep. 07 – Solna, SE –Värdshuset Koppartälten #
Fri. Sep. 08 – Copenhagen, DK – Global Copenhagen #
Tue. Sep 12 – Gent, BE – Vooruit #
$ w/ Protomartyr
# w/ Daniel Romano and Julianna Riolino