Free Drunk

Album: America Give Up (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Howler is a garage rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota comprising lead guitarist and vocalist Jordan Gatesmith, drummer Brent Mayes, guitarist Ian Nygaard, keyboardist Max Petrek and bassist France Camp. Gatesmith's previous musical history includes such ridiculously titled groups as Total Babe, A-Cups and Gay Animals. On the strength of an EP and their live show, the quintet were signed by Rough Trade Records. In the summer of 2011, Howler recorded their debut album America Give Up, which was released on January 16, 2012 in the UK and the following day in the US.
  • This song is a thinly veiled attack on the Minneapolis scene that, according to Gatesmith, "on the whole, hates our guts." "I felt like I was never really wanted there," he explained to NME. "A lot of people are genuinely enthused and are like, 'Holy s--t this is amazing, this is the first time this has happened since 1986 for this city.' But, on the other hand, Minneapolis is full of music has-beens and people that almost made it. They're all in their 30s starting bands with each other. There we were, these 19-year-old kids that ended up getting signed to Rough Trade. No wonder people hated us."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."