…hope that this ends soon, LONGSLEEVES Afghan
Longsleeves Afghan/Joyrider EP is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music.
by Walter Price
I know firsthand the mental health and loss issues affecting young people. Not just in these social media meddling, Covid, war, racial strife heavy times, but from eras past as well. But personal struggles are somewhat easier to talk about these days. Heavy emphasis on the “somewhat”.
The recent single, “Afghan“, from Norfolk indie rockers Longsleeves appears to go headlong into these subjects. “Collect your real problems from the suburbs/ Bloody elbows, do you remember?/ Tooth shudders tear and masticate/ Rippling rivers, on a crumby date/ School sucks, caterpillars/ Such a bummer, I’ll never graduate/ I’m dreading everyday hope that this ends soon…”
The imagery laid out here is pretty powerful. Only made more tactile by the accompanying music video. Retro home movie-style images are sewn together depicting youthful exploration, adventure, and danger. All the stuff a kid should experience. But the innocence is broken as the last frames settle on the scrawled word, Help. Again, it’s compelling and certainly catches the viewer’s attention. Mission accomplished.
The conversation-starting “Afghan” comes from the 2021 6-track EP “Joyrider”, which you can stream in full, here at the GTC.
LONGSLEEVES Afghan
Band photo via Bandcamp
Engineered & Mixed by Will Beasley in Richmond, Va.
Asst. Engineer: Tommy Harton
Produced by Will Beasley & Longsleeves
Austin Fontenot: vocals, bass
Curtis Allison: rhythm guitar, synth
Kyle Bauer: lead guitar, synth, vocals
Matt Francis: drums and percussion
MUSIC VIDEO: Directed & Edited by Matt Francis
Produced by Haunted Vault
Shot by Reggie Lewis
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You reminisce about who and when
Times closed and everybody knows it
You always talk about what could have been
Hats off to those that turned their noses
You reminisce about who and when
Times closed and everybody knows it
You always talk about what could have been
Hats off to facing the end…