If there was ever a guy to ask for a current melodic hardcore album recommendation, it would be Seattle musician Rocky Votolato. Votolato has spent the last decade recording amazing solo albums, like this year’s Hospital Handshakes, but he also fronted the quintessential band Waxwing, a band that we have raved about here at Rice and Bread. When we got him in the guest reviewer chair, Votolato picked an album we’ve yet to hear, but one that will definitely be on our to-listen-to list now.
Rocky Votolato: The first album that comes to mind is mewithoutYou‘s new record that just came out on Run for Cover Records. It’s called Pale Horses. That’s a really great album and a great band. I love those guys; they are such good people and musicians, and I support what they are doing so much. So I would check that out.
We haven’t heard their new one. How does it compare to their other albums?
It’s got some new life breathing into it by the fact that they went on tour with some younger bands, and it just sounds like they are starting new again, and it’s got a lot of energy. I know the album is doing really well for them and I’m happy to see them succeeding; they just sold out the Bowery Ballroom in New York a couple nights ago, so they’re doing really, really well, and it’s good to see your friends succeeding like that.
When you put on a record by one of your friends’ bands is it a daunting task sometimes? Because you sort of have to like it, right?
[Laughs] Yeah, I guess. Maybe you have more forgiveness or whatever, but I think a lot of my friends are just really incredible, interesting artists, and mewithoutYou are definitely one of them. They are such an influence on that scene and what’s going on with some of the younger bands, and they defined that style and that sound that they have. So many bands look up to them and have been inspired and influenced by them, so it’s good to see them still going, and doing good things and keeping it alive, you know?
Any songs about spiders on this new album? I know they had that one album that had, like, three songs about spiders.
[Laughs] Yeah, I love that record. That’s [2008’s] Brother, Sister. What a great album. Nope, no songs about spiders on this one. It’s more like their early stuff, like A->B Life or Catch for Us the Foxes; that’s what this album reminds me more of. It’s a little more hardcore.
I know they’re playing Fest this year, and I’ll be sure to check them out.
Cool. If you see them, tell them “hi” for me, man.
mewithoutYou‘s Pale Horses is available now on Run for Cover Records.
Rocky Votolato‘s Hospital Handshakes is available now on No Sleep Records.
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