Premiere: Gnawing Offer A Glimpse Of Tour Life In New Video For “I Saw A Ghost”
Last month, alt-rock heavyweight Gnawing released their sophomore album, Modern Survival Techniques, a fuzzy and buzzy record that sharply tackles what being a musician means in the modern world, where dealing with a pandemic sometimes ranks second or even third in a list of problems next to the harsh modern album cycle and stringent streaming payouts. Rage and anxiety pour through deliberate and frenetic songs, giving the record a sense of trembling reflection that distills the band’s frustrations into a thrilling sound. Those resentments and irritations still remain in the band, but the band exists as a stronger entity these days, better equipped to deliver their thrilling and stirring sound while still bucking the unforgiving industry landscape. In that vein, the band has put together a new video for the song “I Saw A Ghost” off the new record, showcasing the life of a touring band traveling from New York to Chicago, which The Auricular is proud to premiere today with an exclusive stream you can view right below.
The video captures the band on the road as a supporting act for Fucked Up at the end of April and beginning of May, all in the lead-up to their album release. On the tour, the band was joined by Ben Kerley (Caroline Guitar Company) who captured hours of footage of the band as they traveled, explored, and performed in cities like Philly, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis. Whittling down all that footage was no easy feat at all, but Kerley does an excellent job putting the focus on tour life, capturing the band in casual and intimate moments that showcase their charm and spunk in the face of a tiring schedule. Moments of unity, like a pre-show rallying cry or a relaxed pool game, show that Gnawing has really come out of the past few years a stronger band, despite everything the world has thrown at working musicians.
The song itself is one of the more memorable tracks off of Modern Survival Techniques. Misty and rollicking, it’s a clever composition that plays on the airy space between distortions to confront the elusive nature of past connections. “Heard something in an empty room, knew it couldn’t be you/ Thought I heard you laugh, but it was in the past,” sings John Russell, highlighting the deceptive way the past lives on in the present, constantly beckoning us to reminisce to the point that we ignore the strained outcome of those warm memories. Thematically, “I Saw A Ghost” also seems to reference the idea of “what could have been” that helps fuel the overall ire behind the record, but instead of succumbing to it, the song rises above and moves on with a clear head that knows those thoughts will only hold you back from bigger triumphs in the future.
Coupled with the footage of a band still bursting with sardonic charm and tenacious spirit, “I Saw A Ghost” displays Gnawing as a crafty act wielding a fuzzy sound that’s as captivating as it is powerful, offering an incisive approach to alt-rock music that makes it endlessly enjoyable.
Modern Survival Techniques is out now through Refresh Records, available digitally through all streaming platforms as well as physically on vinyls that are available now! For more information, head over to Refresh Records’ website or stop by Gnawing’s Bandcamp page.
And make sure to keep up-to-date on all things Gnawing by following them on social media!
