E.R.I.E. - Suburban Mayhem

Label

Mint 400

Rebel Noise: Interview

“Suburban Mayhem boldly grapples with contemporary fears that plague us all…” (The Rodeo)

“a class act with lots of passion and a great chemistry, making them very easy to cheer for…” (Nippertown)

“crunching guitars, catchy choruses and a down-to-earth, working-class vibe that recalls modern heartland punk rock…” (Daily Gazette)

“…relatable, heartfelt inspirations performed with an actual passion…” (Buzz-Music)

“E.R.I.E. encompasses what a mature but fiery rock sound should be. Tasteful touches of a Springsteen style with solid tone and life…” (Pete’s Rock News and Views)

For a band that was dreamt up in a hospital bed, indie-rock quartet E.R.I.E. certainly has a lot of life in them. After emergency heart surgery in the Fall of 2018, TJ Foster spent the following year writing and recording Don’t Wanna Live, Don’t Wanna Die in an attempt to not only reflect on the harrowing ordeals that brought him to that hospital room, but also to get back to his roots as a songwriter.

And while that March 2020 debut effectively highlighted greatly personal, existential struggles with both mental and physical health, the group’s second LP, Suburban Mayhem, arrives with grander scope and vision. The album, due April 7th via Mint 400 Records, turns its focus externally, commenting vividly on the outside forces burrowing into our brains on a daily basis. It’s a resplendent examination of the world around us, rife with equal parts cynicism, wit and hope. Featuring pitch-perfect collaborations with Brooklyn-based dream-pop trio ALMA, and fellow Albany, NY area songwriter Sydney Worthley, the record showcases a band not only finding their footing, but settling into a signature sound.

The four members of E.R.I.E.– guitarist Matt Delgado, drummer Chad Flewwelling and bassist Levi Jennes, alongside Foster – spent most of 2022 self-recording their sophomore full-length, yielding 12 nostalgia-tinged songs that lend credence to the frequent comparisons to The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner and The Menzingers that the band has garnered.

All the while, E.R.I.E. has solidified themselves as one of the most reliable and entertaining live acts in the greater Albany, NY music scene. With every performance brimming with energy, vulnerability and appreciation, the band is poised to become a suburban success story.