The Mommyheads wil lrelease their new album, One Eyed Band, on November 9th, 2024, after delving deep into concept record territory with last year’s Coney Island Kid. They return again to pushing boundaries while not seeming the least bit concerned about any genre or classification and still sounding like they’re enjoying themselves. Releasing seven LPs in the last six years has only fueled their commitment to originality in an ever-changing landscape: well-crafted songs, progressive arrangements, and deft musicianship keep their sound fresh after 37 years together.
Complexity mixed with simplicity, like chocolate mixed with sea salt, is the strength of One Eyed Band. The influences are strong but never cluster originality or sentiment. “Chicken Soup” opens the album with a swirling barrage of 12-string guitars and synths, setting the stage for a bittersweet yet rebellious undertone in all those late 70s and early 80s dusty record collections. Adam starts off by singing the mantra: “Breathing, Searching, Failing, Dreaming,” leaving us wondering what Genesis would have done if they had made Duke: Part Two? Meanwhile, “Life is a Dream” kicks the door in with a passionately dissonant attack of guitars, disco-inspired horns, and string arrangements that would keep any Elvis Costello or ABBA fan humming along. One Eyed Band draws us in through fearless sonic exploration and intimate storytelling prevalent from the first guitar note of “Season of Our Sound” until the last strum of “Human Being.”
The band also recently found their 1989 debut record original master tapes Acorn in a Rockville, MD attic. They decided to give them a proper remaster for a re-release on January 27, 2025, via the Mommyheads Music Label. They’ve added the bonus track, “At The Mall” from the original Simple Machines 1990 Series to round out the offering. Now is a perfect time to compare and contrast the last 35 years for this enduring band.
Tour Dates 2024
Sept 26 C’ville VA Southern
Sept 27 Greensboro NC Flat Iron
Sept 28 Richmond Black Iris
Sept 29 Red Bank, NJ Jacks Records (acoustic)
Oct 22 Portland OR Bunk
Oct 23 Seattle WA JewelBox Theatre
Oct 24 Eugene OR Sam Bond’s
Oct 25 Albany CA Ivy Room
Oct 26 Santa Cruz CA The Crepe Place
Nov 15 NYC Bowery Electric
