Since 2004, Dew Claw has been the music project for which Stephen Hunking has released his meditations on life, love, parenting, personal themes, and other abstract musings. Stephen has created 4 full-length releases plus various singles and EPs under the Dew Claw umbrella over the last 20 years, while also being a member of the NY combo, XL Kings during the ‘10s and their 2 full-length and 1 single releases. Also, during that time, Stephen was a creative force behind the intercontinental band Grand Union, a collaborative venture with Frode Strømstad (I Was A King), which vetted 3 single releases. Stephen initially honed his musical skills and songwriting chops as a member of the group Hypnolovewheel (1987-1994), with 2 albums independently released and another 3 albums on Alias Records, along with assorted singles and compilation appearances.
Chris Xefos is best known as a member of King Missile during their 1989-1994 era. This indie-to-major label period for KM brought about the college-rock smash “Jesus Was Way Cool” and alt-rock hit “Detachable Penis.” Post-KM, Chris settled into San Francisco as a producer, engineer, and musician, working on solo albums for former Camper Van Beethoven members: Victor Krummenacher, Jonathan Segel and Greg Lisher amongst other projects. Chris was also a performing member of guitar instrumental groups Flotation Device and Rattletrap, the latter featuring Bruce Anderson of art-punk legends MX-80 Sound. In 2019, Bruce drafted Chris into MX-80 Sound and Chris played an expanded role as both band and recording engineering team member for their 2024 (and swan song) release, Better Than Life on Byron Coley’s Feeding Tube Records.
Stephen and Chris have been good friends since high school, discovering and playing music together over this entire time. During their NY/NJ fertile alt-rock period, the King Missile-Hypnolovewheel mafia was STRONG. The 2 bands shared a member for a time and Chris lent a hand with production duties on the first Hypno/Alias release.
On May 9th, Dew Claw is set to release their latest full-length, titled E.L.F, via Dromedary Records (PRE-ORDER). The album contains 10 songs, ranging from Stephen’s personal recordings to full-band arrangements, realized by enlisting generous contributions from: Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen (Rural Tapes/I Was A King), Frode Strømstad, Dave Rick (King Missile), Kurt Bloch (Fastbacks), Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor), Alison Faith Levy (Loud Family) bolstering DCs own instrumental talents in bringing these songs to life. For this record, Dew Claw formulated their initial musical inspiration from the transition period of classic English rockers The Move into Electric Light Orchestra. The Dew Claw team dabbles in traditional orchestral instrumentation in a very studio-built affair. However, when called upon by the song, they still can’t help but get back to their roots and (alt) rocking out. Like traditional Dew Claw material, these songs come from a very personal place for Stephen. However, on E.L.F., Stephen has allowed himself to be more open to collaboration, to open up his perspective and allow these songs to breathe freer and grow in a new light. Farmer power!
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the video for the standout track “Wall,” which was directed, shot, and edited by Danny Plotnick. The song is a punchy work of pop-punk brimming with guitar shredding and good rock and roll fun. The video offers a humorous nod to getting older but still trying to muster up the energy to hold on to your rock and roll roots. In a fashion befitting both of these accomplished musicians, the song balances a loose guitar-driven energy with infectious vocals and smart lyricism.
Stephen Hunking says:
Wall is a tale about old heartbreak and the pressures it can put on a new partner. If your new relationship lasts long enough, you might even get around to letting this person know in a song how much you appreciate them sticking it out with you. Basically “Wall” is a tribute to patient and loving partners everywhere in every form. Wall started as a collaboration between Stephen and Frode Strømstad (I Was A King) for possible recording with their project Grand Union, but never made it beyond the demo. Chris reconfigured and pushed the music towards a Buzzcocks influenced rocker. The recording features Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen (Rural Tapes) on the driving drums, along with guitar heroes Dave Rick (King Missile) and Kurt Bloch (Fastbacks) dueling each other for the first time ever on a recording! Topped off with the amazing vocal talents of the lovely Alison Faith Levy (The Loud Family) and these alley cats: Frode, Chris, all singing along with me. Grateful for all these peeps.
Chris Xefos says:
For the video, we asked my old pal and Super-8 king Danny Plotnick to help us realize what it means to be an aging indie rocker in this day and age. Adding his perspective along with his ample filmmaking talents, we couldn’t be happier with Danny’s work and the opportunity to collaborate on this video.
WATCH:
