If you want to get a good idea of where the musicians who make up Sadlands come from you can start with these bands:

Answering Machine – Out of Brooklyn, NY  – I first caught them on their eponymous EP in early 2018.   The songs on this are powerful alternative music with some different grooves that keep you interested throughout the four song run.  “Stadium Dreams” is my favorite here.  

Choke Up – The only song I had heard from this Boston band is “Crosses” off of their 2015 album Black Coffee, Bad Habits (cool naming points credited!).  This song is quite the musical journey from a jangly tone and kicking beat at the beginning to an elevated vocal and then back down into a a kind of grungy middle.  I later checked out the full album and it hits somewhere in the emo-punk genre but trending toward punk.  I went back to purchase it on Bandcamp while writing this but no purchase button exists…if someone has a purchase link or a copy to buy please send me the info! 

Ellen and the Degenerates  – I first encountered this band via “Going on a Trip,” a single they released in 2018.  It literally is about going on a car trip and just about a perfect recitation of what a long roadie is like.  Definitely punk in style and a sense of humor…always good.   They also have a really good album from 2019 called Return of the Herb.

So, some of the talented people from these bands came together to form Sadlands whose only prior release that I am aware of is a self-titled EP from 2023.   In my opinion the stand-out track on that is “McClellan” which has a very infectious driving guitar vibe and a vocal track that runs just a little off-pace at times … in a kind of breathless way that works well.  

And that gets us to this single from Sadlands upcoming album (on Wiretap Records) which should be out October 17th.  “Bad Idea” is a punchy, pop-punk song in the best tradition of the early Go-Go’s.  And I am talking about those  Go-Go’s songs you probably have not heard much of – the kind they used to play at Whisky a Go Go back in the late 70’s long before Beauty and the Beat came out.  I never heard it live but if you can find a copy of Return to the Valley of the Go-Go’s you will hear what I mean.  

This track leads off with a great guitar and drum sound that is soon joined by a fast-paced vocal line that seems to be rushing to somewhere.  The bass here also booms majestically over every measure, lending a heavy buzz to the music.  A really groovy and infectious song…you can play this one and feel good.  

Musicians on this are:  Jess Lane (vocals, guitar), Sam Campanile (vocals, guitar), Harley Cox (drums) and Louis Rabeno (bass).  

Stream this here: 

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sadlands3/bad-idea

And you can pre-save the album here: 

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sadlands3/try-to-have-a-little-fun/

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

That local community you walk through everyday…is awesome…stop and smell the flowers 🙂