Excuse Me, Who Are You?
Photo Cred 📷: @alexkiander
Nothing quite like some sad lyrics being yelled at full volume over twinkly guitar riffs and hard strumming patterns. Since the summer of 2021 Excuse Me, Who Are You? have been showcasing their unique style of Midwest Emo, their occasional use of breakdowns with a rougher tone and feel overall to their sound separate them from the oodles of other noodly bands out there making them stick out when being compared to the much softer, twinkly sounds you’d normally associate with the genre. Their grittier sound sets them apart from their peers who they stand side by side with at the top of all DIY emo lists amongst fans of the genre.
The four piece, Madison, Wisoncsin based band have kicked back into 2024 with two noodly new singles. “Maybe That Truck Hit Me…And This Is All a Dream” (now streaming everywhere) and we’ve got the exclusive premiere to the music video for their latest track “Let’s End All of This”.
“There are a lot of ways to interpret surrealism, but for me the way that’s always made sense is that art wants to be made, the world wants to be turned into art. After listening to the song a bunch of times it seemed that if we could get the band together in a beautiful place where we were free to explore and mess around, interesting ideas and images would happen organically. It’s an intense song, sonically and lyrically- few things in life are creepier than feeling like you can’t trust the people closest to you, or even worse, yourself. In response to this kind of subject matter, it felt crucial that the shoot had to be a lot of fun- hiking around the woods, riding four-wheelers, PBR by the fire. I think the fun is what allowed us to go into weirder, darker terrain- bright lights casting dark shadows.” - Evan McConahay (music video director).
And from the bands perspective “We spent the whole day four wheeling, drinking, and just hanging out while filming in between. We have all talked about how it may have been the most fun we’ve had together outside of music as a band. Jackson made a fire at the end of the night before we put grass and paint all over Stu with the randomized strobe light. We were all laughing our asses off to even tears inside of our masks while Stu has a vivid memory of how horrific the event was from his perspective despite it being his idea.”
The music video to “Let’s End All of This” brings a darker tone to the screen, matching up with vocalist Kyle Kinney’s lyrics “Bury me with all my friends” the compassionately yelled vocals of Kyle are more raw than ever on this track as they struggle to maintain a balance and trust within these friendships through emotional and instrumental breakdowns throughout the song.
I WROTE THE LYRICS AROUND THE LINE, “BURY ME WITH ALL MY FRIENDS”. EVENTUALLY, IT WENT FROM A CUTE SONG ABOUT LOVING MY FRIENDS TO ALSO INCLUDING STRUGGLES I DEALT WITH PERSONALLY BETWEEN MYSELF AND THEM. THE LINE I WROTE THE LYRICS AROUND ACTS MORE OF A DOUBLE ENTENDRE FOR THAT REASON NOW”.
- KYLE @EMWAY608
I only exist when you need something If I’m dead, let me rest Bury me with all my friends
Bury me with all my friends Bury me with all my friends
I’m hardly stomaching the overarching gut feeling that I shouldn't exist As it is, I’m scared to admit I’m not treating the culprit I’m a victim of myself So bury me
Bury my friends
In spite of everything you’ve done for them Eventually They will hate you Fuck you
EVIL EXCUSE ME, WHO ARE YOU? DOESN’T EVEN SAY EXCUSE ME!
Excuse Me, Who Are You? will be playing with over 150 amazing bands for the Pugdale 2: Welcome To Pugdale Festival weekend and some of the acts they’re most excited to see and play along side are Guitar Fight From Fooly Cooly, John Galm, Flight Patterns, Frail Body, Sign Language, Calicuzns, Stars Hollow, Riley!, TRSH, Mouthbreather, Palette Knife, Moosecreek Park, Kerosene Heights, Arcadia Grey, Stay Inside, Swiss Army Wife, and EDMquipment.
Keep a lookout for their next release soon to come soon from Thumbs Up Records and catch them live in Ferndale, Michigan at Pugdale Fest 2: Welcome to PUGDALE, on Day 2, June 29th.
USE CODE “NJAP2024” WHEN PURCHASING YOUR PUGDALE 2 TICKETS TO RECIEVE A DISCOUNT!
Checkout their bandcamp here: Excuse Me, Who Are You
Writer : @just_reidz
Editor : @just_reidz
04/18/24
