We’ve been fans of pretty much everything Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr has released – from their debut full length to a few EPs – so they returned the favor by premiering a handful of new songs from their forthcoming album during their live session for Morning Becomes Eclectic.
The duo from Detroit (Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott) also brought a full band along and won us over with some spot-on whistling and sax playing ON TOP of expertly-crafted pop songs, which is their specialty.
Their recent EP – with the uber-danceable “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)” – is a good indication of what’s to come. (Their manager mentioned that the crowds go crazy when they play it live)
It’s strange to think that my favorite song off their last album was a romantic, somewhat simple pop ballad and the frontrunner on their new disc, “War Zone”, seemed like it would fit perfectly in the closing scene of any of my favorite movies from the 80’s, complete with its dreamy “heart beats faster” lyrircs and a sax solo towards the end that makes the song.
In fact, Josh says he’s had that saxophone since 6th grade and it’s still the instrument he’s best at because he practiced so much as a kid.
They don’t have an exact release date for “The Speed of Things” but if today’s set was any indication, it will likely end up one my Top 10 of the year list. It’s one of few occasions when I was tempted to try to get the band to sneak me an early copy!
Get a preview right here! (Audio is up now and video will be up soon)
RR
Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr Live on KCRW — Set List
Hiding
Run **
Mesopatamia **
If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)
Dark Water
Knock Louder **
War Zone **
Don’t Tell Me **
I Think of You (Rodriguez cover)
**new songs!
