Montreal duo Solids have the kind of classic grungey slacker rock sound that is really special when done well. They've toured all the past year with bands of similar ilk—Pity Sex, Nothing, Metz, and PUP, to name a few—and are now getting ready to release their EP Else this April on Topshelf/Dine Alone Records.
Premiering today is "Blank Stare," a song that's almost soothing in the way Solids' Xavier Germain-Poitra and Louis Guillemette reflect on resisting the urge to fall into routine, with their own songwriting, and, well, life in general. It's like a really cool reminder to get off your butt and challenge yourself, because you can't grow without pushing yourself to open up to new experiences. Even if it's hard, you gotta do it. That's what "Blank Stare" is about, and there's nothing better than a great rock song to get you out of a slump.
"I see this song (and the same could be said about the whole EP) as some kind of laboratory in which we tried to forget our habits and reflexes as songwriters," guitarist Germain-Poitra explained in an email to The FADER. "To not repeat ourselves was definitely something we kept in mind as we were writing it and lyrically it’s mostly about comfort as a paralyzing force so I guess we could see that as some kind of general theme. There’s nothing like comfort to slow you down."
Listen to "Blank Stare" below, and preorder Solids' Else EP here.
Tour Dates:
02.26.16 - Hamilton, ON @ This Ain’t Hollywood (w/ The Dirty Nil)
02.27.16 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern (w/ The Dirty Nil)
03.03.16 - Peterborough, ON @ The Oxford
03.04.16 - London, ON @ Rum Runners (w/ The Dirty Nil)
03.05.16 - Ste Catharines, ON @ Detour Music Hall (w/ The Dirty Nil)
04.02.16 - Drummondville, QC @ Pub Heriot
04.08.16 - Sherbrooke, QC @ Petite Boite Noire (w/ Dernier Sex)
04.09.16 - Saint-Hyacinthe, QC @ Zaricot (w/ Dernier Sex)
04.15.16 - Mirabel, QC @ Centre culturel Jean-Laurin
04.16.16 - Québec, QC @ L’Anti (w/ Dernier Sex, Hôpital)
04.20.16 - Sudbury, ON @ Townhouse (w/ Mick Futures)
04.21.16 - Timmins, ON @ Working Class
04.22.16 - Rouyn-Noranda, QC @ Cabaret de la Dernière Chance
04.23.16 - Gatineau, QC @ Petit Chicago
04.29.16 - Victoriaville, QC @ Salle des Scouts
04.30.16 - Chicoutimi, QC @ Sous Bois
05.05.16 - Boston, MA @ O’Briens *
05.06.16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Palisades *
05.07.16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie *
05.08.16 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd *
05.09.16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Black Forge *
05.10.16 - Columbus, OH @ Big Room Bar *
05.11.16 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
05.12.16 - Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar *
05.14.16 - Montréal, QC @ Ritz PBD *
* = w/ Stove + Clique