Grayscale Delves into Transformative Loss with “Old Friends,” US Tour Kicks Off Tonight
Photo Credit: Jordan Mizrahi
Some artists veil their music’s meaning with metaphors and crafted hints that listeners are supposed to dig through to interpret. Philadelphia pop punk band Grayscale on the other hand puts meaning right out in front. Newly released single and music video “Old Friends” dives into the deep waters of grief and pain in a wholly transparent manner. “Old Friends” will be part of their forthcoming album, Nella Vita, that carries an overall theme of loss.
The video for “Old Friends” features a desolate living room with a lone fireplace and empty frame displayed above. There is a fire in the room not contained by the fireplace. As the camera zooms into the frame, pictures appear of a young boy in a slideshow fashion. The pictures are grainy and burned at the edges, and the song lyrics are displayed in a handwritten scrawl.
The music is melancholy and direct, with singer Collin Walsh’s voice conveying a strained energy throughout the song. "There is a vein of this record that lyrically revolves around someone very close to me who I lost last year — he was 20 years old," said Walsh. "This song empathizes with the feelings he most likely had with the world and how, if given the chance, I would've talked about it with him and let him know I felt the same way. This is a song about wishing you could have one more day to talk through life with someone you love."
The lyrics and video blend together to make a striking image of sheer loss. The use of fire and empty space throughout the video conveys his loss of a friend as well as the burning away of their physical existence. Though this loved one will never be forgotten, his pain is now gone with him in the flame.
Previously released single “In Violet” continues the theme of loss. However, the song is framed in a seemingly more positive manner where an apparent death ends in an unexpected reincarnation. Though the album will explore a vast array of harrowing topics, Grayscale also focuses on the positive aspects of healing, as exhibited in “In Violet.”
Grayscale will undertake a headliner US tour kicking off tonight and new album Nella Vita will be released this Friday, September 6th via Fearless Records.
Tour Dates
9/3 — Asbury Park, NJ — House of Independents
9/4 — College Park, MD — Milkboy Arthouse
9/5 — Richmond, VA — Richmond Music Hall
9/6 — Durham, NC — Sophomore Slump Fest @ Motorco Music Hall
9/7 — Orlando, FL — Soundbar
9/08 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade
9/10 — Austin, TX — Barracuda
9/11 — Dallas, TX — Club Dada
9/13 — Scottsdale, AZ — Pub Rock Live
9/14 — West Hollywood, CA — The Roxy Theatre
9/15 — San Diego, CA — Voodoo Room @ House of Blues
9/17 — Anaheim, CA — Chain Reaction
9/18 — San Francisco, CA — Bottom of the Hill
9/20 — Portland, OR — Paris Theatre
9/21 — Seattle, WA — Chop Suey*
9/23 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kilby Court
9/24 — Denver, CO — Marquis Theater
9/25 — Kansas City, MO — The Rino
9/27 — Burnsville, MN — The Garage
9/28 — Chicago, IL — Bottom Lounge
9/29 — Detroit, MI — The Shelter
9/30 — Lakewood, OH — Mahall’s
10/2 — Allston, MA — Brighton Music Hall
10/3 — New York, NY — Gramercy Theater
10/4 — Hartford, CT — Webster Underground
10/5 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of Living Arts**
*Early show
**Grayscale record release show
