Bad Feeling: A Rude Single From the Polite Animals on TV
The first release from Animals On TV “Bad Feeling” rings like a mantra. They’re a circus punk band with a penchant for theatrics and the unexpected. So naturally the first single tells you exactly what they won’t do as a band. It’s an anti-mantra.
The track rips open with a driving, gritty instrumental, setting the foundation for Rob Hogan’s poetic story. Over rumbling guitar from Gabe Posada, Rob dives in, “muddied up clothes and concert photos, your best friend’s stoned asking for your Rohtos.” It’s a scene familiar as your bedroom ceiling: a concert ends and everyone’s stumbling around trying to figure out what the future, or at least the next five minutes, holds. “The show’s all over but I won't go home/ because I’m still waiting to get my mind blown,” Rob sings. “I went to your show and I had a bad feeling.” Remember those boring bands whose throats they’re coming for? This one’s for them.
A couple weeks ago, I popped in on band practice to discuss the new single. “I’m not going to beg my friends to come out and see me if we’re not gonna dress fuckin weird and be crazy,” Rob explained. Friend or frenemy, you won’t be bored. Gabe’s energy on the guitar mirrors Rob’s energy on the mic; costumes and a set of original songs entice your appetite for energy and movement.
“Now they’re asking me if I know the band/ sure I do but I wont play that hand,” Rob sings over an energetic beat from bassist Ben Baron and Haden Hunt, who impressively sings a majority of the backup from the drums. “I'm no Judas but I might be a peter, the secret is the bass player asked me to see her.” Say it with me now: Anti. Mantra.
“I feel like this song specifically is very fun, very captivating,” said guitarist Andrew Davis. “We’re telling you what we don’t like, but we’d like you to have a good time while [we do it].” Rob added, “it’s a really funny song to start a set with because hopefully it’s not self prophesying of people coming to our show and us singing about how another show is boring. And like hopefully they don’t get that feeling from us. No one has so far.”
Their first show at Scratch House was a circus -- chaos in costumes. The band cites The Strokes and David Bowie’s first band The Supermen (who wore superhero costumes on stage) as important influences. “I really love Mick Jagger,” Rob said. “I love people who move a lot on stage and even things that aren’t rock n roll. Like Bobby Banas just exudes style. It’s a fun energy to play with”.
Bobby Banas in action.
“Bad Feeling” takes a strong stance against shows lacking performance or evocative elements to get the crowd rowdy. “It’s a little fun to be mean too,” Rob said. “We’re not mean to people in person but it’s taking a stance. ‘Bad Feeling’ is probably our most negative song but it’s really just like shitting on going to a show and not getting anything out of it. Not feeling moved or excited. And then Gabe has a crazy shreddy solo that fuckin lights the whole thing up.”
Of joining the galaxy of Austin bands, “it’s hard to stand out,” Andrew says. “But it’s hard for Rob not to stand out.”
Animals On TV plays this Saturday (Feb 8) with Nané and Night Cap at The Parish! Get tickets here.