The Southern California quintet plays uncompromising hard rock with just the right mix of Sunset Strip attitude and cowboy swagger. Their forthcoming Universal Republic offering is an explosive concoction of riffs, hooks, grooves and gusto. On songs like the band's breakout single, "One Night Stand," Joe croons with incendiary passion, while guitarists Maude and Adam fire off smoking hot riffs and tasty leads. It's all driven forward by the freight train rhythm section of Brian behind the kit and Billy on bass. Divide The Day have got the spark to light up an arena, and their sexy brand of hard rock is guaranteed to make asses shake.
Joe describes the band's sound best. "It's western rock," he says. "We make music for cruising on your motorcycle or hanging at the bar. It's American, and it's real."
Divide The Day officially began in 2001 where Joe and Billy bonded over a love for music, alcohol and women. In 2005, they signed a deal with Pluto Recordings and released their independent debut, Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys. At that point, they'd cultivated a large and faithful local following, playing anywhere and everywhere there was a stage.
2007 came, and the band hooked up with Maude, Brian and Adam rounding out the current lineup wherein Divide The Day was born. They entered the studio with Fred Archambault (Avenged Sevenfold, Alice Cooper, Deftones) to record Deadly Like The Snake. The self-released album hit the streets in 2008 to much fan ardor, and it also caught the attention of Universal Republic, which became the band's home later that year.
Fred encouraged Divide The Day to push their sound forward. Joe explains, "Not a lot of bands play true rock n' roll anymore. We wanted to resurrect that Sunset Strip feel. Working with Fred helped us bring out the Hollywood vibe. He helped us grow up so we weren't just a band screaming in a garage. We phased out the hardcore elements from our sound. We want to make music people can shake there asses to."
Divide The Day make dirty and danceable rock with a healthy dose of western grit. They hit the studio in early 2009 with producer Mark Needham [Fleetwood Mac, The Killers] to record their forthcoming fall offering. The Needham-produced "One Night Stand" hit radio in late April and swiftly began to scale the charts. It's an infectious anthem that illustrates Divide The Day's signature sound and attitude. The song's undeniable hook and racy lyrics are bound to make it a summer anthem.
Joe breaks the song down simply. "Everybody wants to enjoy a one night stand," he comments. "It's a fantasy that people always think about, and that's what they want to hear." It's just another element of the band's no-frills rock. Billy continues, "When you're in a band, you have no time for love and relationships. That's how you get it, and we're just writing about it."
They certainly reflect the life of a rock n' roll band honestly in their tunes. Maude shows, "I try to throw a lot of riffs into whatever we're working on so the songs have that classic appeal. Our sound is a throwback to the rock bands of yesteryear. We're just a fun band."
The band's name holds a special significance. It's culled from Doors' lyrics, and it pays homage to the masters while signaling a new dawn. Divide The Day are aware of their roots, but they're evolving with the times too. Joe shows, "We grew up loving The Doors. We were trying to find a name for the band. It's a badass lyric by Jim Morrison, so we stuck with that name."
The band also has a bombastic live show because of years of touring. The road will be their home, and they couldn't be more prepared. "We'll melt your face off live. Our live show is pretty wicked from start to finish. That fuck-you attitude needs to come back to rock music. Not a lot of bands do it anymore. We want people to get that release. That's our mission."
They'll most certainly accomplish that mission. Billy concludes, "It's about everyone having a good time. There's this Western cowboy feel to what we do. We're here to change things up, and we're going to do it our way. It's more of a lifestyle than a musical style."
Members:
Joe Nichy - Vocals
Adrian Maude - Lead Guitar
Adam Dashwood - Rhythm Guitar
Billy Haig - Bass
Brian Dropkin - Drums
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Train Wreck
Divide The Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the straight laced
Don′t wanna waste my time
Don't wanna play it safe
I wanna basket case
That keeps me guessin'
What girl i′m gonna get
Show me those issues
How you've been misued
Yeah girl i′m with you
Yeah i'm fuckin bored
I′m not lookin for
The girl next door
Who's got it all together
I need a freak
Who′s just as twisted as me
A woman that scares me to death
Gimme a train wreck
Dressed to the nines
Goes out she's got her hair up
Wakes up in jail
Hot mess with her mascara
Pills in her purse
Diamonds on her finger nails
I love the way she's always
Runnin on off the rails
The song "Train Wreck" by Divide The Day delves into the singer's desire for excitement and a partner who deviates from societal norms. The lyrics express the singer's weariness of mundane and conventional relationships, as they are "sick and tired of hangin' with the straight laced" and do not want to waste their time playing it safe. Instead, they long for a partner who is a "basket case" and keeps them guessing, particularly in the realm of sexual intimacy ("What girl I'm gonna get when she's undressing").
The singer craves a person who possesses unique and intriguing qualities that come from a life peppered with challenges and difficulties. They implore this person to reveal their issues and past traumas, indicating a preference for someone who has been "misused" and has distinctive experiences. Despite the potential chaos that may come with this individual, the singer declares their willingness to stand by their side, affirming, "Yeah girl, I'm with you."
Feeling bored and unfulfilled, the singer states their opposition to finding a conventional partner, specifically "the girl next door" who seems to have her life perfectly together. Yearning for an intense and edgy relationship, the singer seeks a partner who is just as twisted as they are. They desire a woman who scares them, representing the thrilling and unpredictable nature of their connection. The phrase "Gimme a train wreck" embodies their desire for a relationship filled with passion and excitement.
The second half of the song describes the appearance and personality of the desired partner. The singer illustrates a woman who takes pride in her bold fashion choices, always dressing impeccably and going out with her hair done up. However, the same woman ends up in jail the following morning, described as a "hot mess" with her smeared mascara, further emphasizing her non-conformity and unconventional lifestyle.
Furthermore, the lyrics hint at the woman's contradictory nature. While she carries pills in her purse and flaunts her fashionable diamond nails, she also embodies a sense of rebellion and unpredictability. The singer is attracted to this chaotic energy, fascinated by the way she constantly teeters on the edge of stability and control, hence the mention of her always "runnin' on off the rails."
In summary, "Train Wreck" expresses the singer's yearning for a partner who deviates from societal norms, someone who is a captivating and enigmatic individual. The lyrics emphasize a disdain for conventional relationships, as the singer craves excitement, unpredictability, and a deep connection with someone who is just as twisted and unconventional as they are.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sick and tired of hangin' with the straight laced
I'm exhausted and fed up with spending time with people who conform to societal norms.
Don't wanna waste my time, don't wanna play it safe
I don't want to spend my time on things that are predictable or cautious.
I wanna basket case that keeps me guessin'
I desire someone who is emotionally unstable and unpredictable, adding excitement to my life.
What girl I'm gonna get when she's undressing
I'm intrigued by the mystery of not knowing a woman's true character until she reveals herself intimately.
Show me those issues, how you've been misused, yeah girl I'm with you
I want to see your emotional baggage, the ways you've been mistreated, and I'll stand by your side.
Yeah, I'm fuckin bored
I am extremely bored and dissatisfied.
I'm not lookin for the girl next door who's got it all together
I don't want a conventional, well-put-together woman who has her life figured out.
I need a freak who's just as twisted as me
I crave a unique and unconventional woman who shares in my twisted nature.
A woman that scares me to death, gimme a train wreck
I want a woman who is so unpredictable and chaotic that she both fascinates and terrifies me.
Dressed to the nines, goes out she's got her hair up
She dresses in an elegant and stylish manner when going out.
Wakes up in jail, hot mess with her mascara
She frequently finds herself in trouble, ending up in jail, disheveled and with smudged mascara.
Pills in her purse, diamonds on her fingernails
She keeps pills in her purse, indicating her potentially reckless lifestyle, but also enjoys indulging in luxury.
I love the way she's always runnin' off the rails
I am attracted to her constant unpredictability and lack of stability.
Writer(s): Sam Posner, Travis M Richard, Skyler Whelden
Contributed by Declan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.