2. A Finnish melodic metal band.
3… Read Full Bio ↴1. An American pop-punk/rock band.
2. A Finnish melodic metal band.
3. A French screamo band.
4. Ultra death minimalist noise by Jamie butch jenny Stewart (Xiu Xiu)
The sophomore album poses an interesting situation for any artist: They can either take the if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it approach, or they can opt to push the envelope and try something progressive, all the while subjecting themselves to potential failure.
On Run It Up the Flagpole, Greensboro, NC pop-punkers FAREWELL have chosen the latter, toeing the line between sugary pop melodies and unbridled punk-rock energy while creating a record that both Top-40 fans and punk purists can enjoy equally. The set follows 2007's Isn't This Supposed To Be Fun!?, which, along with the band's earn-it-yourself attitude, kept Farewell on the road alongside acts including Forever The Sickest Kids, The Secret Handshake, Four Year Strong and Hit The Lights, as well as earning them a spot on last year's Van's Warped Tour.
When facing the task of writing Fun's follow-up, the band - vocalist Marshall Davis, guitarists Wil Andrews and Kevin Carter, bassist Buddy (just buddy) and drummer Jeff Ellis - set out with one goal: to diversify its sound while proving that it's possible to play catchy, pop-based music without pandering to overtly glossy production and studio trickery. "So many bands' second record sounds exactly like their first one, and it's almost always a letdown," says Davis. "We wanted to continue to move forward as a band and help expand our fans' perception of what "pop-punk" could be. That's why this new record has its own identity. It's a perfect blend of our past and present."
If you're looking for a record full of snot-nosed vocals and breakneck tempos, you'll probably be disappointed. Instead, Farewell's punk influence is exuded in swagger and attitude, drawing from influences like Jawbreaker and Screeching Weasel. Even so, it's clear the band isn't pulling any punches this time around. Calling out the "cookie cutter caffeinated teens, deployed for mass consumption," the lead single "Devoid (That's What I Think About It)" kicks listeners in the teeth with massive Green Day-sized guitars and its rallying-cry chorus of "When did rock and roll become this fucking fashion show!?"
No, Farewell has not become a band of crusty punk-rock bellyachers. Nor have they turned their backs on the fan base that's supported them since the beginning. They're simply not willing to stand by and watch their pop-punk scene be overrun by sound-alike clones who care more about looking good than making good music. "We're basically a punk-rock band that's more rock than punk," Davis laughs. "I wish I could sing like Armstrong, but I guess I'll settle for Hoppus."
Farewell's members, most of whom had grown up playing in various punk and hardcore bands, came together in 2005 and quickly built a name for themselves, touring the Southeast and crafting their upbeat pop-rock sound, all the while showcasing for labels across the country. They eventually caught the ear of Epitaph founder Brett Gurewitz, who signed the group in 2007. It was an ideal situation for the band; many of their influences were veteran Epitaph artists. "They understood our band and didn't want to change us," Davis says of the label. "They were stoked on what we had to offer and gave us 100% creative control. It was perfect for us."
Throughout Run It Up the Flagpole, Farewell tempers it's us-against-the-world mentality with a hearty dose of earnestness and sincerity. That's best found on "Catch As Catch Can," an autobiographical mid-tempo number that recaps the band's history - from its nascent stages in the dive-bars of North Carolina to an eventual deal with Epitaph and subsequent worldwide touring. Run It Up The Flagpole not only cements Farewell as a band that won't compromise its ideals for the sake of rock stardom, but also shows its members will never forget their roots and what it took to make it this far. "You have to keep in mind that your fans are growing as individuals too, along with their musical tastes," Davis explains. "We're playing the type of music that made us want to do this in the first place. It's what we love, and what we do best."
check out farewell on the web!
http://www.purevolume.com/farewell
http://www.myspace.com/farewell
http://www.merchdirect.com/farewell
Eighty-Eights
Farewell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See your eyes
I'm not sure exactly how i feel about it
Stay all night
There's one last chance to hold each other tight
We're gonna say goodbye
We're gonna say goodnight
Because we're giving it up
I will be just fine
We're gonna go go go to the next state line
And we're living it up
Leave it all behind
And I say "goodnight" to a closing skyline
I'm alright
I'm absolutely sure I'll get through all of this
Up all night
There's one last shot to get the ending right
We're gonna say goodbye
We're gonna say goodnight
I wish there was more time
Because we're giving it up
I will be just fine
We're gonna go go go to the next state line
And we're living it up
Leave it all behind
And I say "goodnight" to a closing skyline
around this town
And the weeks and the miles and the street clowns, yeah
We gotta get out somehow
Yeah we gotta get somehow
All the tough bars and rockstars who've plagued this place
And the thugs and the bums that get in your face
And all the bullshit and drama that can't be erased yet
We gotta get out somehow
Because we're giving it up
I will be just fine
We're gonna go go go to the next state line
And we're living it up
Leave it all behind
And I say "goodnight" to a closing sky
Because we're giving it up
I will be just fine
We're gonna go go go to the next state line
And we're living it up
Leave it all behind
And I say "goodnight" to a closing skyline
The lyrics to Eighty-Eights by Farewell tell the story of a couple who are preparing to say goodbye to each other. The singer has a picture of themselves with the person they have to leave, and it's taped to the mirror to remind them of the most important thing about the relationship, which is, of course, their eyes. They're not sure exactly how they feel about everything, but they know that they want to stay all night and hold each other tight, as this might be their last chance.
The chorus repeats the phrase "we're gonna say goodbye, we're gonna say goodnight" twice, emphasizing the finality of their decision to split up. Despite wishing there was more time, they know that they have to leave each other and move on. There's a sense of excitement as they plan to leave everything behind and go to the next state line, as well as a sense of resolve as the singer assures themselves that they'll be just fine. The closing skyline is symbolic of the end of their time together, and the singer says "goodnight" as a final goodbye.
There's a sense of desperation in the verses as the singer looks around their town and sees all the tough bars, rockstars, thugs, bums, bullshit, and drama that have plagued their relationship. The chorus becomes more urgent with each repetition, as if the singer is trying to convince themselves that everything will be okay. The last line of the song, "we gotta get out somehow," is a cry for help.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a picture of you and me and it's taped to the mirror so you can
See your eyes
I have a photograph of the time we spent together, prominently displayed on the mirror so you can look at our happy faces and see the reflection of your beautiful eyes.
I'm not sure exactly how i feel about it
Stay all night
There's one last chance to hold each other tight
Even though I am not certain about my feelings, I want to spend the entire night with you and cherish the last opportunity to hold each other tightly.
We're gonna say goodbye
We're gonna say goodnight
I wish there was more time
We are going to bid farewell to each other and say goodnight, but I wish we had more time together.
Because we're giving it up
I will be just fine
We're gonna go go go to the next state line
And we're living it up
Leave it all behind
And I say "goodnight" to a closing skyline
Even though we are leaving each other and moving on, I know everything will be okay. We plan to head to a new state and start afresh, leaving all our problems behind. I feel a sense of relief and bid farewell to the city skyline as we drive towards our next adventure.
I'm alright
I'm absolutely sure I'll get through all of this
Up all night
There's one last shot to get the ending right
I am doing okay and I am positive that I will survive the change. Even though I am awake all night, I am determined to make sure that we end things perfectly.
around this town
And the weeks and the miles and the street clowns, yeah
We gotta get out somehow
Yeah we gotta get somehow
This town, with its crazy characters, long weeks, and miles, is no longer a good fit for us. Somehow, we need to leave and find something new.
All the tough bars and rockstars who've plagued this place
And the thugs and the bums that get in your face
And all the bullshit and drama that can't be erased yet
We gotta get out somehow
This town is filled with rough characters like unruly bar-goers, struggling musicians, and menacing street thugs, all surrounded by pointless drama that can't be fixed. It's time for us to leave.
Contributed by Sebastian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.