With outstanding performances like their "Road To Bonnaroo" show, which had them marching through the capacity crowd accompanied by an 11-piece marching band thusly winning them a coveted spot performing at the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, to their "CopCar Release Party" which featured performances by 7 of their favorite regional bands and local artists painting giant 8'x5' versions of the pages from their EP, which is packaged as a coloring book, they've been rapidly building their profile and fanbase, inking them as a must see live show.
Heypenny recently headlined the final night of Next Big Nashville at Mercy Lounge, closing out the festival to a sold out crowd. Running with big ideas and surprises, they played a short 7-song set of blistering, high energy songs and then made a surprise move to the middle of the crowd with an upright piano, string quartet and horn section, blanketing the audience in a hundred feet of white Christmas lights. Suffice to say, they think big and deliver.
Three years ago, Ben Elkins lived about 150 miles south of Nashville in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He experimented with sounds and spaces and new ways of writing songs. Through these efforts, Heypenny was born and an album called Use These Spoons was completed and Elkins relocated to Nashville, TN and recruited long-time friends Kevin Bevil and DJ Murphy on guitar and bass respectively.
Though never fully distributed, Use These Spoons made waves in the blogosphere and garnered accolades throughout the region/country/Western hemisphere for its pop-infused balance of rhythm, harmony, and DIY brilliance, ultimately selling out of all their pressings.
What started out as a quiet, solitary and patient endeavor has over the last year erupted into a staccato-rock band that finds company with contemporaries, while channeling the pop-appeal of Michael Jackson, and the naiveté of Sesame Street.
The band, now a complete 4-piece, who’ve been known to dress in tailor-made Neapolitan-colored marching band uniforms or futuristic LEGO-MAN/robot outfits, put on an explosively energetic live rock show that rivals most. And it’s their DIY aesthetic that makes it something wholly unique and special. It’s the attention to detail—those custom, hand-made uniforms to the old-fashioned, big-knobbed, wood-paneled television sets that bathe the audience in abstract colors, flashing and pulsing with the songs—that gives the audience and actual show.
At last years, SXSW, the band performed as part of the Red Gorilla showcases—their time slot competing with Peter, Bjorn & John—and the bar was at capacity with a line serpentining into the street. At Bonnaroo, the band was thrown into an unforgiving slot, performing opposite Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Grizzly Bear and Santigold, yet they still managed to attract quite a crowd and leave them with an impression. Graham Hawthorne, drummer for David Byrne emailed the band after their performance and said that he happily stumbled onto the set and that it was perhaps “the best thing he saw at the festival.” It’s little things like that, going in as the underdog and winning the hearts, minds and ears of strangers that keeps them going and make them pour everything they have into perfecting their craft and giving their fans something memorable.
Heypenny is currently finishing up their follow-up to Use These Spoons. It will be released in 2010 with subsequent tours to follow.
PARADE
Heypenny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
for the parade is never ending
bring it all on
I know you will not let it up,
twirlin and flippin all of the music's playin louder,
it's all out of tune
just turn it up, oh yeah, crank it out
it's the shittiest rock 'n roll ever played by anybody
I love the bass, it's shakin me everything is blurry,
my ringin ears are bleeding out
I'm droppin my head uh-oh
slappin me, tellin me never,
no never ever look away from these bodies
especially when we all are struttin,
shakin and showin we're throwin a party for you today
so don't forget,
you're right I'm so sorry
look I'm just a paper-thin, breakable person
sometimes I lose my concentration,
but heavens no I never will forget
the generosity shown by all the marchers
and performers that I'm seein
cheers to you all
CHORUS:
mariay, you're in the bomb's way
the whole parade
is in the bomb's way
wait a minute I get it,
soon you'll be eyein my pocket
lookin for a dollar,
I better go, see ya -
no, no don't leave us now,
no, you haven't seen all that we got
plus there's refreshments,
here they are now, -
oh goodie I love chocolate cake,
bring me a few pieces
I am really, really hungry,
oh, you wanna help
yeah make a fist and crammin chocolate in,
breakin my teeth all to pieces
oh it tastes bloody, but you keep mashin it down
CHORUS
oh, oh takin my hands, tying them around me
like I'm some kind of dangerous person
oh, it's just a show, I love it
tossin me to the street and I'm floppin all over
you all are laughin at me funny,
like I'm part of a joke, oh no
you keep surprising me
what with the chains and the bats
and the broken glass
I mean who would've guessed,
so many weapons could be used against one person,
I was just passin by
what a show, what a show, what a show, what a show!
The lyrics to Heypenny's song Parade seem to be describing a chaotic, yet exciting event that the singer is attending - likely a parade, as suggested by the title. There is a sense of frenzied energy as the music is blaring out of tune and people are twirling and flipping. Despite the chaos, the singer seems to be enjoying themselves, describing the bass as shaking them and everything becoming blurry. The chorus interrupts this chaos, evoking a sense of impending danger with the lyrics "mariay, you're in the bomb's way, the whole parade is in the bomb's way".
The chaos of the parade continues, with the singer being tied up like a "dangerous person" and people laughing at them. Despite this, the singer seems to find it all amusing, stating "oh it's just a show, I love it". The song ends with the singer expressing their gratitude towards those involved in the parade, acknowledging the "generosity shown by all the marchers and performers".
The lyrics of Parade explore the concept of chaos and how it can still be enjoyable in its own way. The chorus interrupts this chaotic energy with a foreboding warning, adding an interesting layer of tension to the song. The singer's attitude towards the chaotic events also adds another layer of complexity to the song, making it a fascinating exploration of human emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
super, this is great, thank you all so much
The singer expresses their gratitude and excitement for the Parade event and its participants.
for the parade is never ending
The Parade is an ongoing celebration that will not stop.
bring it all on
The singer encourages participants to keep going and continue their performances.
I know you will not let it up,
The singer is confident that the participants will continue with their energetic and lively performances.
twirlin and flippin all of the music's playin louder,
The participants are dancing and performing acrobatics to the loud music.
it's all out of tune
The music being played is not in harmony, but still enjoyable.
just turn it up, oh yeah, crank it out
The singer wants the volume of the music to be increased and played louder.
it's the shittiest rock 'n roll ever played by anybody
Despite the low quality of the music, the singer is still enjoying it and is having a great time.
but you're singin great
The singer is appreciating the vocal performance of the participants despite the poor quality of the music.
I love the bass, it's shakin me everything is blurry,
The singer is enjoying the effect of the bass on their body and senses.
my ringin ears are bleeding out
The loudness of the music is hurting the singer's ears and causing discomfort.
I'm droppin my head uh-oh
The singer is feeling overwhelmed and disoriented due to the loud noise and the environment.
slappin me, tellin me never, no never ever look away from these bodies
The participants are urging the singer to keep watching the performances and not miss anything important.
especially when we all are struttin, shakin and showin we're throwin a party for you today
The participants are proudly showing off their performances and are celebrating for the enjoyment of the singer and other spectators.
so don't forget, you're right I'm so sorry
The singer acknowledges the participants' request and apologizes for not paying attention.
look I'm just a paper-thin, breakable person sometimes I lose my concentration,
The singer admits their fragility and tendency to lose focus.
but heavens no I never will forget the generosity shown by all the marchers and performers that I'm seein cheers to you all
The singer deeply appreciates the efforts and enthusiasm shown by all the participants and thanks them for their generosity.
mariay, you're in the bomb's way the whole parade is in the bomb's way
The singer is using a metaphor to describe the Parade as being in a risky and dangerous place.
wait a minute I get it, soon you'll be eyein my pocket lookin for a dollar, I better go, see ya -
The singer suspects that some participants may ask for money and decides to leave the Parade.
no, no don't leave us now, no, you haven't seen all that we got plus there's refreshments, here they are now, -
The participants try to convince the singer to stay and enjoy the rest of the Parade, and offer refreshments as a bargaining chip.
oh goodie I love chocolate cake, bring me a few pieces I am really, really hungry, oh you wanna help yeah make a fist and crammin chocolate in, breakin my teeth all to pieces oh it tastes bloody, but you keep mashin it down
The singer is eagerly accepting the offer for refreshments and enjoys the offered chocolate cake despite its rough treatment and taste.
oh, oh takin my hands, tying them around me like I'm some kind of dangerous person oh, it's just a show, I love it tossin me to the street and I'm floppin all over you all are laughin at me funny, like I'm part of a joke, oh no you keep surprising me what with the chains and the bats and the broken glass I mean who would've guessed, so many weapons could be used against one person, I was just passin by what a show, what a show, what a show, what a show!
The singer enjoys and finds humor in the unexpected turns of the show, such as being tied up and thrown to the street, and being surprised by the use of various weapons by the performers to make it more thrilling and entertaining.
Contributed by Tyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kevinjackson5591
I have watched this video more than I have watched any video on Youtube, ever, and it isn't close. This is a fantastic song and video that should be much more famous than it is.
@kevinjackson5591
and i'll keep watching it!!
@hrossaman
Thank you sir. Ben Elkins sure can write a song
@sunnycharacter
That was cool guys! DJ, you rock little dude! Thanks to your mom-in-law for sharing this with us!
@EvanSmellsBestLol
One of the most original bands I've heard in a while and the humor factor always helps too :D They're really cool dudes, I was one of the people in the marching band in the background around 3:00
@hawleywood
Love it. Makes me smile every time I watch it. You rock DJ.
@wolfvsmoon
Saw these guys in concert a little while ago at the local college. Free show and twenty people showed up. Free interaction with the audience and it was amazing. They were amazing.
@Tigerblade2008
I love this song...good job, guys!
@raisinbrandable
I FREAKING LOVE HEYPENNY AND THEIR RANDOM DANCE MOVES!!!
@TheActualActuals
If ever tour in southern california let me know...you guys are insanely awesome.