Lovedrug drew nationwide attention with two independent EPs in 2003 and 2004, followed by the highly acclaimed debut full-length Pretend You’re Alive in July 2004 on indie The Militia Group (Sony). The fastest selling debut in label history, Militia upstreamed the band to parent label Columbia Records for a planned rerelease in March 2005 around the radio single “Spiders”. Though unrelated corporate purging at Columbia left many plans stillborn, Lovedrug toured heavily, including dates with The Killers, Robert Plant, Switchfoot, and Coheed & Cambria, and established a sizable American following.
By late 2006, Lovedrug had a new album’s worth of material and, to avoid continued upheaval at Columbia, returned to The Militia Group to release Everything Starts Where It Ends in March of 2007. The album was well received, selling close to 30k albums in several months on the back of Japanese and North American touring, including two headline runs and tours with Sparta and Blue October. Several singles/videos saw traction at radio & MTV, including “Ghost By Your Side” and “Happy Apple Poison”, but a lack of significant label support failed to capitalize, leaving the band frustrated and burned out.
After a brief interlude, founder Shepard reformed the group and proceeded to write what would become Lovedrug’s 3rd album as a bit of catharsis, working with iconic producer Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mew) to exorcise several years of demons in an aggressive homage to grunge. Though the 2008 release of The Sucker Punch Show coincided with the collapse of the Militia Group in North America, the album was especially well received upon it’s 2009 release in Europe, landing at #6 on the coveted Visions summer chart, garnering broad radio play for the single “Only One”, and seeing the band play shows and festivals with Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Silversun Pickups, and Eagles of Death Metal.
Following the European summer tour, a fully revitalized Lovedrug took the rest of 2009 to explore and define what would come next. The band self-released EP- PART I in April, the first in a series of three such indie EPs planned for 2010, while continuing to write, tinker, and prepare for the HiFi album to come. Lovedrug will play a number of dates this spring, including a headlining tour June/July, Bamboozle, and others.
Band Members:
Michael Shepard - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Jeremy Michael Gifford - Guitar, Synthesizer, Piano
Thomas Bragg - Bass
James Childress - Drums
Blackout
Lovedrug Lyrics
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I'll save my life for something good, oh yeah, for something good, oh yeah, for something good, and when you're punching her skull on the bathroom floor, oh yeah, does it get you, oh yeah, does it get you off to know that sometimes we all blackout.
Lights out, poor thing that I am, all along (he's standing cold in the rain) hello, they call me, I am raging lightning (he puts his hand to the air) what kind of verman are swimming on the street tonight. It's 4 am and I am coming after you tonight.
She'll save her life for something good, oh yeah, for something good, oh yeah, for something good. and when he's punching her skull on the bathroom floor does it get him off, oh yeah, does it get him off, oh yeah does it get him off to know that sometimes we all blackout.
The song "Blackout" by Lovedrug paints a disturbing picture of violence and abuse. The lyrics speak of a man who is "on the prowl" and hailing a cab, looking for trouble on the streets. He seems to take pleasure in the idea of hurting someone and causing them to blackout, as he punches their skull on the bathroom floor. The chorus suggests that the person being abused, a woman, is holding out hope for something better and is saving her life "for something good." The second verse introduces the idea of "vermin" on the streets at night, and the man is described as "raging lightning." The woman saves her life for something good as the man continues to inflict pain, presumably on her. The final lyric suggests the possibility of redemption, with an angel encouraging the girl to feel her rage but ultimately turn away from it and put herself to bed.
Overall, the lyrics of "Blackout" paint a vivid and unsettling picture of violence and its aftermath. The song seems to suggest that even those who are victims of abuse are capable of finding a way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Lights out, punching your lights out, punching your, hello, they call me, I am on the prowl
The singer is ready to attack someone, putting their lights out, introducing themselves as a predator on the hunt.
hello, they call me, I am hailing a cab (he puts his hand to the air) what kind of verman are creeping on the streets tonight.
The singer is looking for a way out of the situation and is wary of the dangers lurking in the streets.
I'll save my life for something good, oh yeah, for something good, oh yeah, for something good, and when you're punching her skull on the bathroom floor, oh yeah, does it get you, oh yeah, does it get you off to know that sometimes we all blackout.
The singer sees their life as valuable and worth preserving for a meaningful purpose. They question the thrill the attacker gets from inflicting harm and acknowledge that sometimes, people are taken over by their impulses and lose control.
Lights out, poor thing that I am, all along (he's standing cold in the rain) hello, they call me, I am raging lightning (he puts his hand to the air) what kind of verman are swimming on the street tonight.
The artist is now feeling vulnerable and alone in the rain, but still identifying as a violent force to be reckoned with, questioning the nature of the creatures huddled in the shadows.
It's 4 am and I am coming after you tonight.
The artist's intentions are clear: they are coming after their target at this specific time.
She'll save her life for something good, oh yeah, for something good, oh yeah, for something good. and when he's punching her skull on the bathroom floor does it get him off, oh yeah, does it get him off, oh yeah does it get him off to know that sometimes we all blackout.
The narrative shifts to describe the victim's perspective, valuing their own life as something that holds promise for future good. They also question the attacker's pleasure in causing pain, while acknowledging that we all have the potential to lose control at times.
Suck it up, dry your tears, I'll lift you up, says the angel here, little girl, feel the rage, turn your head, walk down that hall and put yourself to bed.
The final lines offer words of comfort and encouragement from an angelic voice, urging the girl to release her anger, turn away from the violence, and take care of herself by getting some rest.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL L. SHEPARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind