“A vein of light banter, enthusiastic swearing and decent some punk rock… I… Read Full Bio ↴“A vein of light banter, enthusiastic swearing and decent some punk rock… I was won over” – Fasterlouder.com.au

Australian 4 piece TheCityShakeUp have built their reputation with punk around the edges renegade rock. Born from the bowels of 90’s punk and rock – TCSU write their music collectively drawing on the combined influences and ideals of all four members in the band. This united front is heavily represented on their latest EP “Trigger Happy Slander” – a social commentary on the less chivalrous - Addressing futile hostility, first world problems and everyone’s old friend heart-ache.

With a sound that’s been forged on the road, TCSU bare it all on stage and leave nothing behind. Whether the show is for a crowd of a thousand or simply for a select few the lads make it their mission to ensure everyone leaves as sweaty and thunderstruck as they are. Winning over the crowd at Australias longest running national music festival – The Big Day Out in 2011, Opening for Canada’s finest Billy Talent in 2012 amongst an onslaught of international and local supports (not to mention their own headlining tours). The TCSU lads are no strangers to the stage and life on the road.

The traditional DIY punk ethos is one that is not lost on these lads. TCSU are self managed, self funded, self promoted, hell they even design and print their own shirts. It only takes one look at their completely self shot film clips or a quick listen to any of the releases recorded in their self made studio (they even constructed their own vocal booth) to realize these self sufficient beasts are no chumps.

Pouring every ounce of energy they have into their music and with 2013 set to be their biggest year yet, The City Shakeup show no signs of slowing down as they herald in a new breed of DIY rock renegades.

Open Road
The City Shakeup Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let's light a flame to chase the night away
We'll light one more to waste the day
When waking up becomes a memory
Watch me forget as I sleep

Through all the ups and downs, the best advice I've found
If we don't leave this town, we'll never live it down

So what compels me to stay?
Well I gave up everything but that was yesterday

Now I'm back out on the open road
As this point of difference seems to fade away
Now I'm back out on the open road
It's not the place we used to know....

Pushing forward as we're fighting back
Shadows of doubt in the night
Cause I've been searching for a remedy, a memory
or anything to make this right

So what compels me to stay?
'Cause I gave up everything but that was yesterday

Now I'm back out on the open road
As this point of difference seems to fade away
Now I'm back out on the open road
It's not the place we used to know...

Well let these bridges burn
We wont be back again [x2]

Let them burn!

Now I'm back out on the open road
As this point of difference seems to fade away

Now I'm back out on the open road
As this point of difference seems to fade away
Now I'm back out on the open road
It's not the place we used to know...

Let them burn!

Overall Meaning

In "Open Road," The City Shakeup paints a picture of a person who is looking to leave their past behind and embark on a new journey. The lyrics suggest the singer has decided to light a flame to "chase the night away" and waste the day. The singer is looking to forget about the past and is hoping that sleep will enable them to do so. However, the song also reveals the doubts and fears that accompany this new journey, as the singer admits to feeling a "point of difference" that is fading away but still present. There is an ongoing struggle between pushing forward and fighting back, searching for a remedy, and looking for anything to make things right.

The chorus suggests that if they don't leave this town, they will never "live it down." The open road is the journey that will allow for the opportunity to escape one's past and move forward into the future. However, in order to do so, the singer must let bridges burn and not look back on their past. The song itself is incredibly empowering and encourages listeners to take the step towards changing their lives for the better.

Line by Line Meaning

Let's light a flame to chase the night away
Let's light a fire to dispel the darkness from our lives.

We'll light one more to waste the day
We'll light another flame to pass the time idle.

When waking up becomes a memory
When getting up in the morning ceases to be a priority.

Watch me forget as I sleep
I'll find solace in sleep and forget all my troubles.

Through all the ups and downs, the best advice I've found
The most valuable lesson I've learned through my experiences is that...

If we don't leave this town, we'll never live it down
...we'll always regret it if we don't leave this place.

So what compels me to stay?
What prevents me from leaving?

Well I gave up everything but that was yesterday
I let go of everything I had, but that's in the past now.

Now I'm back out on the open road
I'm on the road again and free from my past.

As this point of difference seems to fade away
As the things that set us apart slowly disappear.

Pushing forward as we're fighting back
We're moving on and fighting for a better future.