The quintet is comprised of seasoned musicians with national and international touring experience, and successful track records with both major and independent labels. The band has toured with Twin Forks, Augustana and Pigpen Theater Co. In addition to Zach Porter, the band includes Cameron Quiseng (bass), Chris Morrison (lead guitar), Ans Gibson (drums), and Gabe Rudner (keyboard). With The Tragic Thrills, the band members break away from their legacies to rally behind the poetic and irreverently romantic songs Porter has crafted. Emboldened by the fresh start, the guys have taken the reins to steer their destiny. They self-funded their self-titled debut, and, enamored with the subtle genius production on Mat Kearney’s Young Love, handpicked producer Jason Lehning.
It’s a bold way to launch a new band, but that move keeps within the vibrant emotionality packed in the group’s moniker. “The name The Tragic Thrills embodies a sense of what I owe. Not what I owe to anyone, just what it’ll take for me to find whatever the hell it is I’m looking for in life,” Porter reveals.
For Porter, love pulled him off the music business treadmill and brought him back to soulful creative authenticity. “Meeting my girlfriend changed everything,” he confides. “In the past, being in a successful band was the most important thing in the world to me—I was willing to do whatever it took to make it.. Now I’m able to write in a way that my ambitions had stopped me from before. “
The band recently signed to Washington Square, the new Razor & Tie imprint. The Tragic Thrills debut is sublimely modern with skyward, atmospheric anthemics tastefully balanced by poignant and quaint touches likes stately cello, crystalline piano, and shimmering guitars. Against this expansive backdrop, Porter sings his powerfully confessional lyrics with rawness and urgency.
Throughout the album Porter’s lyric writing is a revelation; it’s blunt and pent-up but bursting with emotion about relationships: romantic, friendship, and business. On “Tears” he sings: I lost it all/I punched the wall again/But it was stronger than my hands/And they were swollen, they were red/And I’m a fool/I’m not a lion, I’m a man I can’t outrun the hurt they said/But I can love and love again/And you too, you too. “I have days quite often where I find myself relating to ‘Tears,’ in many different ways,” he says candidly. “I have something that means everything to me. And with that connection and devotion comes the greatest moments in my life but also some of the hardest.”
Another standout, “Creeps & Strangers” seizes a different end of the emotional spectrum, recounting a particularly chilling experience. “My girlfriend would take the bus to work every day,” he remembers. “There was this really creepy guy who would stare at her like he wanted to murder her. It was horrible. I was in Nashville thinking about this creep and how I didn’t want her to ride the bus anymore. That idea eventually evolved into something broader about people's lives in general, the routine, and wanting to break the cycle of things you hate.”
The hauntingly beautiful “Fever” features some of his most imaginative and stinging lyrical ideas. “There are three different stories in ‘Fever.’ The first story I made up, although it’s safe to say it happens all the time. The other two stories are personal stories from my life,” he explains. “Getting these stories out in these songs is a huge release for me. When I sing that song I mean every word.”
The Tragic Thrills sought out producer Jason Lehning for his fingerprint aesthetic of sleek poise and unvarnished expressiveness. “Jason was everything I needed. He was the perfect balance of challenging me and letting me do my thing to capture an emotion,” explains Porter.
“The whole time I was making the record there was a sense of purpose,” Porter says pensively, thinking back. “It felt like it was exactly what I should be doing. That sense of purpose gets me through everything.”
Fever
The Tragic Thrills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swore she'd never give up on her soul desire
But leaps of faith turned to shots in the darkness
Until she told herself that she'll never be an artist
Don't give up on you
I won't give up on you either
Oh, I believe in you
I believe in your fever
His best friend told him that his soul would be tortured
So he ran to his mother with the fear of religion
She showed him how to stand up and make his own decisions
Don't give up on you
I won't give up on you either
Oh, I believe in you
I believe in your fever
Don't give up on you
I won't give up on you either
Oh, I believe in you
I believe in your fever
Sue and her friend were lesbian lovers
They moved to Vermont so they could marry each other
In a little house in the woods, and the clover
They found the meaning of life and all of its wonder (hey!)
Don't give up on you
I won't give up on you either
Oh, I believe in you
I believe in your fever
Don't give up on you
I won't give up on you either
Oh, I believe in you
I believe in your fever
I put my faith in your fever
We put our faith in your fever
The Tragic Thrills’ song “Fever” is a powerful anthem about never giving up on one’s dreams and desires. The lyrics describe three different individuals who have faced challenges in pursuit of their passions. The beginning of the song tells the story of a young girl who dreamed of becoming a writer but faced setbacks that turned her away from chasing that dream. The second verse introduces a young boy who feared his soul would be “tortured” by religion, but his mother taught him to stand up for himself and make his own decisions. The final verse tells the tale of two lesbian lovers who found happiness and meaning in their life together.
The chorus of the song is a message of support and encouragement to all those who may be struggling to pursue their passions. The repeated lines, “Don't give up on you / I won't give up on you either / Oh, I believe in you / I believe in your fever” are a promise to stand by someone and support them, even when they may doubt themselves.
Overall, “Fever” is a song about resilience, empowerment, and never giving up on one's dreams. It is a reminder to believe in oneself and to surround oneself with others who believe in and support them, no matter the challenges they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet, sweet girl dreamed some day she'd be a writer
A girl had a dream of becoming a writer someday.
Swore she'd never give up on her soul desire
She promised herself to never abandon her dream.
But leaps of faith turned to shots in the darkness
Taking risks turned out to be bad experiences for her.
Until she told herself that she'll never be an artist
She lost hope of achieving her dream.
Don't give up on you
Don't lose hope in yourself.
I won't give up on you either
I won't lose hope in you.
Oh, I believe in you
I have faith in you.
I believe in your fever
I believe in your passion to achieve your dream.
Eight years old in an apple orchard
A boy of eight years in an apple orchard.
His best friend told him that his soul would be tortured
His friend warned him of the negative consequences of his actions.
So he ran to his mother with the fear of religion
He went to his mother with the fear of religion.
She showed him how to stand up and make his own decisions
She taught him to make his own choices and take responsibility.
Sue and her friend were lesbian lovers
Sue and her friend were in a romantic relationship as lesbian partners.
They moved to Vermont so they could marry each other
They moved to Vermont where same-sex marriage was legal so they could get married.
In a little house in the woods, and the clover
They lived in a small house surrounded by trees and clovers.
They found the meaning of life and all of its wonder (hey!)
They discovered the beauty and purpose of life.
I put my faith in your fever
I believe in your passion.
We put our faith in your fever
We believe in your passion.
Contributed by James W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Faking Neverland
Sweet, sweet girl dreamed someday she's be a writer
Swore she'd never give up on her sole desire
But leaps of faith turned to shot in the darkness
Until she told herself that she'll never be an artist
Don't give up on you,
I won't give up on you either
Oh, I believe in you,
I believe in your fever
8 years old in an apple orchard,
His best told him that his soul would be tortured
So, he ran to his mother with the fear of religion,
She showed him how to stand up,
and make his own decisions
Don't give up on you,
I won't give up on you either,
Oh, I believe in you,
I believe in your fever
2x
Sue and her friend were lesbian lovers,
They moved to Vermont,
So they could marry each other
In a little house, in the woods in the clover,
They found the meaning of life,
And all of it's wonder
Don't give up on you,
I won't give up on you either,
Oh, I believe in you,
I believe in your fever
2x
I put my faith in your fever,
We put our faith in your fever
Skylar Jane
"Sweet, sweet girl dreamed someday she'd be a writer, swore she'd never give up on a soul desire." -describes my life.
Laully
"Leaps of faith turned to shots in the darkness, 'til she told herself she would never be an artist." -basically mine.
Kaelin J.
this is quite possibly the best song in the entire universe. <3
Kiran Hayre
This is the music you guys were supposed to make. Absolute love.
Lindsay K
Beautiful, meaningful. So extremely mature. I've loved you boys from the start, keep doing what you do.
Julie Farran
I loved allstar weekend, but I love the tragic thrills more. You guys are truly amazing and talented.
ItsMeEuan
@Ashley Grachanin well, go listen the allstar weekend songs but dont ruin something that was their decision.
Ashley Grachanin
I still love Allstar Weekend more
Kristina Palattao
I used to listen to All Star Weekend a lot years ago, so I went to their vevo to see if they put anything out that I hadn't heard of. Someone in the comments mentioned The Tragic Thrills so I came here. This is amazing music. I'm so glad I read the comments lol
Faking Neverland
Sweet, sweet girl dreamed someday she's be a writer
Swore she'd never give up on her sole desire
But leaps of faith turned to shot in the darkness
Until she told herself that she'll never be an artist
Don't give up on you,
I won't give up on you either
Oh, I believe in you,
I believe in your fever
8 years old in an apple orchard,
His best told him that his soul would be tortured
So, he ran to his mother with the fear of religion,
She showed him how to stand up,
and make his own decisions
Don't give up on you,
I won't give up on you either,
Oh, I believe in you,
I believe in your fever
2x
Sue and her friend were lesbian lovers,
They moved to Vermont,
So they could marry each other
In a little house, in the woods in the clover,
They found the meaning of life,
And all of it's wonder
Don't give up on you,
I won't give up on you either,
Oh, I believe in you,
I believe in your fever
2x
I put my faith in your fever,
We put our faith in your fever