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.”
Maine
The Tragic Thrills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why do you linger? You're out of place
I think we should sell our home and move up to Maine
On a inlet that looks toward the bay
I'll wear my best suit today
I'll lend my shoulder. I'll cut the cake
But remember that I can't be swayed
What can I say? I don't know what to say. I'm not the same.
You took my heart with you when you left
I would follow you but something tells me that I can't
At night you're out in the street
Hiding in shadows, rustling trees
Did you want me to save a seat?
Well that's a whole lot to ask of me
Come on now, don't be so mean
I am the meanest; you don't have to complete
I don't have to clench my fists or bare my teeth
You'll just hurt yourself
What can I say? I don't know what to say. I'm not the same.
You took my heart with you when you left
I would follow you but something tells me that I can't
So I'm buying a house in Maine
Where the ground takes May to thaw out
And Canada's thirty minute drive
And I'm putting you away
And I'll keep you out of sight, love
And we both know that I'm not going to write
But know that I will figure you sometimes
What can I say? I don't know what to say. I'm not the same.
You took my heart with you when you left
I would follow you but something tells me that I can't.
I would follow you but I'm simply not the same.
And tomorrow I am moving up to Maine
The song "Maine" by The Tragic Thrills is a melancholic reflection on a past relationship that has left the singer heartbroken and longing for a fresh start. The lyrics speak of a desire to move to Maine, to leave behind the memories and pain associated with their previous life. The first verse offers a poignant question, "Can a thing be erased?" as the singer grapples with the idea of moving on and starting anew. They feel out of place in their current life and wish to sell their home and move up to Maine for a fresh start. The imagery of an inlet looking toward the bay is a symbol of a new beginning and the hope that lies ahead.
The chorus is a somber reflection on lost love. The singer confesses that they are not the same as they were before and that their heart was taken with the person who left. They feel helpless in their longing to follow but understands that something inside them won't let it happen. The second verse speaks of the underlying tension that exists between the singer and their former lover. There's a sense of danger in the shadows and rustling trees, hinting at the harm that the loved one could do if they were to return. The singer tries to remain strong in the face of this danger, choosing not to clench their fists or bare their teeth. In the end, they conclude that buying a house in Maine and keeping their memories of the past out of sight is the best course of action.
Line by Line Meaning
Can a thing be erased?
Is it possible to completely forget or erase something from memory?
Why do you linger? You're out of place
Why are you still around? You don't belong here.
I think we should sell our home and move up to Maine
I believe it's time to sell our house and relocate to Maine.
On an inlet that looks toward the bay
We should find a location near the water, facing the bay.
I'll wear my best suit today
I'll dress up nicely for this occasion.
I'll lend my shoulder. I'll cut the cake
I will offer my support and participate in the festivities.
But remember that I can't be swayed
However, I cannot be convinced otherwise.
It's just courtesy
I'm doing this out of politeness, not necessarily because I want to.
What can I say? I don't know what to say. I'm not the same.
I am at a loss for words because I am not the person I used to be.
You took my heart with you when you left
You took my love and emotions away when you left.
I would follow you but something tells me that I can't
I want to follow you, but something inside me is preventing me from doing so.
At night you're out in the street
During the night, you are wandering around outside.
Hiding in shadows, rustling trees
Trying to stay hidden in the shadows and the sound of the wind and trees rustling.
Did you want me to save a seat?
Were you expecting me to hold a spot for you?
Well that's a whole lot to ask of me
That's quite a big request on your part.
Come on now, don't be so mean
Please don't act unpleasant or cruel.
I am the meanest; you don't have to complete
I can be cruel, so you don't have to try to match my behavior.
I don't have to clench my fists or bare my teeth
I don't need to act aggressively or physically harm you.
You'll just hurt yourself
Your actions will only end up causing more pain for yourself.
So I'm buying a house in Maine
As a result, I am purchasing a home in Maine.
Where the ground takes May to thaw out
A place where the ground tends to thaw in May.
And Canada's thirty minute drive
A location close enough to the Canadian border that it's only a 30-minute drive.
And I'm putting you away
I am choosing to put you out of my mind and distance myself from you.
And I'll keep you out of sight, love
I will keep any thoughts or reminders of you hidden from view.
And we both know that I'm not going to write
We are both aware that I won't be keeping in touch with you.
But know that I will figure you sometimes
But understand that thoughts of you will still cross my mind from time to time.
And tomorrow I am moving up to Maine
And tomorrow I will be moving to Maine.
Contributed by Max A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.