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.”
Tears
The Tragic Thrills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
You too
You too
We got scars reminding us
That we got hearts that bleed
Next time we're dealt dirty cards
We've got tears so we can weep
I took control
When I was pressing sheets
Tryin' to cry myself to sleep
Slapped some good sense into me
I cut the rope
Lifted the chin that held my head
A moment of silence and regret
And felt the pounding in my chest
Oh, yeah
We got scars reminding us
That we got hearts that bleed
Next time we're dealt dirty cards
We've got tears so we can weep
They don't know the pain in love
'Cause they love apathy
Maybe we are better off
Havin' tears so we can weep
Sticks and thorns tearin' up holes
Turnin' us to stone
We're all made naked by the truth
Sticks and thorns won't ever hush my soul
Whatever love I know
We got scars reminding us
That we got hearts that bleed
And next time we're dealt dirty cards
We've got tears so we can weep
They don't know the pain in love
'Cause they love apathy
Maybe we are better off
Havin' tears so we can weep
Maybe we are better off
Havin' tears so we can weep
The Tragic Thrills's "Tears" is a powerful reflection on the pain of loving and losing, and the importance of allowing oneself to feel emotions in order to move past them. The lyrics describe the singer's experience of hitting a wall in frustration and feeling helpless in the face of their own emotional turmoil. However, rather than giving up or turning to apathy, the singer chooses to embrace their vulnerability and use it as a source of strength.
Throughout the song, the repeated refrain of "We got scars reminding us / That we got hearts that bleed / And next time we're dealt dirty cards / We've got tears so we can weep" emphasizes the idea that emotional pain is a universal human experience. We all carry wounds and regrets, but it is through acknowledging and processing these feelings that we are able to heal and grow.
The final lines of the song - "Maybe we are better off / Having tears so we can weep" - suggest that allowing ourselves to feel the pain of loss and heartbreak is not a weakness, but a necessary part of the human experience. By embracing our emotions rather than burying them, we are more fully able to appreciate the love and joy that life has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
I lost it all
I suffered a great loss
I punched the wall again
Out of frustration, I hit the wall
But it was stronger than my hands
The wall was too strong for me to break
And they were swollen, they were red
My hands were injured from hitting the wall
And I'm a fool
I made a mistake
I'm not a lion, I'm a man
I am vulnerable, not invincible
I can't outrun the hurt, they said
I can't avoid the emotional pain
But I can love and love again
Despite the pain, I can still love
You too
This message applies to you as well
We got scars reminding us
We have physical and emotional scars as reminders
That we got hearts that bleed
We are capable of being hurt and vulnerable
Next time we're dealt dirty cards
If we face difficult situations in the future
We've got tears so we can weep
We are allowed to cry and express our emotions
I took control
I regained my composure and took charge
When I was pressing sheets
When I was alone in bed
Tryin' to cry myself to sleep
Trying to release my emotions through tears
Slapped some good sense into me
I came to my senses
I cut the rope
I let go of what was holding me back
Lifted the chin that held my head
I regained my confidence
A moment of silence and regret
I reflected on my actions and felt remorse
And felt the pounding in my chest
I felt my heartbeat faster
Oh, yeah
An expression of affirmation
They don't know the pain in love
Others may not understand the emotional pain
'Cause they love apathy
Because they prefer to be emotionless
Maybe we are better off
Perhaps it's better for us
Havin' tears so we can weep
Being able to express our emotions through tears
Sticks and thorns tearin' up holes
Metaphor for life's challenges causing pain and hurt
Turnin' us to stone
Hardening our emotions and becoming numb
We're all made naked by the truth
The truth exposes our vulnerabilities
Sticks and thorns won't ever hush my soul
Challenges won't silence my inner voice and emotions
Whatever love I know
The love I have experienced
Maybe we are better off
Perhaps it's better for us
Havin' tears so we can weep
Being able to express our emotions through tears
Maybe we are better off
Perhaps it's better for us
Havin' tears so we can weep
Being able to express our emotions through tears
Contributed by Connor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mait
It's weird and kind of nice that they matured because I grew up with their dancey pop music, but now I'm much more into this slow rock and alternative music that they're doing now, so it's kind of a nice coincidence that our tastes have changed in the same way.
Angelica Simon
its disappointing to see that such talent is not recognized. they made new music that actually expresses themselves and shows creativity and artistry. been loving this music since it came out. keep dong what you love <3
GlowDazed
Why did it take me four hundred years to find out about their new music?
iiBluFlame
Exactly
jaetokki
so this is allstar weekend?
their new music is pretty rad and the band name too.
they were like my freaking celebrity crushes back in 2010!
Eryn Bugbee
I love the way they are taking this fresh start! This is really awesome
Le a
This really is amazing guys. You did such a good job! This band, and everything that's a part of is the start of something huge and amazing. You guys have so much talent and it always shines. I'm so proud of all of you. <3 Keep being amazing and keep doing what you do, The Tragic Thrills will go far, I can feel it :)
Danielle Schuyler
I really respect and admire how you focused on the storyline and emotions of the song here. You could've done a performance take centered around yourselves, which still would've been good, but you didn't. You made a powerful statement with the direction of this video. There is something noble to be said about those artists who take the risk of removing their faces from the camera's view. This was a good kind of "straying from the norm." Also, the very end was my personal favorite....girl power!
Caitlin Rose
I'm impressed. I can feel this is just the starting line to something we've never seen from you guys. You are capable of being amazing and this is how you're going to get there. I'm so proud to be a fan.
stan loona
As much as I love and miss Allstar Weekend, I really love this song, along with the entire album. It's a different sound than what they used to be, but it is amazing. Can't wait to hear what else their going to do.