The Nude Party – “Hard Times (All Around)”
SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 7
Pairs Well With… Lemonheads, The Band, Dinosaur Jr.
In 2019, The Nude Party rolled into Austin on the heels of their single, “Chevrolet Van,” in which the protagonist recounts the well-intentioned advice he was getting from relatives, even strangers, that his music career wouldn’t last past age twenty-one, telling him: “You'll never make enough money, And no one cares about the things you say,” and that “you’re gonna wake up someday, and you'll wish you got a job.” Of course, at the time, the band was riding ride, touring non-stop, and about to release their first full album. Then the pandemic hit, threatening every emerging band’s prospects. But rather than become the Pity Party and head off to regular jobs, the band decamped to upstate New York and worked slow and steadily on their second full album, Rides On, which comes out just before SXSW begins. From the first few singles, this might be The Nude Party’s best and most mature work to date.
The title track, “Rides On,” is a Rolling Stones ramble inspired by a story that lead singer Patton Magee heard about an aging bull rider in Mexico who refused to quit. What Magee took away was that, “If you’re alive, then live. No brakes. Ride on.” “Hard Times (All Around),” explores the darker side of persevering. Before writing this song, Magee was listening to early Bob Dylan demos that included a 1929 Americana folk tune called “(Hard Times) Down on Penny’s Farm.” Dylan rewrote it as “Hard Times in New York Town,” and Magee crafted yet another version inspired by the current troubles in world. Also, not to be overlooked is the band’s cover of Dr. John’s “Somebody’s Tryin’ to Hoodoo Me,” a darker, smokier, electric guitar version of this NOLA classic.
All said, The Nude Party still has one foot planted in 70’s classic and psychedelic rock and another in alt country, with touches of Southern rock and a bit of a Beach Boys surf vibe at times. A Nude Party set might be a particular good choice this year, if like me, you are a bit overwhelmed with the plethora of melancholy dream pop that came out many artists’ pandemic bedrooms over the past two years. For despite the serious messaging of some of songs, The Nude Party’s late ‘60s vibe, wall-of-sound drums, jangling guitars, and organ riffs is in the end, just good old rock n’ roll fun. Yes, they are still boys with guitars, although with the band now ten years old, some members are approaching or have passed the 30-year mark. Psst: Patton Magee - you’ve got a steady job and it’s one of the best ones there is. (David Zlotnick)