In these politically contentious times, the Bucks County boys of Ceramic Animal, aka the “Nasty Boys,” are ready to step up and use the power of psychedelic-tinged rock to bring the citizens of the United States together…or should we say, the United Intergalactic Alliance of America.
The Doylestown-based band, consisting of the Regan brothers Chris (vocals, guitar), Erik (drums) and Elliott (vocals, keys), along with childhood friends Anthony Marchione (vocals, guitar) and Dallas Hosey (vocals, bass), recently released the music video for their new single “Maybe Tomorrow,” completing the intergalactic trilogy that began in 2018 with “Look for a Lover” and continued in 2020 with “Workin’ Real Hard.”
After competing in a dating game show in the 1970s and winning the heart of an alien contestant, only to be vaporized into plasma by her (“Look for a Lover”), Ceramic Animals then take part in an 1980s fitness program (“Workin’ Real Hard”) to regain their strength and prepare for their return to Earth. Accompanied by a half-alien, half-human teenage daughter.
Now, in the epic conclusion to the saga (“Maybe Tomorrow”), they must crash-land back on Earth, where their daughter tragically dies… but not before delivering an urgent message: “Save tomorrow.” Dressed in ’90s Power Rangers-style space suits, Ceramic Animals must become heroes as they battle the insidious forces causing environmental destruction, economic sabotage, and an oppressive police state to secure a better future for humanity.
“The director we are working with, Sid Kreitzer, directed and wrote the first two episodes of this series, and he always envisioned it as a three-parter,” said Erik The times. “We always loved working with him, even though we didn’t get the chance to collaborate on our last album. We just didn’t find the right timing. So he was the first person we considered for a video for this upcoming album. He was all in, he had some ideas. We wanted to come to some kind of resolution, some kind of climax.”
Ceramic Animal’s colorful costumes in the “Maybe Tomorrow” music video were all hand-made from materials purchased on Amazon and repurposed into stylish space suits. Of course, Marchione, as the self-proclaimed “cute one” of the “bad guys,” wore a pink ensemble.
When asked if there was an overarching message the band wanted viewers to get out of the video, other than unity and fighting against humanity’s darker tendencies, Chris said, “I think the message is that if you made Ceramic Animal president, all the world’s problems would be solved. It feels like a five-person job anyway.”
As for the song itself, “Maybe Tomorrow” is one of two singles released recently, the other being titled “Packaged Deals.”
The pair’s focal point, “Maybe Tomorrow,” deals with the emotional turmoil of false contentment that hinders progress in all aspects of life. With its haunting lyrics and psych-rock edge, it captures the yearning for real change and the frustration of stagnation in friendships, relationships, employment, and political inaction. Ultimately, the song is a poignant reflection on dreams, despair, and the hope that lies just over the horizon.
Meanwhile, “Packaged Deals” delves into the dark side of ambition and the high price of success. With its gritty lyrics and driving indie rock sound, it examines the pressures of self-improvement and the compromises made along the way. “Packaged Deals” juxtaposes the allure of quick fixes and instant gratification with the harsh realities of modern life, offering a scathing commentary on the transactional nature of happiness.
“Together, ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ and ‘Packaged Deals’ explore the interplay between the internal struggle for authenticity and the external pressures of societal expectations. They deal with the vulnerability of longing for real connection and the harsh realities of the transactional nature of success, an unfortunate reality in much of life,” said songwriter Chris.
When asked why now is the ideal time to discuss such topics, Chris said, “I feel like it’s just always at the forefront and for some reason it’s more prevalent now than ever before. I think the combination of the internet and people feeling really strongly about everything they think leads to a lot of turmoil and hostility. So I think it’s always right in front of everyone’s eyes and the songs are an outlet for that observation.”
These singles will be part of Ceramic Animal’s upcoming fifth album, set for release at a yet-to-be-determined date this fall. In recording the record, the band drew on their experience working with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on the album, which will be released in 2022. Sweet Unknownwhich was recorded at Nashville’s legendary Easy Eye Sound Studio. There they were challenged to refine their story and distill their sound, marking a shift in the band’s creative process and overall approach to making music. The upcoming fifth album celebrates Ceramic Animals’ return to the glam and psychedelic influences that originally defined them, with an infusion of the maturity and depth they gained in Nashville.
“We learned so much on the last album. We got to work with so many great people. You learn a lot from people who have been doing this for years,” Chris said. “And so I think the songwriting, the lyrics on this album are definitely more direct or more upfront. I think my songwriting has gotten better since then. But definitely going back to the sound that we created, it’s kind of a hybrid of the sounds of that experience and the sounds from back when we started, and bringing those together is what makes this album. I think it’s our best work that we’ve done.”
In fact, some of the songs featured on the new album were originally written for Sweet Unknownbut the band didn’t have time to record them all. In Chris’ opinion, that was the best thing to do.
“It gives you some variety here,” he said of the upcoming record. “It’s not like we sat down and wrote the whole album in one go. It’s a collection of the last few years.”
Looking ahead, Ceramic Animal intends to tour again in 2025. More information will be forthcoming in the coming months. In the meantime, they will return to Picnics on Pine in Doylestown on Saturday, September 21. Pine Street between Oakland and Ashland will be transformed into a neighborhood amphitheater for all ages, featuring food and live music in a street festival atmosphere. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available now at picnicsonpine.com/tickets.
Visit CeramicAnimal.net for further information and updates.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
