The latest single from Chicago's Ratboys is their most country song of all of their recent singles. One thing we've always loved about the band is how they meld indie rock with country, so "Morning Zoo" feels almost like a back to basics for them. Of course, Ratboys were never quite a country band, and this certainly isn't a straight up country song. It's on the edge of the mainstream side of indie rock with country influences and a slight twang. The guitar work in "Morning Zoo" will instantly suck you in, and Julia Steiner's vocals and lyrics will keep you enthralled.
Julia Steiner says of the new single:
“The lyrics are meant to express the frustration and confusion that comes along with hanging out at a personal crossroads, where every day feels the same and the same big questions keep nagging at you from the back of your head. It’s that small, lingering feeling of numb indecision, of pesky anxiety- like disassociating at a stop sign or weighing all your biggest hopes and fears while stuck behind the longest freight train you’ve ever seen.”
You can listen to "Morning Zoo" below. The Window is due out August 25 via Topshelf Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Ratboys, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Wed. Aug. 23 - Chicago, IL @ Big Kids - Listening Party Fri. Aug. 25 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern - SOLD OUT Thu. Sep. 21 - Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Festival Fri. Sep. 22 - Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe * Sat. Sep. 23 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd * Tue. Sep. 26 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s * Wed. Sep. 27 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom * Thu. Sep. 28 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall * Fri. Sep. 29 - Montreal, QC @ POP Montreal ^ Sat. Sep. 30 - Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern ^ Mon. Oct. 2 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Bottlerocket Social Hall * Tue. Oct. 3 - Cleveland, OH @ No Class * Wed. Oct. 4 - Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag * Fri. Oct. 6 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club * Sat. Oct. 7 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee * Thu. Oct. 19 - Omaha, NE @ Reverb & Sat. Oct. 21 - Denver, CO @ Globe Hall & Sun. Oct. 22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court & Tue. Oct. 24 - Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s & Wed. Oct. 25 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios & Fri. Oct. 27 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord & Sat. Oct. 28 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Highland Park & Sun. Oct. 29 - San Diego, CA @ The Loft at UC San Diego & Mon. Oct. 30 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room & Tue. Oct. 31 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar & Thu. Nov. 2 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger & Fri. Nov. 3 - Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage & Sat. Nov. 4 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada & Mon. Nov. 13 Brighton, UK @ Zahara Wed. Nov. 15 Glasgow, UK @ Hug & Pint Thu. Nov. 16 Manchester, UK @ YES Basement Fri. Nov. 17. Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade Sun. Nov. 19 London, UK @ Omeara Mon. Nov. 20 Paris, FR @ L’International Tue. Nov. 21 Antwerp, BE @ Bouckenborgh Wed. Nov. 22 Utrecht, NL @ Ekko Thu. Nov. 23 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Fri. Nov. 24 Cologne, DE @ Yard Club Sat. Nov. 25 Hamburg, DE @ Nochtwache Sun. Nov. 26 Copenhagen, DK @ Vega Tue. Nov. 28 Berlin, DE @ Privatclub Thu. Nov. 30 Darmstadt, DE @ Oetinger Villa Fri. Dec. 22 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall • * =w/ Free Range & =w/ Another Michael ^ =w/ Ellis • =w/ Disq
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