My Life through Songs, Pt. 2 “HAGS”
Ah yes, summer of 2016. Such a time. I had moved out of my parents’ house for the first time ever at the ripe old age of 19, and spent the entire summer couch surfing. Listening to angsty indie/emo rock, going from party to party, playing house shows, basement shows, and really having the time of my life. Thankfully I documented those feelings in this little time capsule of en EP called “HAGS”. Me, Logan Brennan (production, design) and Max Hanks (drums) teamed up together on this EP and recorded it in a basement somewhere on Long Island.
I wrote this first song about my friend vaping in the car so much that I couldn’t see anything. It also really smelled like breakfast cereal, hence the title.
An original tour flyer documenting a bar, cafe and house show, circa July 2016
“Fruit loops, why does it smell like fruit loops,
Every time I’m sitting in your car it’s cloudy”
I wanted to call it Captain Crunch, which was our friends’ nickname. However, this name was copyrighted by the breakfast cereal company, (pls sponsor me) so I had to change the name of the song to Captain Cronch. This is the first track from my EP HAGS. If I play this at a show, please mosh.
Formerly known as Sims 2 Double Deluxe. This song was a story about an imaginary cat. Just kidding it’s a drinking song. Just kidding again, it’s up to you to decide what it’s about. I drank for the first time that summer in 2016, and it was a wild time. Really weird parties and just crazy experiences, this one was very metaphorical.
An unused t-shirt design from the HAGS era.*
“Merlot, Merlot, say hello, fruit juice cat, my hero
Merlot, Merlot, say hello to everyone you used to know”
The song definitely touches on how when you drink, it brings back memories. And sometimes those memories are painful, sometimes not so much. But it’s such a fun little tune really.
This song has nothing to do with the 2005 Ice Cube film. I remember at the time I wanted to write a song that sounded like the Strokes, I don’t know if that comes across. I was staying at my friend’s house, they were away at work, and it was a very lonely time. For that reason, this song carries a longing feeling.
The original artwork used for the cover of the HAGS EP.
“The days are long and weird, since you disappeared.
Please come back to stay, we’ll sleep the day away.”
It was formerly named Scarabino, named after Michael Scarabino of the band “QU!ET” (formerly known as Scarabino). I saw their band once or twice that summer. Something else to note is that this was the only song I played drums on, all the rest of the songs featured Max Hanks on the kit.
My friends just said make a song called Summer Slam, so I did. This song was a summation of that summer of 2016. House shows, couch surfing, selling t shirts, eating shitty food, etc. I knew that in time I would come to look back on this summer with a great sense of nostalgia.
The Original artwork for the "Summer Slam" single.
“macaroni for the road, forget everything you know
selling clothes just to get by, is it worth the constant high
documentary little house show,
wonder how fast it will go?”
I’m immensely grateful for the memories of that summer and all the friends I shared it with, and I remember it often.
