Sometimes who a band chooses as their support can be a blessing of sorts, an acknowledgement of shared style, a signal of approved imitation.
While there’s always a place for sonic mismatches like the glorious time Björk and Death Grips paired up, a bill featuring Spacey Jane backed up by PARK RD makes much more sense.
When the Australian indie rock superstars visited Tāmaki Makaurau a few years ago, local band PARK RD were chosen to support them. Both proudly wield wholehearted guitar lines tailor-made for the festival circuit, and both have lead singers who unashamedly emote, which is an assured recipe for finding favour in commercial indie rock.
PARK RD will be hoping they can achieve even a sliver of their Australian counterpart’s all-conquering recent success, and their new single, “Ride”, is definitely a strong way to begin their new chapter.
Released last week, “Ride” is their first new material in over a year and was recorded with longtime collaborator Josh Edmonds.
The band’s return single shimmers with dreamy patterns, with frontman Tom Chamberlain’s impassioned vocals controlling the track’s turbulent journey (a “ride” indeed).
“Ride” is accompanied by an equally hazy music video, directed by Connor Pritchard, which features the band riding bikes around various Auckland locations.
Excitingly for PARK RD fans, “Ride” is the first taste of the band’s upcoming debut album, which will follow last year’s well-received EP Stupid Stories.
PARK RD will also be launching their new single at with a hometown show at Tuning Fork on Saturday, June 10th, and a performance at Wellington’s Meow the following weekend (ticket information here).
It will be their first Auckland headline show of the year, and follows recent appearances at festivals such as Rhythm & Vines, Soundsplash & Le Currents. Expect the band to unveil other fresh material alongside their new track.
PARK RD’s “Ride” is out now.
