Gruesome depictions of a mind ill-at-ease with the world are at the core of Toupee’s new single, “Sensei, Swami, Guru”, off of their second LP Leg Toucher, out July 7 on Moniker Records. The Chicago band, never having been psychologically able or willing to passively tolerate a banal existence, epitomize an anxiety-ridden mind in this track, hardly calm, and never comfortable with itself. An opening of simply thwacked drums blare forward, in full Batman onomatopoeia-style, with a lucidly-reverbed, ambivalently picked guitar hooks over it, immediately suggesting a chilling unease in the air. Frontlady Whitney Allen’s softly siren-like vocals lure you into the darkening woods, the wolves hiding behind the trees, when suddenly all the tension built on just twenty-six seconds snaps like a twig, with a kick of a distortion pedal, both on the guitars, and on her voice. Suddenly, Hyde defeats Jekyll, murders him actually, brutally, and blood-curdling shrieks ensue. The curiously inviting voice is completely inverted as Allen growls, “Why don’t you look me in the face,” and the discord becomes real. The track only intensifies with the following verse and chorus, the hushed lyricism turning more howl-like towards its close.
Upcoming tour dates:
July
16 Detroit MI
17 Cleveland OH
18 Pittsburgh PA
19 Kutztown PA
20 Boston MA
21 Providence RI
22 Amherst MA
23 New York NY
24 Asbury Park NJ
25 Philadelphia PA
26 Baltimore MD
27 Washington DC
28 Richmond VA
29 Raleigh NC
30 Asheville NC
31 Atlanta GA
August
01 Nashville TN
02 Louisville KY
03 St Louis MO
04 Lafayette IN
05 Chicago IL
06 Minneapolis MN
