On the heels of their fantastic 2024 record Art History, New England trio Perennial returns with the frenetic new single “Perennial ‘65”. The track recontextualizes 60’s rock and roll within 2000’s garage rock and modern punk for a breathlessly addictive punch.
Perennial’s power exists in the synchronous interaction of it’s three members; vocalist/organist Chelsey Hahn, guitarist/vocalist Chad Jewett and drummer Ceej Dioguardi. Their songs often weep a wild energy that gives off a constant feeling of recklessness despite the tight chemistry between the band members. “Perennial ‘65” is built around a guitar riff – so hard hitting and satisfying that it feels obvious. Much of the track’s melody lives in the distorted, driving guitars but it’s not until the other instruments enter that the riff feels at home. Hahn’s roof-raising organ stabs and Dioguardi’s snare groove add immediacy to the growing energy of the track. The verses call and respond with Jewett’s strumming answered by a melodic organ riff and his vocals echoed by Hahn both leading into the back-and-forth shout of “What’s the signal, What’s the sound/All my friends are going underground” during the chorus.
The band’s clear influence from early rock-n-roller’s such as the Who or the Beatles lives in the sharp attention to melody that doesn’t sacrifice instrumental intensity. The band members seem to be in complete step with one another and that unrelenting comradery is on full display on their new song. For the uninitiated, “Perennial ‘65” says all it needs to – leading the listener only to wonder when this prowess can next be experienced in a live setting.
The band will be playing SXSW this upcoming week!
