NEW CT MUSIC: “Sunshine and Grey” by West Hartford’s Cassie’s Crutch
There’s a lot to enjoy about new comers Cassie’s Crutch. The West Hartford band’s new single, aptly titled “Sunshine and Grey,” plays with tone, pace, and even features the bells and a violin. What in the Yellowcard is happening here?
First off… is it grey or gray? That’s a matter best handled by Merriam-Webster, so we’ll jump into the music. Imagine a cloudy sky… every now and again the sun peaks through warming your face, just to fall back behind the gray skies. That is also a good way to sum up the tone of “Sunshine and Grey.” Most of the track feels melancholy, but then the sunshine breaks through and we’re gifted with moments of driving guitars and drums that give life before slipping back into the gray.
The tempo and pace of “Sunshine and Grey” follow this same pattern. As Kevin Funnell despairs, miserable and under love’s spell – the melody is slow and punctuated by Ryan Levin’s guitar. As the band closes out the second stanza, we get our first glimpse of sunshine. Funnell sings “You’ll be wasting all your time with me,” and Hunter Rock wakes the drums up from their malaise while Levin and Joshua Cocuzzo on bass are also stirred into action… but just for a moment. This idea of spending time with someone special draws out the sun, but we can’t trust it. Back to gray.
The bridge is great, showcasing added depth with violin as Funnell shows off some of his vocal range. This gives way to a tantalizing 20 seconds where the band almost lets it rip before the song comes to a close. As a fan of indie music, this is really exciting. It teases the sort of energy that throws live crowds into a frenzy. Who knows where they’ll go next, but if somewhere along the line they can explore that force, I know I’ll be hooked.
Michael Stroneski, editor at mvsicthovght, has started several blogs and multi-media projects you’ve never seen. He is a life-long cheerleader for Connecticut and underground music. You can reach him at contact@mvsicthovght.com