Student debt is a huge problem — one that members of Old Flame, a Northampton-based indie rock band, are all too familiar with. The title track off the band’s new album, “Young & In Debt,” addresses this issue.
The album, which will be released Saturday at Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls, features ’80s sounding synths, heavy grinding guitar and Emma Ayres on lead vocals. She passionately sings lines like “The only way to live/Is to buy something we can’t pay back/From the cradle to the grave/Work ourselves until we crack/Maybe it’s all in my head/Raised from birth to be young and in debt/Well there ain’t no time to start again/Falling in the red with your first step.”
“We’ve always been a politically inspired band,” Ayres said. “But on this album, we are tapping a bit more into personal subject matter. This album was named ‘Young & In Debt’ because that’s where a bunch of us are in our lives. We are trying to call attention to the student debt crisis because it really is a crisis.”
It’s not the first time the band has taken a stand on social or political issues. Ayres and guitarist Sam Perry founded Old Flame in 2017 in response to Donald Trump’s presidency, she said. Old Flame started out in the DIY music scene but quickly gained fans who were drawn to the group’s bluesy indie rock sound, politically charged lyrics and dynamic live shows. In addition to Ayres and Perry, the band also features Nate Mondschein on bass, Hannah Rose on the keyboard and Ken Birchell on drums.
While the band members might currently be financially broke, their spirits are firmly intact and they have a lot to say about a lot of different subjects. Themes and topics of the album vary widely from extreme censorship in North Korea (the song “Pirated Video”) to a lover who has disappointed (“Lip Service”).
“We take in a diversity of subject matter,” Ayres said. “We might be talking about something specific — be it the censorship laws or the student debt crisis — but I think that there is a lot of metaphor extrapolation from bigger political sentiments that get woven into our songwriting process.”
Honest emotion in music is always refreshing, and Ayres sings from her heart. Throughout, edgier songs are tempered by softer, more introspective moments. In particular, the vulnerability and sadness that Ayres conveys in the heart-wrenching song, “Echo Base,” is a standout moment on a disc full of diverse standout moments.
Musically, the group expands on the broad term “indie rock,” drawing from other genres like punk, new wave and psychedelic to create an exciting sound that’s uniquely their own. “Young & In Debt” is one of those albums that you’ll find yourself listening to over and over again.
“Young & In Debt” is Old Flame’s first full-length album and has 10 tracks. It was recorded at Ghost Hit Recording in Holyoke and produced by Mondschein.
“This is a very exciting time for us because it’s our first album that’s been a truly collaborative writing process between all four bandmates,” said Ayres, who resides in Greenfield. In past work, Ayres said she and Perry were the primary writers.
A CD release show for the album will be held at the Shea Theater Arts Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. Also performing will be Hatfield indie rock band Sodada, releasing its own album, “Phase,” and another band, Fighting Giants from Easthampton. Tickets are $12 in advance and are available at sheatheater.org, or $15 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Following the album’s release, Ayres said the band will tour the East Coast in June and then return to the region.
“We all have various financial responsibilities be it student loan debt, mortgages or whatever,” she said. “We are picking and choosing what shows we do. We want to make sure that this collaboration is a sustainable effort for all of us.”
Additionally, the group is putting the finishing touches on a video for the album’s title track, which will feature graduates holding up signs showing the amount of student debt they owe.
Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield is celebrating its second anniversary this weekend. The venue, which is owned and operated by the Goldsher family, has grown a great deal in that relatively short amount of time. The club is bustling with all kind of activity and on some weeks have shows booked every night of the week. Variety is what Hawks & Reed is all about and they offer theater, comedy, kids events, community meetings and music — lots of music.
When it comes to music, the venue books all genres and is supportive of the local music scene. To celebrate the anniversary occasion Saturday, Julian “Ju Ju” Marley, son of Bob Marley and Barbados-born Lucy Ponder, will perform beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Julian is a Grammy-nominated roots-reggae musician who released his fourth album, “As I Am,” in January. He also worked in the band Ghetto Youths with his brothers Stephen, Damian and Kymani Marley.
In the months ahead, look for guitarist Johnny A. (May 24), reggae great Freddie McGregor (May 31), the Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans (June 14) and Americana favorites The Dustbowl Revival (June 21).
In addition to celebrating the anniversary, Hawks & Reed, which is downtown at 289 Main St., has more bands booked for Mother’s Day. The Nite Caps, a honky-tonk band, will host a special Sunday afternoon dance party that begins at 2 p.m., winding down by 6. And if mom doesn’t know how to dance, no problem — there will be two-step lessons beginning at 2:15 before the music starts at 2:30 p.m. There will also be a waltz demonstration between sets, and as an added treat for Mom, free flowers will be offered to the first 30 mothers.
Later Sunday night, consider returning with Mom to catch a 7 p.m. performance by the string band Lula Wiles. This trio from Boston draws from traditional bluegrass, classic country and contemporary folk, blending their voices together to create some of the sweetest harmonies you’ve ever heard. Having seen the group play outstanding shows at the Parlor Room and the 2016 Green River Festival, I have to say this show is strongly recommended. Lula Wiles recently released a new album called “What Will We Do,” which will surely take their career to the next level.
Tickets for all the above shows are available at hawksandreed.com.
Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at soundslocal@yahoo.com.