The Bogmen - "Summer of Soul"
New York City indie rock legends The Bogmen are coming back in a big way. After a 15 year hiatus, the sextet are sharing a new single called “Summer of Soul” and a video to accompany it, premiering here today on Look At My Records! But they’re not stopping there, as the band is slated to play a sold-out show at Webster Hall on September 11th and have plans to release their long-awaited third full-length album.
The Bogmen show no signs of rust on “Summer of Soul.” Instead, it feels like they’re picking up right where they left off. “Summer of Soul” sounds and feels wistful, mixing piano, echoing guitars, and frontman Bill Campion’s calming, smokey voice. While the song definitely reflects on the past, the more booming and glowing choruses see the band embracing the present and all that life has to offer. The accompanying video, which was directed by longtime Bogmen collaborator Chris Cassidy, nicely captures this, as it centers on a young boy paddling out to sea in search of adventure. He eventually returns to shore, paints his face, and grabs a large, powerful walking stick, standing tall and confidently on a large rock - almost as if he’s awaiting his next challenge. The band shared that the video “gives the sense that we are all perpetual teenagers, no matter what age. Like the character Huck Finn, always looking at life with a sense of adventure and wonder, yet frightening at the same time. The perpetual cycles of life’s hills and valleys.”
The Bogmen’s show at Webster Hall on September 11th holds special significance to the band. As lifelong New Yorkers, the band and their fanbase were directly impacted by the events of September 11th, with many losing their lives on that fateful day. Specifically, keyboardist Brendan Ryan’s wife Kristy, who worked in the twin towers, passed away in the attacks. In the immediate aftermath, the Bogmen played two special shows at Irving Plaza in December of 2001 and raised over $200,000 for 9/11 related charities. Similarly, the show at Webster Hall on September 11th will raise money for the Fealgood Foundation, a charity that provides assistance to 9/11 first responders.
Stream the video for “Summer of Soul” below!
You can also purchase “Summer of Soul” via Bandcamp. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.
Photo by Matt Licari
