Already Dead display their punk rock colors with ‘My Collar Is Blue’
Massachusetts trio unleash anthemic new single for the working class on Friday, September 9
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Already Dead’s debut album ‘My Collar Is Blue’ set for October release
LOWELL, MA [September 9, 2022] – The best thing about protest songs is they have three distinct parts: The past, the present, and the future. At any given moment, the fight of the people relayed through music is rooted in not only what’s happening at that particular moment, but also the passion and tenacity of those who came before and those who will come after. There’s a lineage that’s passed from generation to generation – and right now, Already Dead are not only carrying the torch, but raising it for those around them.
On Friday, September 9, the Massachusetts punk band unleashes new single “My Collar Is Blue,” the title track to the trio’s highly anticipated, self-released debut album that is set to arrive in October. The anthemic composition, a punk rock fight song fueled by folk mindfulness, a slight outlaw country twang, and proper nods to their Celtic heritage (complete with bodhrán and mandolin), roars out of the speakers with a furious abandon. It’s a heavy battlecry, and the follow-up to this summer’s debut single “Stability,” which instantly put Already Dead on the map in the New England music scene.
“‘My Collar is Blue’ is about working class men and women who dedicate their lives to being just that,” says Already Dead guitarist and vocalist Daniel Cummings. “Also, the notion that while it may seem like other more ‘elite’ classes control whichever city they are in, it’s the working class who directly affect the growth, advancement, and even the daily function of that city. It is an ode to the past, present, and future of the working class.”
The track’s title – and that of the album – isn’t some fly-by-night declaration. It’s firmly planted in who Already Dead are as people, and in turn encapsulates the band: Cummings is a Boston union pipefitter; bassist Brandon Bartlett is a Boston union ironworker; and drummer Nick Cali is a CDL operator in his hometown. “Blue collar is the life we know outside of being musicians,” Cummings adds. “The songs on the album relate to similar views whether it’s internal or social commentary.”
The world got its first taste back in late-July with the release of “Stability,” a ripper of a tune about balancing dreams with the real life responsibilities, taking the band’s ska and punk influences and manifesting it into one of the catchiest songs to come out of the commonwealth in quite some time. Like “Stability,” “My Collar Is Blue” and the rest of the seven-track record was recorded at The Bridge Sound And Stage in Cambridge with co-producer and collaborator Jimmy Corbett, who also engineered and mixed the album.
The final result capped a wild stretch for Cummings, who penned most of the early Already Dead tracks while waiting out the Covid-19 pandemic. He started writing what would end up on My Collar Is Blue as a creative release while live music was on pause and his other bands were unable to play shows, and while he wanted to record the stuff he was writing, wasn’t sure if he was ever going to release them. “My Collar Is Blue,” for example, was built off an acoustic guitar riff that randomly caught the attention of his fiancée while he was strumming at home, and the lyrics instantly came together over a 45-minute drive home from his pipefitter apprenticeship.
With songs like that bubbling up and yearning for collaboration, Cummings linked up with Cali, who he previously played with in other projects, and the two took the demos from his house to Cali’s basement where they tracked drums. Cummings reached out to his friend Corbett and brought the songs to The Bridge Sound and Stage for recording last Halloween, and wrapped things up this past March. Realizing they were suddenly a legit band, they brought on Bartlett to play bass and round out the trio.
“This first batch of songs were all written by me, and not necessarily for any band in particular,” Cummings admits. “It’s more a tribute to all styles of my favorite genre of music. My cousin called it a ‘sampler platter of punk’ which I think sums it up perfectly.”
When the album is out in October, more layers to the Already Dead sound will be revealed. But here with “My Collar Is Blue,” the band is flexing its working class muscle. While “Stability” was always going to be their debut single, they took some time to debate what would come next – but after some discussion, all three raised a glass for the title track.
“The song itself both compares and differs from the full album, I think,” Cummings adds. “It’s a hard-driving punk rock song, which is how the band performs live and reflects most of the album. But it was built with the bones of an acoustic folk protest song vibe. It was originally written as an acoustic song, with a slower swing to it. We could possibly release a version like that eventually.”
That, of course, is in the future. But right now, Already Dead are living in the present, and are fully aware of the past that got them to this very point.
Media Contact: Please direct all press inquiries to Already Dead at alreadydeadmusicc@gmail.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
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‘My Collar Is Blue’ single artwork:
Art Credit: Mark Saffie @saffiedesigns
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Already Dead are:
Daniel Cummings – Guitar and vocals
Brandon Bartlett – Bass
Nick Cali – Drums
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‘My Collar Is Blue’ production credits:
Recorded at the Bridge Sound and Stage in Cambridge, MA
Engineered and mixed by Jimmy Corbett
Produced by Dan Cummings and Jimmy Corbett
Mastered by Alex Allinson
Guitar, bass, vocals, and mandolin by Dan Cummings
Drums, bodhrán, tambourine by Nick Cali
Group Vocals by Brandon Bartlett, Nick Cali, Felipe Collazo, Brian Ferrazzani, Matt Macaulay, and Dan Wilson
Visual artwork by Mark Saffie @saffiedesigns
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Already Dead short bio:
Punk rock… kinda.
Already Dead are a three-piece punk band from north of Boston Massachusetts. They are blue collar musicians, supporting the middle class. They were raised by punk, ska, and hardcore bands and mix in other influences whenever they decide. They recorded their debut album My Collar is Blue at The Bridge Sound and Stage in Cambridge MA. It is a seven-song sampler platter of punk to be released in October 2022, led by the first single and video, “Stability,” which is now streaming on all major platforms.
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‘My Collar Is Blue’ lyric sheet:
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Early media praise for Already Dead:
“‘Stability’ is a fast and bouncily furious song with some killer shout-along choruses and that blue collar edge that only New England pop punk bands can truly pull off. It has all the anger a song needs to be punk, but it doesn't forget that you're supposed to have fun, too.” _If It’s Too Loud
“Holy smoke! This is a red-hot-boiling racecar exploding from the very first chord. A non-stop speedball stirred up by a merciless rhythm section, riff-insane guitars, and in-your-face vocals. At times, it feels as if this punked-up bolide is about to crash. I swear you will be out of breath after these 3 1/2 minutes of never-looking-back vociferousness. Already dead? Absolutely not! They’re a turbulent turbo.” _Turn Up The Volume
"If you are feeling nostalgic for VFW Hall shows and punk rock of the late 1990's then you are going to love this. It's totally in the vein of Big Wig, Rise Against, Bouncing Souls, although a little more polished even though the recording maintains all of the aesthetics of the analog age. Another BMN editor thought maybe a heavier Frank Turner or a good mix of Off With Their Heads and Hot Water Music. Big fun group vocals make this something you'd want to check out live!” _Blood Makes Noise
Already Dead can be heard and found on Angel’s Indie Lounge on Belter Radio UK, Bay State Rock, Blood Makes Noise, Boston Groupie News, BumbleBee Radio, Code Zero Radio, If It’s Too Loud, Original Music Showcase and Marc’s Alt-Rock Playground on Mark Skin Radio, Punktastic’s The Pickup, Rhode Island Free Radio, Rising With Skybar on WMFO, Steve Garnett’s New Music Radio on Revival Radio UK, Sunshine Music iRadio, That’s Good Enough For Me, The Bad Copy, Turn Up The Volume, Valley FM Australia, YFM Indie Radio, and other fine shows, stations, and outlets.
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Press Contact: michael@publisist.co or alreadydeadmusicc@gmail.com
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