In these contentious political times, the guys of Bucks County’s own Ceramic Animal, aka the “nasty boys,” are ready to take office and use the power of psychedelic-infused rock to bring together the citizens of the United States…or should we say, the United Intergalactic Alliance of America.
The Doylestown-based band, comprised of Regan brothers Chris (vocals, guitar), Erik (drums) and Elliott (vocals, keys), alongside childhood friends Anthony Marchione (vocals, guitar) and Dallas Hosey (vocals, bass), recently released the music video for their new single “Maybe Tomorrow,” completing the intergalactic trilogy that started with 2018’s “Look for a Lover” and continued in 2020 with “Workin’ Real Hard.”
After competing on a ‘70s dating game show and winning the heart of an alien contestant, only to be vaporized by her into plasma (“Look for a Lover”), Ceramic Animal then finds themselves in an ‘80s fitness program (“Workin’ Real Hard”) to regain strength and prepare for their return to Earth, joined by a half-alien, half-human teenage daughter.
Now, in the epic conclusion of the saga (“Maybe Tomorrow”), they crash land back on Earth, where their daughter tragically passes away … but not before giving them an urgent message: “Save tomorrow.” Dressed in ‘90s Power Rangers-esque space travel suits, Ceramic Animal must become heroes as they battle the insidious forces causing environmental degradation, economic sabotage and an oppressive police state, thus securing a brighter future for mankind.
“The director we work with, Sid Kreitzer, he directed and wrote the first two episodes of this series, and he always pictured it as a three-parter series,” Erik told The Times. “We always loved working with him, though we didn’t have a chance to work together on our last album. We just couldn’t get the timing right. So he was the first guy we looked into doing a video for this upcoming album. He was all about it, he had some ideas. We wanted to come to some kind of resolution, some kind of climax.”
Ceramic Animal’s colorful costumes in the “Maybe Tomorrow” music video were all handmade from materials purchased from Amazon and rehauled into stylish space travel suits. Of course, as the self-proclaimed “sweet” one of the “nasty boys,” Marchione sported a pink ensemble.
When asked if there’s an overarching message that the band hopes viewers take away from the video, in addition to unity and the fight against mankind’s darker inclinations, Chris said, “I think the message is, if you make Ceramic Animal president, then all the problems in the world would be solved. It does feel like a five-person job, anyway.”
As for the song itself, “Maybe Tomorrow” is one of two singles that recently dropped, the other entitled “Packaged Deals.”
The focus track of the pair, “Maybe Tomorrow” delves into the emotional turbulence of false contentment inhibiting progress in all aspects of life. With its haunting lyrics and psych-rock edge, it captures the yearning for genuine change and the frustration with stagnation in friendships, relationships, employment and political inaction. Ultimately, the song is a poignant reflection on dreams, despair and the hope that lies just beyond the horizon.
Meanwhile, “Packaged Deals” dives into the darker side of ambition and the high cost of success. With its gritty lyrics and driving indie rock sound, it explores the pressures of self-improvement and the compromises made along the way. “Packaged Deals” juxtaposes the allure of quick fixes and instant gratification against the harsh realities of modern life, delivering a biting commentary on the transactional nature of happiness.
“Together, ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ and ‘Packaged Deals’ explore the interplay between the internal struggle for authenticity and the external pressures of societal expectations. They’re about the vulnerability of longing for genuine connection and the harsh realities of the transactional nature of success, an unfortunate reality in much of life,” said songwriter Chris.
On what made now the ideal time to explore such themes, Chris said, “I feel like it’s just always kind of top of mind and, for whatever reason today, it feels more prevalent than ever. I think the combination of the internet and people feeling really strong about everything that they think, it creates a lot of turmoil and hostility. So it’s just always in everyone’s face, I think, and the songs are an outlet of observation.”
These singles will be part of Ceramic Animal’s forthcoming fifth album, set for release at a to-be-determined date this fall. In making the record, the band drew from their experience working with Dan Auerbach, of The Black Keys, for 2022’s Sweet Unknown, which was created at the iconic Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville. While there, they were challenged with refining their storytelling and distilling their sound, marking a shift in the band’s creative process and overall approach to making music. The upcoming fifth album celebrates Ceramic Animal’s return to the glam and psychedelic influences that initially defined them, with an infusion of the maturity and depth garnered in Nashville.
“The last album, we learned so much. We got to work with so many great people. You learn a lot from people who have been doing it for years and years,” said Chris. “And so I think the songwriting, the lyrics on this album, are definitely more straightforward, or on the nose. I think my songwriting has gotten better since then. But definitely the return to the sound that we created, it’s kind of like the hybrid of sounds from that experience and the sounds of where we started, and putting those together is where this album is. I think it’s our best work we’ve done.”
In fact, some of the songs that will be heard on the new album were initially written for Sweet Unknown, but the band didn’t have time to record them all. In Chris’ opinion, this worked out for the best.
“As a result, you get some diversity here,” he said of the upcoming record. “It’s not like we sat down and wrote the entire album in one sitting. It’s a collection of the past couple years.”
Looking ahead, Ceramic Animal intends to hit the road again in 2025, with more information to come over the next few months. In the meantime, they’re returning to Picnics on Pine in Doylestown, on Saturday, Sept. 21. Pine Street, between Oakland and Ashland, will be transformed into a neighborhood amphitheater for all ages, featuring food and live music with a block party atmosphere. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at picnicsonpine.com/tickets.
Visit CeramicAnimal.net for more information and updates.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
