Anxious have shared the second single from their anticipated sophomore album Bambi, following the excellent lead single “Counting Sheep.” “Head & Spine” is another great one, a super catchy, energized, dual-vocal-fueled emo/post-hardcore anthem that begs to be yelled along to. Vocalist Grady Allen says:
‘Head & Spine’ is probably one of my favorite songs on the whole record. The whole song came together over months just riff by riff. It felt kind of unclear exactly where the song was going to land. There’s all of these sort of disjointed pieces, we were trying to pull from Blink 182’s Untitled, some Smashing Pumpkins–even the bridge is this dramatic thing we wouldn’t typically do. All together I think it really works though.
Lyrically the song focuses on being unable to separate myself from the words of people who have no interest in anything but being unkind and cruel. Existing in subculture there’s this weird sort of passive acceptance (and even green lighting) towards people who just seem to want to inflict pain. And what’s worse, it feels like no one can just be real about it. It’s always dressed up as ‘well they’re just being witty’ or ‘it’s just their opinion.’ But that’s just an easy, lazy out. Anytime I see someone being weird and vindictive on the internet towards a person, a band, a ANYONE, I’m just struck with the feeling of ‘wow, you don’t even know this person or these people and you’re just totally comfortable ripping them apart? You’re cool with making fun of them?.’ It’s just lowest common denominator bad weird behavior. But at the same time I’m the one getting bothered. I’m the one getting upset. So I guess I bought it. They got what they want. So maybe I’m no better for engaging with it. My arguments probably imperfect, but that’s what I was trying to get at when writing this song.
Listen and check out the music video (with live footage by Kinkade Ruppert) below.
Anxious also announced a spring headlining tour with support from Ultra Q (whose lineup includes Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong’s son Jakob) and hardcore-infused pop punks Stateside, who also opened one of the leg’s of Anxious’ co-headlining tour with One Step Closer and Koyo earlier this year. The tour goes down in March and April, including a NYC show towards the end on April 10 at Bowery Ballroom. All dates are listed below.
Anxious — 2024/2025 Tour Dates
12/13 Amherst, MA @ The Drake
12/14 Buffalo, NY @ Blissmas 2024
02/01 Boston, MA @ Something in the Way Fest
03/11 Philadelphia, PA @ Ukie Club *
03/12 Washington, DC @ Songbyrd *
03/13 Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall *
03/14 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
03/15 Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 *
03/16 Nashville, TN @ Drkmttr *
03/18 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada *
03/19 Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room *
03/21 Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge *
03/22 San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room *
03/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex *
03/25 San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar
03/28 Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall *
03/29 Seattle, WA @ Madam Lou’s *
03/31 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
04/02 Denver, CO @ Globe Hall *
04/05 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry *
04/06 Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge *
04/07 Hamtramck, MI @ Sanctuary Detroit *
04/08 Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s *
04/10 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
04/11 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair *
* w/ Ultra Q, Stateside