The summer is just starting to warm up, but Ax and the Hatchetmen have been warmed up for quite some time. Back in April, the Chicago indie rockers released “Blurry Lights” with Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes. Before that, they released “Stay // Honestly,” an insanely vibrant track that captures the fun and optimism that the band strives for in their music. Yes, Ax and the Hatchetmen have been warmed up and ready to go, so they will be releasing more music this summer while out on tour with Fitz and the Tantrums. Before the tour, however, they will be performing at Do Division Festival on May 31, where they might just play their newest single, “Hotel Room.”
On “Hotel Room,” Ax and the Hatchetmen tap into a moment of desolation and expand it to all that it can be. It has a celebratory feel brought on by the soaring melodies and lively vocals, as well as a bittersweet feel brought on by the lyrics. The verses and choruses are the same throughout, as if the isolation of the hotel room has limited other emotions and words from surfacing. Still, there is a freshness to the track that makes it a compelling listen and a sunny slice of indie rock.
About the single, lead singer Axel Ellis shared,
“‘Hotel Room’ is about the hardest reality of being fortunate enough to travel for a living: always having someone to miss. It’s about wishing you could call that person and lay your thoughts on the table, but what’s the point if you won’t be around anytime soon? It’s about wanting to see the one who makes your heart jump, but not knowing when or where that might happen. It’s about looking out the window at an array of different sceneries, with one constant thought stuck on your mind. It’s about missing you.”
You can listen to “Hotel Room” here.
Catch Ax and the Hatchetmen on tour this summer with Fitz and the Tantrums here.
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