I am constantly snapping up all the Boston bands lately: Cape Crush, Pretty Out, Viruette, Gavin Caine, and so on. I’m trying to get more in with the local scene, being from Beantown and getting my aging ass out on the streets of Brookline and Cambridge and Somerville and wherever the bands play around the Commonwealth’s capital these days. There’s so much good music in this city, and great music that has come from this city, especially when it comes to the eclectic art-rock variety.
Take Ok Goodnight, for example. They’ve just put out their new single “Spiral”, their second track from their upcoming album stop/go due out on June 12th. It features the progressive metal artisanship that made Ok Goodnight a New England scene staple: Syncopated rhythms, glistening keys, intense drops after reflective moments, and the virtuoso vocals of Casey Lee Williams.
The song sounds like a symphony with different movements, growing and ebbing and flowing until the final chorus which makes the heart stop with its intensity. Ok Goodnight know a thing or two about crafting music: The members met at the Berklee College of Music, where they honed their style and learned how each member could collaborate to the band’s vision. The result is a tight-knit sound that still allows for exploration and for each member’s talents to pop.
Ok Goodnight’s art expands beyond the music, with the video for “Spiral” – animated by multimedia artist Stephen Mlinarcik – translating the song’s ethereal vibes of regret and unconditional love into a visual feast. It is just as breathtaking as the track itself.
All in all, Ok Goodnight are a Boston treasure receiving well-deserved attention from outside the scene. They’ve gone on a few tours around the US and Canada, and even took a trip to Germany a couple of years ago. This June, right around the release of stop/go, they’ll perform at the Mad With Power Fest in Madison, then cross the pond to play the Midsummer Prog Festival in the Netherlands. Keep your eye on them; if they play in a city near you, you should go and experience their show, for art’s sake.
Ok Goodnight are Casey Lee Williams (lead vox), Martin de Lima (keys/guitars/backing vox), Augusto Bussio (drums/guitars/backing vox), and Peter de Reyna (bass/backing vox). Enjoy the music video for “Spiral” below.
Written by Will Sisskind
