THICK champion the return of big, emotive pop punk on therapeutic 'Happy Now'
THICK return with a Happy Now, a muscular follow up to their white-hot debut that sees the band continue to hone their razor-sharp approach to big, emotive punk that refuses to be defined by expectations or preconceptions of any kind. Combining the angular aggression of Bikini Kill with the affable approachability of Blink-182, THICK have crafted an unapologetically brilliant portrait of modern feminism that wears its heart on its sleeve with immeasurable pride.
Happiness is a core theme on the album and the endless, at times elusive pursuit of self-actualization in the face of overwhelming odds from both external constructs and internal conflict. Defiance is the other side of Happy Now's coin, a resolute refusal to be shoved into a box by societal expectations and put onto a shelf for display or storage. By coupling these concepts THICK positions Happy Now as a sort of musical therapy session, a means for expunging the buildup of psychological and emotional toxins from the body and mind in three-minute bursts of punky confessions. The result is bravely vulnerable and draws strength from the cathartic serenity that comes in the wake of unabashed honesty.
THICK does not shy away from cranking emotions and amplifiers to 11, and Happy Now barely lets it foot off the gas for its duration. A lesser band would crack under the pressure, but THICK's inherent authenticity and refreshingly frank nature prevent Happy Now from succumbing to the weight of its own narrative. The writing is fantastic throughout - deeply intimate and packed with detail like pages from a private journal thrust into public view. Happy Now is in turns unashamedly blunt and delicately poetic, offering brilliantly candid expressions of love and acceptance and confusion written in bold type and amplified with electric intensity.
The entirety of Happy Now is consistently top shelf, and standout tracks ascend to an elite echelon of exemplary composition that few bands hope to achieve with such seemingly effortlessness. "Happiness" sets the tone for the entre album; comprised on angular, jagged riffs and breakneck rhythms encapsulating contrasting interpretations of satisfaction with a militant cadence that refuses to accept anything less than a positive outcome.
A manifesto in more ways than one, "Loser" is a declaration of fortitude for THICK as a band, as female musicians, as punks, as simply existing as women in a frequently toxic patriarchally society by tossing virulent negativity back in the faces of detractors with a sarcastic grin and a sing-song "I love when people tell me I should quit."
There are tender moments amidst the tempestuous emotional exorcisms that still pack considerable heft when positioned alongside Happy Now's more aggressive tracks. "Montreal" stands out as a wonderfully expressed desire for stable and secure companionship, both in the immediate term and throughout the duration of life's journey. "I want to know that you'll be there, I hope I know you with grey hair" is a beautifully simple line, overflowing with meaning in the unflinchingly clear-eyed manner that THICK have made their signature approach to songwriting.
Order Happy Now on CD or vinyl and stream the album on Spotify. Follow THICK on Instagram.
Upcoming Tour Dates
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Aug. 27, 2022
Is For Lovers Festival - Kansas 2022 - Wichita, KS
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Aug. 28, 2022
Is For Lovers Festival - Colorado 2022 - Denver, CO
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Sep. 7, 2022
Space Ballroom - Hamden, CT
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Sep. 8, 2022
Bug Jar - Rochester, NY
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Sep. 9, 2022
Brighton Music Hall - Allston, MA
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Sep. 10, 2022
Higher Ground - South Burlington, VT
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Sep. 11, 2022
Press Room - Portsmouth, NH
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Sep. 13, 2022
Bar Le Ritz PDB - Montreal, QC
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Sep. 15, 2022
The Garrison - Toronto, ON
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Sep. 16, 2022
The Sanctuary - Detroit, MI
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Sep. 17, 2022
Riot Fest 2022 - Chicago, IL
Sep. 18, 2022
Amsterdam Bar & Hall - Saint Paul, MN
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Sep. 20, 2022
Vultures - Colorado Springs, CO
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Sep. 21, 2022
Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
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Sep. 23, 2022
The Vera Project - Seattle, WA
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Sep. 24, 2022
The Wise - Vancouver, BC
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Sep. 25, 2022
McMenamins Mission Theater - Portland, OR
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Sep. 26, 2022
Volcanic Theatre Pub - Bend, OR
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Sep. 27, 2022
The Chapel - San Francisco, CA
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Sep. 28, 2022
The Atrium @ The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA
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Sep. 30, 2022
The Roxy Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
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Oct. 1, 2022
Casbah - San Diego, CA
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Oct. 2, 2022
The Rebel Lounge - Phoenix, AZ
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Oct. 4, 2022
Antone's - Austin, TX
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Oct. 5, 2022
Cambridge Room @ House of Blues - Dallas, TX
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Oct. 7, 2022
Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS
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Oct. 8, 2022
Growlers - Memphis, TN
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Oct. 9, 2022
The End - Nashville, TN
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Oct. 10, 2022
Purgatory at The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
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Oct. 12, 2022
Songbyrd Music House - Washington, DC
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Oct. 13, 2022
Kungfu Necktie = Philadelphia, PA
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Oct. 15, 2022
Saint Vitus Bar - New York City, NY
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