From Proto-Punk to Psychedelia: Mad Painter Dives into the Sounds of the 70s with ‘Empty Bottles

Mad Painter, the eclectic rock band known for their vibrant blend of 1970s influences, announces the release of their latest single, “Empty Bottles”. The track showcases the band’s signature sound with a nostalgic yet contemporary twist, appealing to both long-time fans and new listeners alike.

Formed in Arlington, MA, Mad Painter consists of Alex Gitlin on keyboards and vocals, Al Nahabedian on guitar, Kenne Highland on bass, Al Hendry on drums, and backing vocals by Julie Gee and Sharon Crumrine. The band’s unique chemistry developed from their shared love of 1970s rock’n’roll, encompassing everything from proto-punk to early heavy metal and psychedelic rock.

Produced in Peabody, MA by Thomas Hamilton, known for his work with various rock acts, “Empty Bottles” promises to deliver Mad Painter’s trademark energy and lyrical depth. The single reflects the band’s ethos of celebrating the carefree spirit of 1970s rock while addressing contemporary themes with sincerity and insight.

“Empty Bottles”: https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/2w26ySm0KIQuJ0ruqeJCIw

In this new interview, we talk with the band about their music inspirations, curiosities and future plans. Check it out bellow:

What can you say about this new release? The new release is our first single from the new upcoming album, Island Poetry. The single is called Empty Bottles. It’s a riveting rock’n’roll with a penchant for nostalgia for the golden days of rock’n’roll, i.e. the 1970s. Echoes of British glam – Mott the Hoople, Sweet, married to an uplifting organ swirl and a new wave style synth line in the intro and the outro. So it is a bit of a mix of genres, but if there’s one thing Empty Bottles isn’t it’s “modern”. It’s just not meant to be. Lyrically it takes you back to the sorrowful and sordid times of the pandemic lockdowns, when there was ostensibly nothing else to do but sit at home and drink. The song does, however, have a message of optimism, if you persevere, you will overcome your current obstacles, no matter how insurmountable they may seem or feel, and will triumph in the end. Life is still worth living and is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. After all, that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?

Can you shortly describe the track for us? I am not a guitarist, but I wanted an intro resembling Status Quo’s “Caroline”, so I did it on a synth. The chorus is a singalong that is quite catchy, “You can do anything that you want if you really want to…” It originally came to me as a “country rock” song in the vein of Smokie. But the way it’s turned out it’s anything but mellow or laid back. Especially the high octane rhythm guitar throughout! The drum break in the chorus is from “Saturday Night”, Bay City Rollers, although the Ramones may have had something very similar.

Who or what inspires you to write songs? Each songwriter, whether they will admit it or not, is a total sum of the music they hear, enjoy and consume. Sometimes a song just comes to your head when you least expect it. Just like that, out of thin air. And it’s hummable, so you reach for a pen and a piece of paper and get it down before it escapes. Other times, it’s the composers, players or performers you enjoy. To be inspired is not the same as to be motivated. I often feel inspired by the people I look up to, whether still among the living or not. So one day it could be Ritchie Blackmore or Ken Hensley or Rory Gallagher, the next – Brian Connolly of the Sweet. Also, there’s a difference between inspiration and influence. You may be influenced by certain bands, draw a certain amount of inspiration from another set of bands, and feel motivated by the career span and trajectory of yet another set of bands.

Which bands inspires the sound of Mad Painter? That is a loaded question. We are an amalgamation of influences, each player has a unique taste palette, but somewhere in the middle we all intersect. We overlap on the heavy, bluesy epic rock of the 1960s and 70s. Vanilla Fudge, the MC5s, Blue Cheer, Mountain, Iron Butterfly, Grand Funk Railroad, Steppenwolf, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Nazareth, Quo, Sweet, Slade, Procol Harum, Spooky Tooth. But we have a unique and patented Painter sound, which is now hard to confuse with anyone else.

Whom would you like to feature with? Like your dream collaboration? Never thought about inviting a “name” muso to make a cameo on one of our songs, that would be fantastic of course. But have to think more about it. But as far as sharing a bill, open for a legendary band, thinking about the bands that have played in our neck of the woods in the last decade, then either Michael Schenker Group or Wishbone Ash. These guys play at venues like the Narrows Centre for the Arts and the Bull Run, and it would be lovely to get a gig, opening for them.

What are your plans for the future? Hopefully branch out into other territories beyond just the greater Boston area, play festivals, record more albums, singles, videos, cause we know somewhere out there people are wondering, what are Mad Painter up to next?