Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad are gearing up for their highly anticipated NEW release of their forthcoming album In These Times on April 10th. As a treat, we have TWO FREE MP3s this week with new songs “Love You More” and “Next Best Explosion”…
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad – “Love You More” & “Next Best Explosion”
Background on new song “Next Best Explosion”:
As is the case with most MP3 Leaks, we love to hear the artists perspective on the song, along with the background on the track to fully understand and grasp the meaning of the song. Here’s what Giant Panda had to say in regards to the song “Next Best Explosion”. Enjoy the background while you listen to the new songs…
“Next Best Explosion” was written on a crazy psychedelic bus ride at night time in the winter of 2006 on our way to Worcester MA. The song was actually written the next morning. We were discussing whether the founding fathers considered while they were drafting the Constitution the possibility that exponential success in technological advances would ultimately bring about the end of humanity in the shape of some sort of a doomsday device and if that possibility was the main reason why the constitution is amenable.
The song ends up being about many friends and friends of friends who have wrecked themselves on pharmaceutical drugs and whether it matters or not that we can see it coming a mile away, yet we seem to be paralyzed to ever do anything about it. It is like watching your decay as a society of people who had just enough brains to invent their own personal doomsday. Not a very inspirational song, but clearly something that weighs heavily on all of our minds one way or another. The third verse of the song “get sick, get well again” is a reference to Bob Dylan’s subterranean homesick blues which I kind of feel was addressing similar situations so many years ago. Just a big loop of chaos on this big spinning hunk of metal.
It seems like we start with the right ideas, the best of intentions, but they always mutate into the next best explosion. Maybe someday we will blow ourselves out of here #BIGBANG”
–Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Bio/Background:
For over six years, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s live show has defined the band. Touring relentlessly, the Rochester, NY-based group is sustained by its passion to reinterpret, explore, and expand its music night after night.
After the 2006 release of their debut album, Slow Down, GPGDS hit the road and never looked back. On April 10th, they will release their first electric studio album in six years, In These Times. This will be the quintet’s second release on the California-based label Controlled Substance Sound Labs.
In These Times consists of 12 tracks that showcase Giant Panda’s psychedelic reggae sound. Bassist James Searl, guitarist Dylan Savage, and guitarist Dan Keller trade off songwriting and lead vocal duties, with backup vocals provided by drummer Chris O’Brian, and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Lipp. The album was mixed by Atlanta-based producer Billy Hume (Nas, STS9, Ludacris, Josh Ritter), and dubbed by the band’s long-time engineer Joel Scanlon.
In These Times explores a variety of emotions and themes, from the feel good, sing along vibe of “Change You,” to the political anthem “Pockets.” Guests on the album include Hawaii’s The Green, contributing backup vocals on “All Night Music,” and John Brown’s Body’s horn section on “Next Best Explosion,” and “Healing.” “I think it would be fair to say that this is the album that long-time Panda fans have been waiting for” says Chris O’Brian.
In These Times follows the bands’ lyrically-driven roots Americana album, Country (released January 31, 2012). Combining acoustic instrumentation including slide guitar, banjo, harmonica, upright piano, percussion, and bass, Country showcases songs as they were first created: on the road, riding in the van, and jamming backstage.
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Tour
April 10 @ Live Streaming House Concert, Worldwide
April 18 @ Dub Land Underground, Rochester, NY
April 20 @ City Hall: Incredibowl’s 420 Extravaganja, Denver, CO
April 25 @ Dub Land Underground, Rochester, NY
April 27 @ Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo, NY
April 28 @ SUNY New Paltz: Rock Against Racism, New Paltz, NY
May 02 @ Dub Land Underground, Rochester, NY
May 03 @ Pearl Street Ballroom, Northampton, MA
May 04 @ The Silo Loft (Upstairs), Reading, PA
May 05 @ Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY
May 06 @ Mojo Main, Newark, DE
May 09 @ Dub Land Underground, Rochester, NY
May 10 @ Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights, OH
May 11 @ Martyrs, Chicago, IL
May 12 @ Martyrs, Chicago, IL
May 13 @ Founders Brewing Co, Grand Rapids, MI
May 17 @ Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
May 18 @ The Haunt, Ithaca, NY
May 19 @ Uphoria Festival, Millerton, NY
May 25 @ The Stone Church, Newmarket, NH
May 26 @ StrangeCreek Campout, Greenfield, MA
July 13 @ Camp Euforia, Lone Tree, IA
July 22 @ Painesville Party In The Park, Painesville, OH
July 28 @ The Gathering @ Chaffee’s, Girard, PA
Aug 03 @ Inspire Moore Winery (Acoustic), Naples, NY
Aug 04 @ Sterling Stage String Fling, Sterling, NY
Giant Panda’s Links
Giant Panda’s Website
Giant Panda’s Facebook
Giant Panda’s YouTube
Giant Panda’s Show Locator
Enjoy the FREE track on the Home Page!
Article By: Mike Patti
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad performs at GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg, NY 07.22.11 – Part 2. “Seasons Change – On The Moon – Family Sake – .45” Video by DaveBernis.com. Enjoy the video..