Robotic Hawks offer up rock and roll ‘Security’
New Hampshire garage rock band unleashes an adrenalized new rendition of the classic cover on Friday, May 7
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LISTEN: ‘SECURITY’ b/w ‘FORWARD MOTION’ on BANDCAMP
‘Security’ is first in a series of five new singles and b-sides to take us through 2021
HUDSON, NH. [May 7, 2021] -- Way back in 1964, Otis Redding changed the game by releasing his instant-classic soul standard “Security.” A little over two years later, it was given the British garage rock treatment by Thane Russal and Three, who infused a certain vivaciousness into the track from across the Atlantic. A stunning 55 years later -- 55 years! -- the track is back in orbit, with another shot of adrenaline courtesy of New Hampshire garage rock trio Robotic Hawks, who unleash their own version of the timeless tune this Friday, May 7.
Robotic Hawks’ rendition of “Security” will be released as part of Bandcamp Friday, hosted on the platform on its monthly no-artist-fee holiday, as well as streaming via Spotify.
“We chose to cover the Thane Russal and Three cover of Otis Redding’s ‘Security’ to celebrate their deconstructed take on the song,” says Robotic Hawks vocalist, bassist, and ringleader Tyler Pollard. “I originally heard the Thane Russal version through a mixed CD trade through Boston’s ‘storied’ Noise Board in the early 2000s and fell in love with it. Robotic Hawks love the challenge of an unexpected cover. The Thane Russal version is a brilliantly interpreted garage rock romp, but we wanted to give it the modern pounding it deserved. Garage rock can be somewhat ‘atmospheric’ in its recording aesthetic, but coming from our heavy metal childhoods, we wanted it to hit -- HARD. Many of our cover choices have been partially to right sonic ‘insufficiencies’ in the original recordings.”
Robotic Hawks’ rambunctious and rocket-charged cover marks a new chapter for the band, who playfully describe themselves as three bald dads just rocking the fuck out on their own terms and by their own rules, counting down the hours of day jobs and family life until they can huddle in a practice space and rock out.
The “Security” cover, which is backed with an original number called “Forward Motion,” follow up the band’s debut LP, last year’s Rock ‘N Roll Relapse. The title of their inaugural album was meaningful -- after a few years away from the rock and roll life, Pollard, alongside drummer Brian Sturk and guitarist Shawn Doherty, found himself and the band relapsing back on all the music that fueled his youth.
As fate would have it, the pandemic would force the band -- and the rest of us -- to hit pause on life in a rock and roll band. Unleashing “Security,” recorded just before the great national shutdown, has not only helped the band get its rhythm back, but marks the first of five singles, complete with b-sides, the band has ready to roll as the world begins to re-open and re-emerge.
“‘Security’ for Robotic Hawks can represent our need to get our rock and roll band back up and running,” Pollard adds. “Everyone needs ‘Security’ in the evening and at night. This song is pure passion, pure lust. When you boil it all down, great songs capture that wanting, the needing and all the raw emotions that allow us to dream that there’s a chance we might get laid. This song is about self-awareness, confidence and a character motivated to fulfill ‘the needs’. This song reminds us to always speak up and to secure our own satisfaction.”
It’s important advice for a rock and roll band, especially one navigating a wide-open field where many presume rock and roll is dead. Robotic Hawks are here to prove otherwise. Even without being in the same room together throughout the pandemic, the forthcoming run of singles represents a new groove for the band, reflecting their creative output communicated digitally as they weathered the pandemic age.
“None of the music we wrote last year would have been written had we been able to continue writing in the same room together,” Pollard admits. “However, that’s the surprise of it all; we see now that all types of styles and approaches can still ‘rock’ if you plan accordingly. ‘Forward Motion’ is a good example of an atypical Robotic Hawks song using a shuffle that we probably wouldn’t have given the green light to last year. We managed to bridge the gap between a traditional little shuffle and a big rock chorus while still allowing room for a hot twangy guitar solo.”
But in the end, the band, and its members, is just grateful to still be able to get at it.
“We are thankful to have survived this past year intact,” Pollard says. “Keeping productive while apart was a challenge, but absolutely vital to our mental health. We are going to be releasing our new material in the classic ‘Single’ format, meaning the release will feature a ‘Side A’ and a ‘Side B’. The ‘single’ release approach has been fun to work with. It’s been fun pairing the appropriate songs and deciding who’s A and who’s B? We cannot wait to dust off the cobwebs and learn to play together again. As we finish recording these new songs, we look forward to the promise of new songs written by a rock band.”
Contact michael@publisist.co or richie.tyler.pollard@gmail.com for more information.
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Robotic Hawks are:
Tyler Pollard - vocals, bass + harmonica
Brian Sturk - drums
Shawn Doherty - guitar + backing vox
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All songs recorded by Robotic Hawks in Nashua, NH - During 2020 - 2021
Mixed and mastered by Robotic Hawks and Andrew James King
Backing vocals on ‘Security’ by Andrew James King
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Venues that have featured Robotic Hawks:
The Jungle in Somerville
The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge
The Square Root in Roslindale
Somerville Porchfest - 2019
Backstreet Bar & Grill - Hudson, NH
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‘Security’ album artwork:
Original painting and layout by Jessica Brilli
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Robotic Hawks short bio:
Founded on pub rock energy & teeming with pop hooks, Robotic Hawks are a 3 piece out of Boston and New Hampshire. Three bald dads… just fucking going for it. In a nutshell, work days are easier when you have a band practice to look forward to… ROCK 'N ROLL FOREVER!
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Media contact and all press/radio inquiries: michael@publisist.coor richie.tyler.pollard@gmail.com
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