Fariston and the raucous folk hearted indie rock / emo punk storytelling of "Ash tray"

 

"You stare quite plainly / At the clouds so aimlessly / As you lose your shadow in the dark / Weather forecast / It's saturated / And my momma's arms can't even keep me warm..."

The raucous folk hearted indie rock / emo punk storytelling of "Ash tray" by Philadelphia self described 6 piece indie / art rock outfit Fariston, and from their self titled full length, is a brilliant piece of sonic art fully realized and feels like an introduction to a film or novel even. The density of the lyrics, in and off themselves, and the way the storytelling unfolds feels sometimes more like literature. The beginning, slow and reserved on picking guitar and glowing gospel like organ sounds underscores songwriter / guitarist frontman Sawyer Friedman-Olshan passionate vocal countenance that unfurls and winds up before it punches. As the resulting storm approaches with ultra dense bass lines, rattling keys, intricate guitars, splashy shuffling drum work and what feels like layers of sax thrusts, the sense is seasoned, even well worn bruised and maybe scuffed up artists. I, in fact, off the top of my head feel a collision of artists like Jeff Rosenstock, Counting Crows, Antarctigo Vespucci, so learning that Fariston is a performing student band, that at the time of posting their Indiegogo for this album, ranged in age between 13 and 24 kind of shocked me and excited me at the same time. 

Fariston call out some of their musical inspirations as Radiohead, Big Thief, Black Country New Road, Wilco and The Backseat Lovers which also fill me with glee and enthusiasm for their self titled debut full length. They also describe "Ash tray" as Wilco meets Black Country, New Road. 

"Ash Tray" not only boasts a dense tightly wound sound and emotional lead vocal but the arrangement features only two choruses that don't scream out chorus and the long lost vocal bridge that seems to have been absent with many songwriters over the last decade. Kudos to young artists like Fariston, like Chappel Roan, like Wednesday who have pretty consistently brought them back. I missed them. 

"Ash tray" certainly portends a great album. I haven't had the pleasure but will let you know. 

-Robb Donker Curtius 

       
LYRICS:

You stare quite plainly
At the clouds so aimlessly
As you lose your shadow in the dark
Weather forecast
It's saturated
And my momma's arms can't even keep me warm
There's a burden deep in my stride
Smiling at the flowers begging for some order
But it all subsides
Maybe I'll stand here a while
Let myself turn
"Cause the clouds offer no forgiveness
For what is not returned

And the pavement dries
You bind so tight
Your legs still tremble
And you wonder if it's worth your time
Melted wax won't spare your day
So baby don't try to eclipse your fate

I saw you last evening; your eyes are looking heavy
I guess the weight of yesterday hasn't quite set in for you
Heartless epiphanies are strewn across my memories
Thoughts that I envy slowly crushing down on me
She asks me if its lonely
I say how can I be
With the reflection of the silhouettes
Of all the men I'll never be
It's not for me
No rose will grow from your tears
So watch your angles meld into an ashtray
No rose will grow from your tears
So watch your angles meld into an ashtray
No rose will grow from your tears
So watch your angles meld into an ashtray
No rose will grow from your tears
So watch your angles meld into an ashtray

And the pavement dries
You bind so tight
Your legs still tremble
And you wonder if it's worth your time
Melted wax won't spare your day
So baby don't try to eclipse your fate

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://www.instagram.com/faristonband

https://www.tiktok.com/@faristonband7

https://www.youtube.com/@faristonband

https://music.apple.com/us/album/ashtray-single/1835043105

https://open.spotify.com/track/78dbSOuWMfUrnZlOivgUYs


"This is our first single! were a new band from Philadelphia a sort of combo of indie and art rock like Wilco meets black country new road"

Fariston, indie rock, folk rock, progressive, alt rock, art rock, confessional stories, poetic lyrics, proggy,  first single "Ash tray", new album "Fariston", Philadelphian 6 piece art rock / indie rock, dense storytelling,