By Adam Waldman
Why would a band release a video for a song nearly two years after it appeared on their debut album? In the case of Toronto’s Ugly Melon, it’s because they refuse to be defined by the confines of what is considered “normal” in today’s rock climate.
While most aspiring rock bands plant their roots in local bars to build a fanbase, Ugly Melon has broken onto the scene with a headliner’s mentality. The band has only played a handful of shows in their hometown, but that’s because they treat these shows like a headliner on a major tour.
For most up-and-comers, there is no stage show when they play live. Often times, there’s barely a stage when it comes to bars and small clubs. Like their fellow countrymen, Rush, Ugly Melon has taken a painstaking approach to making their live show into something special for the fans. Though it may seem like a professional staged production, the live scenes in the video for “Darkest Side” are taken from the band’s actual shows.
The fans are the reason that the video is being debuted ahead of the band’s sophomore release. Not only does the video capture the energy of the live performance, it also serves as an appetizer to whet the appetites of hungry fans awaiting new music from Ugly Melon.
In an exclusive interview with Hard Rock Daddy, frontman Tony LaSelva discussed the timing of the video release…
“It’s been a while since our debut album came out, and the fans have been asking us about new music. We’ve been hard at work in the studio finishing up our second album, and plan to release it by the end of the summer. It will be a full album with ten new tracks.
Since our shows so far have been in the Toronto area, many of our fans from around the world haven’t gotten the chance to see us perform live. This video not only gives a taste of what Ugly Melon is all about in a live setting, it is also meant as a thank you to our fans who have been patiently waiting for the follow-up to our 2016 debut.”
From the moment that Ugly Melon was first featured on Hard Rock Daddy, they have always felt more like a headliner-in-waiting than a new band that would have to toil away in bars. The video for “Darkest Side” is reminiscent of some of Metallica’s more memorable videos. Musically, the song is a modern twist on classic rock infused with the mystique and darkness of Alice In Chains.
There will be much more from Ugly Melon in the coming months on Hard Rock Daddy as the album release date approaches.
Ticket sale information for the Halloween bash album release party coming soon! Stay tuned…
“Darkest Side” video below…
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