Chicago indie pop-rock outfit Push Puppets present 'Probably', with an endearing video that pays homage to a very special basset hound named Louie. This is the latest audio-visual offering from the band's fourth multifaceted album 'Tethered Together', released via Flowering Tree Music.
Push Puppets creates songs with earworm melodies and shiny production that belie often-bittersweet sentiments. This is the creative outlet for singer-songwriter and guitarist Erich Specht (lead vocals, guitar), who is joined by a core of Steve Frisbie (backup vocals, guitar), Kyle Magnusson (keyboards), John William Lauler (bass) and Greg Essig (drums).
"Probably" is a song celebrating the life of a loved one who has moved to the other side. The verses, sung in harmony, build to a chorus that expresses a desire to send one last message. An instrumental break featuring a string quartet elevates the final chorus and outro to a dramatic and powerful conclusion.
Erich Specht shares, "I wrote this song for my awesome big basset hound Louie when he died. It's meant to be a celebration of the time together with someone who has passed."
A real demonstration of team-work, this videos was produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales and features artwork and animation by renowned Turkish artist Uluc Ali Kilic with video editing and animation by Tcomas Studio. Push Puppets are joined here by a string quartet with Stephanie “Sly” Young on violin, Katherine Andrick on viola, Molly Rife on cello and Kelly Jozwiak on violin (note: Janis Sakai performs in the audio recording).
Produced by Doug McBride (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Silversun Pickups, Cheap Trick) and Erich Specht, ‘Tethered Together’ was mixed and mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios in Chicago. Most of the songs on this album also involve a string quartet, with a horn section on one.
Erich Specht crafts deeply moving music with a masterful blend of soaring harmonies, sharp guitar lines, and sweeping keyboard and string arrangements - all of this anchored by a powerful rhythm section. Exploring themes of love, heartache, and the complexities of human existence, his lyrics feel both poetic and natural, locking into the melodies with precision. This album is a testament to his raw honesty, inviting listeners on a truly unpredictable and heartfelt journey.
'Probably' follows the band's latest offering - 'Shake It Like You Mean It', a lighthearted Spanish-tinged rocker about lowering your inhibitions, with a video resembling a silent movie flashback to 1894-1927 with footage of pie fights, magic, dancing and dating.
Earlier, Push Puppets shared 'Launching a Satellite', a brilliant hymn on insecurity, 'This Whole Endeavor', exploring the ebb and flow of a past relationship set to a memorable piano riff, the arena-rock anthem ‘Similar’ about universal connections, the super-catchy 'Hearts Aren’t Souvenirs', the AM-friendly anthem 'Probably', and 'All Together On 3', highlighting the strength found in unity.
After a lighthearted interlude with the retro rocker 'Tell Colleen to Calm Down', the album delves into the pain of lost love in the Americana-influenced'Hearts Are Fragile' before reaching a powerful and dramatic conclusion with 'The Logical Conclusion', driven by intense strings and piano.
The 'Tethered Together' album is out now, available on CD, digitally on fine digital platforms. It can be obtained in either format directly from the artist via Bandcamp.
ALBUM CREDITS
Lyrics & music by Erich Specht (ASCAP)
Produced by Doug McBride and Erich Specht
Mixed & mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios
Recorded in Chicago at Gravity Studios and Erich Specht's studio
Erich Specht – lead vocals, guitars, string arrangements
Steve Frisbie – backup vocals
Kyle Magnusson – keyboards
John William Lauler – bass
Greg Essig - drums
Stephanie “Sly” Young – violin
Janis Sakai – violin
Katherine Andrick – viola
Molly Rife – cello
Mitch “The Lip” Goldman – trumpet on ;Hearts Aren't Souvenirs’
Tom Trinka – saxophone on ‘Hearts Aren't Souvenirs"
Norman Friede – trombone on ‘Hearts Aren't Souvenirs’
Tommi Zender – add. vocals, guitar, charango on ‘This Whole Endeavor’ & ‘Hearts Are Fragile’
Cover artwork by Crow Prints
Released & published by Flowering Tree Music (ASCAP)
Videos produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales
Artwork and animation by Uluc Ali Kilic
Video editing and animation by Tcomas Studio
Artist photos by Gabi Bucataru
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
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