Heavy shoegazers Old Coke share ‘Vapor Drunk’

Old Coke press photo

Heavy shoegazers, Old Coke, have shared the first single titled Vapor Drunk, which is lifted from their upcoming ‘Seasonal’ EP. Old Coke, whose name was inspired by bottles of Coke modified by contemporary Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles on display at the London Tate Moden that hid political statements on the bottles (one of which taught civilians how to make Molotov cocktails), is a Chicago-based band focused on pushing the boundaries of heavy shoegaze by incorporating a wealth of sonic genres and elements with wall of sound guitars mixed with dreamy, melancholic vocals and driving drums.

Throughout 2022, Old Coke gained traction from a set of impressively tight and high-octane live shows that saw them move from playing DIY generator gigs to iconic Chicago venues like Empty Bottle, Bottom Lounge, Sub T and Schubas with bands such as Ringo Deathstarr, Gleemer, They Are Gutting a Body of Water, and Slow Crush to name a few.

Their debut EP, ‘Sorted,’ already clocked praise from revered underground publications, but Seasonal is their most emotionally charged and musically ambitious project to date. It is a journey that weaves between lovers and loss, where tracks such as Coffee Eyes are about doing psychedelics with a girlfriend in lockdown, Suntinged reflects on a California summer heartbreak, and Vapor Drunk is a light love letter in song form.

Listen to Vapor Drunk, the first song lifted from their forthcoming ‘Seasonal’ EP (out digitally July 28, physical release via Summer Darling Tapes to follow) via Spotify below.

The percussion on the EP was once again recorded by Joe Gac of the Chicago indie band Meat Wave, mixed by Zac Montez who’s worked with acts such as Cloakroom and Whirr, and mastered by Gleemer’s Corey Coffman, who has recorded an impressive list of the West Coast shoegaze’s finest such as Modern Color, Soft Blue Shimmer and Milly. Guitars, vocals, and bass were recorded by guitarist/vocalist Christopher Ruiz over the span of a few weeks allowing for creative freedom outside of the boundaries of studio time, the result is a tight and multi layered guitar tone that creates a massive wall of sound.

Catch the band live:

4/14 Chicago, IL at Empty Bottle with Cafe Racer, Noise Shrine, Beloved DJs
5/7 Chicago, IL at Bottom Lounge with Ringo Deathstarr and Pleasure Venom
5/13 Los Angeles, CA at The Paramount *with Sleepwalk and Kraus
5/14 San Diego, CA at Tower Bar*
5/15  Costa Mesa, CA at The Wayfarer*
5/24 Chicago, IL at Cobra Lounge with Sleepwalk and Cold Gawd
6/12 Chicago, IL at Sleeping Village with Jeff Draco and Topaz
6/21 Chicago, IL at The Giant Pennywhistle with Fake Eyes and Deadharrie

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