{"id":42378,"date":"2025-05-12T17:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T21:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42378"},"modified":"2025-05-07T20:06:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T00:06:21","slug":"cola-get-medieval-on-new-single-mendicant-whistles-pipes-and-poetic-weirdness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42378","title":{"rendered":"Cola get medieval on new single \u2018Mendicant\u2019 &#8211; Whistles, pipes, and poetic weirdness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Cola are back, and they\u2019ve brought some seriously unexpected flair with them. The Montreal-based trio &#8211; Tim Darcy (guitar\/vocals), Ben Stidworthy (bass\/uilleann pipes wizard), and Evan J Cartwright (drums) &#8211; just dropped a new track called\u00a0<strong><em>Mendicant<\/em><\/strong>, and it\u2019s a twisty, woodwind-laced journey into the mind of a modern-day beggar&#8230; or maybe a medieval one? Either way, it&#8217;s weird in the best way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Bg9bsRuBG3M?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Following up their critically-acclaimed sophomore LP\u00a0\u2018The Gloss,\u2019 <em>Mendicant<\/em> finds Cola trading in their signature tight post-punk edge for something a little more&#8230; cloistered. The track kicks off with a startled\u00a0<strong>\u201cGood god!\u201d<\/strong>, then spills into Darcy\u2019s lyrical rabbit hole about popes, rule-breaking, and wandering in search of nothing in particular. Think of it as a monologue from a monk who listens to Fugazi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What really makes&nbsp;<em>\u201cMendicant\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;stand out? That lush combo of whistle and&nbsp;<strong>uilleann pipes<\/strong>&nbsp;(yup, the Irish ones). Apparently Ben&#8217;s been woodshedding on those in his spare time, and it shows \u2014 they add a haunting, head-nodding charm that makes this song feel like it\u2019s walking backwards through time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Darcy calls the lyrics&nbsp;<em>\u201ca playful investigation of being a humble beggar of sorts, a person freed from need with their aura primed to headnod to some whistle.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;That\u2019s&#8230; beautifully strange, and it totally tracks.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And just in case you need another reason to care: Cola are heading back out on the road. Their <strong>European tour<\/strong> kicks off in Ireland this May, where they\u2019ll be joined by M(h)aol and Junk Drawer on select Irish dates, before trekking across Italy, France, Spain, and more. North America \u2014 you\u2019re not forgotten. They\u2019ll be back for a short run this summer, including a rooftop show in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>So here\u2019s the drill:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stream <em>Mendicant<\/em> now wherever you get your music.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scope the full list of tour dates below.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add&nbsp;\u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/cola-annouce-new-album-the-gloss-share-pallor-tricks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Cola annouce new album \u2018The Gloss\u2019 +  share \u2018Pallor Tricks\u2019\">The Gloss<\/a>\u2019&nbsp;to your rotation if you somehow missed it \u2014 it&#8217;s post-punk perfection wrapped in minimalism and dry wit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tour dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ireland + UK (w\/ M(h)aol + Junk Drawer)<\/strong><br>May 28 \u2013 Belfast, IE @ Black Box<br>May 29 \u2013 Derry, IE @ Sandos<br>May 30 \u2013 Galway, IE @ Roisin Dubh<br>May 31 \u2013 Limerick, IE @ Dolan\u2019s Kasbah Social Club<br>June 1\u20132 \u2013 Cork, IE @ Coughlans<br>June 3 \u2013 Waterford, IE @ Luca Records<br>June 4 \u2013 Dublin, IE @ Whelans<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Europe<\/strong><br>June 6 \u2013 Milan, IT @ Arci Bellezza<br>June 7 \u2013 Bologna, IT @ Covo Club<br>June 10 \u2013 Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere<br>June 11 \u2013 Bruges, BE @ Cactus Club<br>June 12 \u2013 Lille, FR @ L\u2019Aeronef<br>June 14 \u2013 Bordeaux, FR @ Deus Ex Machina<br>June 16 \u2013 Porto, PT @ Socorro<br>June 17 \u2013 Lisbon, PT @ ZDB Gallery<br>June 18 \u2013 Madrid, ES @ Sala Villanos<br>June 19 \u2013 Barcelona, ES @ La Nau<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>North America<\/strong><br>July 16 \u2013 Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere Rooftop<br>July 18 \u2013 Toronto, CA @ The Garrison<br>July 19 \u2013 Montreal, CA @ La Toscadura<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Follow Cola<\/strong><br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/firetalkrecs.us11.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=5694861394877ae40d1c9a32c&amp;id=96c2db3af7&amp;e=ebf8659a9b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0|\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/firetalkrecs.us11.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=5694861394877ae40d1c9a32c&amp;id=f2974fc3f7&amp;e=ebf8659a9b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Cola are back, and they\u2019ve brought some seriously unexpected flair with them. The Montreal-based trio &#8211; Tim Darcy (guitar\/vocals), Ben Stidworthy (bass\/uilleann pipes wizard), and <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42378\" title=\"Cola get medieval on new single \u2018Mendicant\u2019 &#8211; Whistles, pipes, and poetic weirdness\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22,23,25,28,30,1907],"tags":[10578,12572,925],"class_list":["post-42378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-live","category-music","category-new-release","category-news","tag-cola","tag-mendicant","tag-post-punk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4496.jpeg?fit=1200%2C789","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-b1w","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":37540,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=37540","url_meta":{"origin":42378,"position":0},"title":"Ought announce break up + Cola share debut single","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"November 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"After nearly 9 years as a band\u00a0and following three critically-acclaimed\u00a0full lengths, the Montreal post-punk group\u00a0Ought\u00a0have announced their break up via the band's\u00a0Instagram. You can read their full statement here:\u00a0\"We are no longer active as a band. When we started Ought in 2012 we had no greater aspirations than to play\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cola press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/7C52AA2E-626B-4C13-9FF7-85DE3CDE0EE8-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C960&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/7C52AA2E-626B-4C13-9FF7-85DE3CDE0EE8-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C960&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/7C52AA2E-626B-4C13-9FF7-85DE3CDE0EE8-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C960&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/7C52AA2E-626B-4C13-9FF7-85DE3CDE0EE8-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C960&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/7C52AA2E-626B-4C13-9FF7-85DE3CDE0EE8-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C960&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40075,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=40075","url_meta":{"origin":42378,"position":1},"title":"Cola return with new single \u2018Bitter Melon\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"April 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In 2022,\u00a0Cola\u00a0(a project from former\u00a0Ought\u00a0members\u00a0Tim Darcy\u00a0and\u00a0Ben Stidworthy\u00a0and\u00a0US Girls\/The Weather Station\u00a0drummer\u00a0Evan Cartwright), released their debut LP\u00a0\u2018Deep In View\u2019\u00a0via\u00a0Fire Talk Records. Rolling Stone named the band an\u00a0Artist You Need To Know\u00a0and called their debut \"one of the year\u2019s most thrilling rock statements,\" the album was one of the year's most acclaimed debuts.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cola press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/6D1F7AD3-1C6C-48C5-A87F-D48F3DB959E8.jpeg?fit=1100%2C825&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/6D1F7AD3-1C6C-48C5-A87F-D48F3DB959E8.jpeg?fit=1100%2C825&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/6D1F7AD3-1C6C-48C5-A87F-D48F3DB959E8.jpeg?fit=1100%2C825&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/6D1F7AD3-1C6C-48C5-A87F-D48F3DB959E8.jpeg?fit=1100%2C825&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/6D1F7AD3-1C6C-48C5-A87F-D48F3DB959E8.jpeg?fit=1100%2C825&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44452,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=44452","url_meta":{"origin":42378,"position":2},"title":"Cola announce new album\u00a0\u2018Cost of Living Adjustment\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"February 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Montreal trio\u00a0Cola\u00a0are back with details of their third album,\u00a0\u2018Cost of Living Adjustment,\u2019 landing May 8th via\u00a0Fire Talk Records. Alongside the announcement comes the album\u2019s lead single, Hedgesitting, paired with a beautifully understated video directed by Kristina Pedersen. If you\u2019ve been following Cola\u2019s evolution post-Ought, you already know the buzz is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cola press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7176.jpeg?fit=1100%2C754&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7176.jpeg?fit=1100%2C754&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7176.jpeg?fit=1100%2C754&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7176.jpeg?fit=1100%2C754&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7176.jpeg?fit=1100%2C754&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45314,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=45314","url_meta":{"origin":42378,"position":3},"title":"Cola drop \u2018Skywriter\u2019s Sigh\u2019 + World Tour dates announced","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"April 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Toronto post-punk trio Cola are back with their latest single and video, Skywriter's Sigh \u2014 the closing track off their forthcoming third album, 'Cost of Living Adjustment', dropping May 8 on Fire Talk Records. And honestly? It slaps in the most understated, poetic way possible. The band \u2014 Tim Darcy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cola press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0586.jpeg?fit=948%2C632&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0586.jpeg?fit=948%2C632&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0586.jpeg?fit=948%2C632&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0586.jpeg?fit=948%2C632&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40387,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=40387","url_meta":{"origin":42378,"position":4},"title":"Cola annouce new album \u2018The Gloss\u2019 +  share \u2018Pallor Tricks\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"April 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"With roots in Montreal, the band\u00a0Cola\u00a0was formed by ex-Ought members\u00a0Tim Darcy\u00a0and\u00a0Ben Stidworthy. Evan Cartwright, an in-demand session musician and collaborator in Toronto\u2019s vibrant jazz\/experimental scene with acts such as U.S. Girls and The Weather Station, joined after their first practice in 2019.\u00a0 In 2022, Cola released their debut LP\u00a0\u2018Deep In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cola press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/31C5FFCC-6F75-4D68-A0C6-F06AF88BE9D4.jpeg?fit=1000%2C750&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/31C5FFCC-6F75-4D68-A0C6-F06AF88BE9D4.jpeg?fit=1000%2C750&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/31C5FFCC-6F75-4D68-A0C6-F06AF88BE9D4.jpeg?fit=1000%2C750&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/31C5FFCC-6F75-4D68-A0C6-F06AF88BE9D4.jpeg?fit=1000%2C750&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39196,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=39196","url_meta":{"origin":42378,"position":5},"title":"Cola share new track \u2018Keys Down If You Stay\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"April 17, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Last year, Cola, the new project from former Ought members Tim Darcy and Ben Stidworthy and US Girls\/The Weather Station drummer Evan Cartwright, released their debut LP \u2018Deep In View\u2019 via Fire Talk Records. Earning praise from outlets like Pitchfork, NPR, FADER, Stereogum, Uproxx, Paste, BrooklynVegan, Consequence, Clash, NME and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cola press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/4FC2BA9B-8ECE-46D6-8A5C-81231E2688FC.jpeg?fit=1124%2C700&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/4FC2BA9B-8ECE-46D6-8A5C-81231E2688FC.jpeg?fit=1124%2C700&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/4FC2BA9B-8ECE-46D6-8A5C-81231E2688FC.jpeg?fit=1124%2C700&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/4FC2BA9B-8ECE-46D6-8A5C-81231E2688FC.jpeg?fit=1124%2C700&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/4FC2BA9B-8ECE-46D6-8A5C-81231E2688FC.jpeg?fit=1124%2C700&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42378"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42378\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42384,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42378\/revisions\/42384"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}