Transforming Grief Into Triumph: Club Night’s ‘Joy Coming Down’

Club Night is back, and their sophomore record, ‘Joy Coming Down,’ drops in May 2025 on Tiny Engines. Drawing inspiration from a lineup of influences like At The Drive-In, Cap’n Jazz, mewithoutYou, Pretty Girls Make Graves, and Los Campesinos!, this record is a celebration of transformation, loss, and the raw energy of indie/punk rock.

Their second single, Judah, premiered at Flood Magazine and is now streaming everywhere, following the high-energy debut of Palace in February. This marks their first release since the critically acclaimed ‘What Life’ from 2019, making this return even more anticipated.

The Sound & the Story

With ‘Joy Coming Down,’ Club Night dives into a mix of explosive indie rock, noise pop, and even a touch of math rock. Judah carries an undercurrent of hope—a kind of sonic alchemy where grief and celebration collide. Frontman Josh Bertram’s heartfelt lyrics mourn the collapse of “ancient walls,” yet look forward to the joy that awaits on the other side. Critics are already noting the band’s evolution, with Flood Magazine praising the melodic growth reminiscent of Explosions in the Sky, while Stereogum hypes “Palace” for its pent-up energy that bursts into a riot of sound.

Pitchfork sums it up as a spirited indie-emo blend, channeling influences from a bygone era of indie rock while forging its own distinct path. Oakland’s quintet is often described as multiple bands converging in slow motion—a collision of emotions ranging from fierce rage to bittersweet nostalgia.

The Album’s Journey

‘Joy Coming Down’ is an ode to loss and rebirth. Borrowing its title from Fred Thomas’s evocative lyrics, the record explores the idea that while tears may fall, they transform into something beautiful—clouds that carry both sorrow and hope. The opening track, Expo, sets the stage with a tender plea before exploding into a triumphant celebration of life and grief. It’s an invitation to face sorrow head-on, dancing around it with wild abandon and defiant joy.

As you dive deeper, tracks like Dream and Dream II envelop you in a textured soundscape that’s as eerie as it is comforting. Mid-album, the raw energy of early tracks gives way to introspection and mourning. In Rot, Bertram’s lyrics capture the elusive nature of memory—a moment so intense it seems to freeze time, challenging us to hold onto those we’ve lost.

The later tracks, Judah and Station, hint at healing. There’s a bittersweet clarity in Station, where Bertram’s voice echoes with the promise of reunion—“I know I’ll see her again / in a flash of lightning.” Finally, the album closes with Rabbit, an elegy for Bertram’s late mentor, Scott Hutchinson of Frightened Rabbit. This track is a layered conversation with grief itself, a tribute that balances pain and triumph, echoing the shared spirit of transformation. It’s a reminder that even as we part ways with those who have shaped us, their influence continues to spark change in the world.

Ultimately, ‘Joy Coming Down’ is about transformation—how loss reshapes us into something new and vibrant. Every note, every lyric is a call to embrace change, turning grief into the fuel for a shared journey of healing and hope.

‘Joy Coming Down’ track listing

1. Expo
2. Lake
3. Palace
4. Dream
5. Rot
6. Judah
7. Station
8. Dream II
9. Rabbit