HEELS is back, and the folk-punk duo of drummer Josh McLane and Guitarist Brennan Whalen is pissed. As usual.
The platonic life partners are no strangers to Music Video Monday. “Last Man,” the new single from and second track on Pop Songs for a Dying Planet. “It’s about fury and being exhausted with pretty much everyone, and a warning about being in your own bubble,” says McLane.
For the video, McLane says “We asked Nathan Parten to make something simple, and he made another work of art for us.”
Parten is a popular Memphis tattoo artist and prolific animator who has created eye-popping videos for HEELS and Louise Page. His visual interpretation of “Last Man” will take your head clean off.
You can see HEELS this Friday at B-Side Memphis playing the “Freeloader” EP release party with Trash Goblin. Parton also did the artwork for Freeloader’s new record, so it’s gonna be a family affair.
If you’d like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.
The Memphis Flyer is proud to feature music videos from Memphis artists on Music Video Monday. Judging from the mind-bending difficulty of putting together this top ten list, 2019 was a good year. I scored the year’s videos on concept, song, look, and performance. Then, I shook my head at all the ties and did it all over again. It was so close, it was an honor just to be in the top ten, and I had to include three honorable mentions. Congratulations to all our winners!
C. Louise Page’s “Future Runaway Bride,” directed by Joshua Cannon and Barrett Kutas, will get you to the church on time, but what happens then is on you.
TOP TEN:
10. PreauXX – “Steak and Shake ft. AWFM”
The Unapologetic crew gets behind the counter of a sandwich joint in this video from director 35 Miles. This is one of those videos where you can just tell that everybody had a great time making it, and the fun is infectious.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019
9. Uriah Mitchell – “Might Be”
Everything is wound up tight in Waheed AlQawasami’s video of a surreal night at the club with Uriah and his friends.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (2)
8. Heels – “King Drunk”
Director Nathan Parten transforms Midtown into a D&D fantasia in this incredible animated video for Memphis’ hardest rocking duo.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (3)
7. Talibah Safiya – “Healing Creek”
Director Kevin Brooks brought out Talibah Safiya’s beauty and charisma in this spiritual video, which won the Hometowner Music Video award at Indie Memphis 2019.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (4)
6. Sweet Knives – “I Don’t Wanna Die”
Shannon Walton is outstanding as a stranded aviator in this video by director Laura Jean Hocking for the reunited veterans of the Lost Sounds, led by Alijca Trout.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (5)
5. The Poet Havi – “Shea Butter (Heart of Darkness)”
Director Joshua Cannon and cinematographer Nate Packard took inspiration from Raging Bull for this banger from The Poet Havi, who clearly has more and better dancers than Martin Scorsese ever did.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (6)
4. Impala – “Double Indemnity”
Director Edward Valibus and actress Rosalyn Ross created a heist movie in miniature for the kings of Memphis surf’s comeback record.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (7)
3. John Kilzer – Hello Heart
Memphis lost an elder statesman of music this year when John Kilzer tragically passed away in January. Director Laura Jean Hocking created this tone poem in blue for his final single.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (8)
2. Al Kapone – “Al Kapeezy Oh Boy”
Director Sean Winfrey knows how large Al Kapone looms in Memphis music, and he finally blew the rapper up to Godzilla size in this video for one of Kapone’s best jams since “Whoop That Trick”.
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (9)
1. Louise Page – “Harpy”
When this one dropped in October, MVM called it “an instant classic.” Animator Nathan Parten transformed Louise Page into a mythological monster and sending her off to wreak havoc on Greek heroes. Don’t feel sorry for Odysseus. He got what he deserved. Memphis, look upon your best music video of 2019:
Music Video Monday: Top Ten Music Videos of 2019 (10)
If you would like to see you music video on Music Video Monday, and maybe in the top ten of 2020, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com. Happy New Year!
Louise Page is back with a screamer. “Harpy” swings with big horns, cabaret attitude, and a predatory energy. It finds Weezy at her most self-aware. “Art is only heartbreak.” Preach it, sister.
The animated video is an instant classic by Nathan Parten, remixing imagery from Greek pottery and frieze. Poor Odysseus never stood a chance.
Music Video Monday: Louise Page
If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.
Today’s Music Video Monday is reaching for that golden chalice.
Heels, Memphis’ own two-man punk riot, will release their debut full-length album on Altercation Records, Good People Even Do Bad Things, on Friday, July 12th. Brennan Whalen and Josh McLane will celebrate with a record release party at the Hi Tone featuring an expanded line up of musical guests.
The video for the first song from the album, “King Drunk,” was created by animator Nathan Parten. It’s like if a creature from classic Dungeons and Dragons illustrations came to life, and then sawed its own head off. One of its heads, anyway. Get some!
Music Video Monday: Heels
If you would like to see your music video on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.
