Artist:
ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD
Label:
SIDEONEDUMMY RECORDS
Video:
“TEMPLE GRANDIN”
Director:
Joe Stakun
Add Date:
May 9, 2014

There is something to be said for those stadium-sized artists who deal in grand, glossy, sweeping gestures. They generally stick to the usual tropes of love, hope and heartbreak, and they tend to connect with the masses. As a strategy for success, this is both safe and effective. But let’s be honest: it’s more than a bit cheap. Thankfully, there are bands out there who aren’t satisfied with the status quo. These are the bands who aren’t afraid to disarm the ego (and its corresponding set of filters) to boldly explore the id in the hopes of communicating something more. One such band that has done this to great effect over the course of several albums is the folk weirdos outfit Andrew Jackson Jihad, and HIP Video Promo is very pleased to introduce the clip for their newest single “Temple Grandin.”

Hailing from Arizona, Andrew Jackson Jihad began as a duo in 2004, with Sean Bonnette (vocals and acoustic guitar) and Ben Gallaty (upright bass). With Bonnette still in his teens, he and Gallaty quickly developed a striking sound that was overwhelming, cathartic, and entirely acoustic, eschewing the aforementioned tropes for tales of drug abuse, self-loathing, and black humor. Fast-forward to 2014 and AJJ is gearing up to release their sixth LP and first for SideOneDummy, Christmas Island.

“Temple Grandin” is a relentless and frenetic blast of acoustic punk that recalls the sound of Neutral Milk Hotel while allowing Bonnette’s distinct sense of melody and wordplay to shine. “Open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out,” he sings happily before the band bursts into gear. In the song, he namechecks Stevie Wonder, Helen Keller, and, of course, Temple Grandin herself, who famously brought about “humane” change to American slaughterhouses, hence, Bonnette’s maniacally repeated refrain, “Find a nicer way to kill it.”

Visually, the clip delivers in spades with a deceptively simple concept: The band performs live in front of three large video screens while a steady stream of strange and compelling imagery plays behind them. On several occasions, physical manifestations of the imagery ends up in the room with them. (Beach balls. Balloons. Toilet Paper). Add a few cool effects and some first-class editing, and this video sucks you in for just under three minutes of completely infectious insanity.

As the band gears up for a nationwide tour next month, we are very excited to help spread the word about Andrew Jackson Jihad. For more information on this fantastic band and their great video for “Temple Grandin”, please contact Andy Gesner and the HIP Video Promo staff at (732) 613-1779 or email us at info@HIPVideoPromo.com . You can also visit www.SideOneDummy.com for more info.