Five Eight Releases First Song in Six Years, ‘Take Me To The Skate Park’
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Five Eight is fronted by Mike Mantione (vocals/guitar), Dan Horowitz (bass/vocals), Patrick Ferguson aka Tigger (drums), and Sean Dunn (guitar). The group is known for their frenetic fiery energy on stage and intense, twisted characters that singer Mike Mantione portrays in their songs.
Ten albums in, Five Eight is back at it with a new album, produced by David Barbe (Drive-By Truckers, Bob Mould) at Chase Park Transduction Studios,
Audiences will get a taste of what’s to come with the debut song, “Take Me To The Skate Park”, a two-and-a -half minute blast of hooks and punk rock fury, capturing the band’s signature mix of humor, intensity and cathartic energy.
“It’s based on an actual argument between me and my son” says Mantione. “He kept coming up to me and saying ‘Hey Dad! take me to the skate park!’ Suddenly, a song just came into my head out of nowhere and I started singing, ‘Dad, take me to the skate park.’ The first part of the song is that Dad sarcastically is mocking the Son. The second part is the son is letting the dad know that one day he’s not gonna need to ask anymore”.
The first single, released (February 28th) via Chicken Ranch Records (Austin, TX), arrives with a video directed by Jason Thrasher. Shot at SPOA, the Athens skate park, the video features a guerrilla-style live performance by Five Eight, surprising the skaters and onlookers. It also marks the video debut of Maggie Mantione, daughter of front man Mike Mantione, portraying a precocious 12-year-old skateboarder determined to drag her reluctant, alcoholic father to the park.
Music fans can look forward to a documentary that captures and chronicles their three-decade career of raw, high- energy performances and emotional songwriting. It’s called ‘Weirdo: The Story of Five Eight’. Directed by Atlanta-based filmmaker Marc Pilvinsky. It’s enjoyed sold-out screenings across the Southeast and will be premiering at SXSW in Austin, Tx in March. Watch the Trailer Here:
Five Eight will also be performing at SXSW with several shows including a Paste Party, Chicken Ranch Records, and Jumpstart17 showcases.
They’re included in Den of Geek’s SXSW Emerging Artists Spotify Playlist.
Screenings/Shows:
Sunday, March 9th – The Saturn – Birmingham, AL
Monday, March 10th – Howlin’ Wolfe – New Orleans
Tuesday, March 11th – River Oaks Theatre- Houston
Wednesday, March 12th- 16th – SXSW – Austin, TX