Exclusive track premiere of ‘Grey Coat’ by Is/Ought Gap, taken from the upcoming album, ‘SUA,’ out April 5th, 2024, on vinyl and digital via HHBTM / Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records.

Amidst the mysterious ambiance of early 1980s Athens, Georgia, Is/Ought Gap emerged as a remarkable presence, their name murmured within the clandestine circles of indie music. In a scene immortalized by People Magazine and cinematic gems like “Athens, Ga: Inside Out,” they seamlessly integrated their unique sounds alongside luminaries such as R.E.M, the B-52’s, and Pylon.

The tale commenced in the twilight of 1981 when Bryan Cook (later of Time Toy and Club Gaga), inspired by the rebellious spirit of the Sex Pistols, collided with Tom Cheek (later of Kilkenny Cats), igniting a kinship fueled by mutual musical passion and thrift store adventures. With the addition of Haynes Collins and later Allen Wagner, Is/Ought Gap reached a turning point, their ensemble now whole.

Within the eerie confines of an old funeral home in downtown Athens, GA, they honed their craft. Initial whispers of their live debut reverberated through the covert ‘Party Line’ on Pylon’s answering machine, setting the stage for a profound connection forged with an audience at the Coffee Club.

As Is/Ought Gap’s musical odyssey extended beyond Athens, they garnered renown for electrifying performances across the Southeast, sharing stages with iconic acts like the Bongos, Circle Jerks, R.E.M., and Pylon. Despite the shadows deepening during their dissolution in the late ’80s, they experienced a revival during the Art Rocks Athens events in 2014, coinciding with the inception of the Pylon Reenactment Society.

Now, within the secluded confines of Jason Nesmith’s (Casper & the Cookies, Pylon Reenactment Society) Bel Aire studio, previously unreleased songs find their voice, poised to carve a new chapter on the eagerly anticipated album ‘SUA,’ slated for release on April 5th, 2024, on vinyl and digital platforms via HHBTM / Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records. The stage is set for a triumphant return, a celebration of musical resurrection, as Is/Ought Gap once again intertwines their enigmatic melodies into the fabric of Athens. Experience the echoes of shadows and the resonance of melodies as the mystery of Is/Ought Gap unfolds live and in person.

About the premiering single Bryan Cook says:

Bryan: This was a Tom (guitarist Tom Cheek) guitar song that was another early one in our song book. I remember having fun trying to come up with a bass part for this song with Tom, having him play it very slowly so I could fumble my way through it on bass. I kinda remember us working through the arrangement and we thought it would be cool to play one of the chord progressions backwards, so I would yell “backwards” and that kinda stuck as part of the chorus. I also just remembered that Art in the Dark (another Athens band at the time) had a song that went something like “up and down and up and down and sideways” that kind of annoyed me so I really enjoyed yelling “backwards” as an antidote to “sideways.” I remember we had been playing ‘Paint it Black’ at some shows and during practice. I kinda remember Tom having a music book with the chords to Beggars Banquet or something in it, along with other Stones songs but we still kinda just played it our own way mainly because we just couldn’t be bothered with learning it exactly. This song may have come from some of those attempts at figuring out the other Stones songs. I can’t really remember. Tom had this grey coat that he wore a lot back then, kinda loose fitting with deep pockets. When we would go see R.E.M. at Tyrone’s (Tyrone’s was a club in Athens, Ga that sadly later burned down in the early 80’s) way back then, we would sometimes hang out at the Coffee Club afterwards and Michael (Michael Stipe) would stop by and hang out. I think he mentioned one night that he liked Tom’s coat, so that was enough inspiration to write a song! One winter day there was a big snow storm and we all were playing on Baxter hill, sliding around and drinking too much peppermint schnapps. We ended up back at the Funeral home (practice space) and plugged in the electric heater and passed out a little too close to it. When we woke up, Tom’s grey coat had nearly caught fire and had a big scorch mark on one of the sleeves, ending the saga of Tom’s grey coat, only to live on in this song.

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