‘Good Thing’ by Killer Workout | New EP ‘Direct to Video’
Exclusive video premiere of ‘Good Thing’ taken from the upcoming EP, ‘Direct to Video’ by Seattle based Killer Workout.
Musically, the band is what happens when modern indie meets late 70s/early 80s post-punk with a generous helping of new wave thrown in.
Founded in 2012, the band released two LPs and two EPs under their former name, The West. As Killer Workout, a name the band felt better reflected their music and style, they have released ‘Direct to Video’, ‘FOUR : THREE’, and ‘A Matter of Style’.
Anthony Darnell (keyboardist/vocals): “As a band we have a tendency to make upbeat, post punk-inspired, danceable songs, but I wanted to explore something on the softer side with a more modern leaning that still had forward momentum. I was listening to bands like Twin Shadow and The Weeknd, and I wanted to make something along those lines, but with Killer Workout’s flair and style. The song started with the lead keyboard line and the chord pattern that comes in half-way through the verse—I just liked how simple it was and how the lines just flowed together. And I kept the melody simple and straight forward to match. The song is about someone who thinks there in a good relationship, but it’s on the rocks at the moment and neither party can decide whether they should stay or go. It’s good, but it’s conflicted, you know? Should they give it one more shot or not? That’s the vibe I was going for.”
The band is following up its acclaimed previous EP dance-core ‘4:3’ with a sleek, bass-driven troika of swift, driving sweeping, dreamy sultry new songs about the joys of motion and the dark side of the bright lights, ‘Good Thing,’ ‘Thief In The Night,’ and ‘Get Out.’ It’s called ‘Direct to Video’ and you’re going to want to take it home, and then take it out for a night on the town.
Taking their name from “a kooky 80s slasher movie” that keyboardist and vocalist Anthony Darnell was a fan of, which was set in an aerobics studio and featuring a killer using a giant safety pin as a weapon, Killer Workout is just as shiny and shocking. The fiery and frenzied Adrienne Clark, also on keys with backing vocals, joins in like Darnell’s mad slasher twin as they crisply funk it up live, with perfectly one-the-one drums from Bob Husak (The Blakes) beneath Reed Griffin’s sonorous guitar and Jon Swihart’s perfectly tempestuous bass.
Killer Workout was known for giving great, sweat-inspiring live shows at Pacific NW venues before things closed down, and it sounds like they’re ready to bring that cinematic power back live now that things are opening up.
Killer Workout Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube / Apple Music / Spotify
Headline photo: Brady Harvey
