EPK – Palooka – Save Yourself (2024)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Cheap Trick, Alice in Chains, AC/DC, Buckcherry, Aerosmith
Save Yourself (EP) – Release Date February 23, 2024
“Save Yourself” – Single Digital Release – 10/13/23
“Cut You Out of Me” – Single Digital Release – 1/26/24
Label: Big Thick Rock LLC
Distribution: CD Baby
“Save Yourself speaks to those moments in life where one comes to the realization that the way through a particular event or situation is purely up to us as individuals. The metaphoric cavalry isn’t coming, we are on our own and the only way forward is through.” – Palooka
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“Good old fashioned rock and roll..ferocious guitar work…. full of anthemic twists and turns.” – Glen Casebeer NW Music Scene (2018)
“Palooka brought a fire to the stage…playing a no nonsense brand of in your face rock music.”- NW Music Scene (2012)
“Combining one part attitude with three parts rock, this band will cross the boundaries between screaming guitar licks and soft acoustic ballads. They have given us exceptionally written songs peppered with intelligent and honest lyrics, incredible guitar playing, and an overall sense of talent that is occasionally too much to take in all at once.” – Rhonda Readence, Freelance Writer (2011)
“Fans of old-school rock will fall in love with Palooka’s classic feel and energetic pace.” – Nathan Liss, Target Audience Magazine (2011)
Save Yourself (EP) – Release Date February 23, 2024
“Save Yourself” – Single Digital Release – 10/13/23
“Cut You Out of Me” – Single Digital Release – 1/26/24
Label: Big Thick Rock LLC
Distribution: CD Baby
Track Listing:
1. Cut You Out of Me (4:00)
2. F Mind (4:13)
3. Save Yourself (4:01)
4. Far From God (3:09)
5. Bellflower (5:54)
EP Length: 21:19
Album Credits:
All Songs Performed by: PALOOKA,
Gretta Harley – Piano on “Bellflower”
Music Mixed & Recorded by: Jonathan Plum, London Bridge Studio
Music Produced by: Jonathan Plum and PALOOKA
Music Mastered by: Glenn Schick
Album Cover Art by: Chris Schanz
Cover Photo by: James Bennett
Album & Live Band Lineup:
Chuck Campbell: Vocals
Howard Binner: Bass
Jason Reaves: Drums
Glen Logan: Guitar
Chris Quinn: Guitar
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About The EP Artwork
The EP artwork speaks to optimism, to seeking the light, even if dim, or distant, in the darkest of times. We felt the image resonated with these songs which were written in significant part during the pandemic. – Glen
About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Although not a concept EP, or focused on a single theme, I do believe The Save Yourself EP has a feel that moves through it. A feel that ebbs, and flows. It has highs and lows. It moves from loud and aggressive to quiet, plodding, introspective, then balls to the walls again. All of this is in significant part because of when and how these songs were written. – Glen
Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1. “Cut You Out of Me”
Although a relationship may be logically over, even for good reason, it isn’t always so easy to sever the deeper emotional ties that remain. It’s about the difficulty of that struggle. It’s about taking back one’s power to move through that and on to new possibilities. – Glen
2. “F Mind”
Musically, the nuts and bolts of F Mind are the guitar and drum groove in the verse, setting up a controlled swirling spiral down to the chorus where the lyrics hopefully create a connection that resonates with each listener.
F Mind is an observation, looking out the window or watching tv-the absurdity of it all sometimes. It’s an interplay of light and dark. – Chuck
3. “Save Yourself”:
“Save Yourself” emerged from the early days of the Covid pandemic, a period when I found myself newly single and residing alone on an island. In that isolated environment, the concept of self-reliance became an undeniable reality, which would then become the narrative for the song.
As I delved into the songwriting process, a distinctive vibe and feel began to crystallize.
I had wanted to experiment with a specific tuning for some time that I believed would lend itself to a drone, or pedal tone sort of vibe.
This involved tuning each string to Eb, and as soon as I made this adjustment, the song unfolded rapidly, almost as if it were a stream of consciousness. The initial composition was recorded in a spontaneous first run-through, capturing the rawness of the moment.
I recorded the first run-through just to get it on tape. While playing the 2nd verse I forgot exactly what I had done on the first verse. So, on that initial demo, the structure of the first and 2nd verses were slightly different. After hearing it back I actually appreciated that difference. I mentioned to the band that we could decide on one or the other and just repeat the same verse structure, but they liked the variations too. We collectively decided to maintain the unique structure, embracing the organic and slightly unpredictable nature of the creative process. – Glen
4. “Far From God”:
Musically Far From God is about guitars almost suggesting the feel of brass/ horns calling out for a response from the vocals. This guitar/ drum groove switches to a stabbing rapid-fire chorus that accentuates the lyric. Lyrically Far From God is a take on the loss of innocence, the wearing down of good people and good intentions. It’s also a take on institutions, power, and slingers of voodoo that hide behind their perceived purity. – Chuck
5. “Bellflower’:
“One bullet for my baby, one bullet for me.”
The shock from the first shot starts the song.
The rest of the music is a sonic journey through the realization of what has happened and the drawn-out feeling of bleeding until the inevitable….the slipping away.
Lyrically, the chorus is a proclamation of intent. The listener observes the absurd ramblings of the narrator, exposing the horror of the situation.
Overview: This is a song about mental health, toxic relationships, obsession and obviously gun violence.
Possession is not love, there is no ownership over other people. Jealousy is not love nor is anger, rage or violence of any kind.
Unfortunately, we seem to value instruments of death and destruction more than the mental state of the citizens of this country and until there is a change….. this is a fictional story but happens every day. – Jason
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Fun Facts – Story Angles:
1. PALOOKA writes from a perspective of living this life, experiencing what we do and trying to connect with others who have similar real-world experiences.
2. PALOOKA are playing music in a significant part because we are music fans first. We’ve had the great pleasure of playing with a lot of great bands, some of which we’ve been fans of for years, even decades. Some of our favorite bands we’ve shared the stage with were Michael Schenker, TKO, Gilby Clarke, Buckcherry, Y&T to name a few.
3. Guitarists Chris Quinn and Glen Logan are big-time guitar and amp geeks.
4. The name PALOOKA comes from the working title of a solo project Glen Logan did after being out of music for years. It was a tongue-in-cheek reference to an old washed-up boxer getting back in the ring. The solo project turned into a band and the name stuck.
5. PALOOKA feels honored to have recorded our latest Save Yourself EP, as well as our 2017 full-length album, Turbo Excelente, at historic London Bridge Studio in Seattle, WA.
PALOOKA is a sonic hurricane of big, thick, two-guitar rock, the way God intended it. At the forefront of this musical tempest stands Chuck Campbell, a vocalist whose melodies are drenched in raw emotion and soaring tenacity. Flanking him are Chris Quinn and Glen Logan, trading flurries of devastating and searing guitar punches reminiscent of a barroom brawl. The band’s foundation is rock solid, built upon the talents of Howard Binner on bass and the percussive mauler, Jason Reavis, on drums.
PALOOKA brings together musicians who’ve been haunting the Seattle scene since the pre-grunge days (yes, there was a pre-grunge Seattle music scene). Their musical DNA draws inspiration from their past contributions to bands like Overlord, Bible Stud, Slaughterhaus 5, Debutant, Razrez, and Nylon Kincaid.
In addition to their rich musical history, PALOOKA’s influences span a wide spectrum: from the timeless sounds of Elton John and Louis Armstrong to the electric energy of KISS and Cheap Trick, to the adrenaline-fueled rebellion of Evel Knievel.
The journey of PALOOKA is a testament to the enduring power of hard rock, and they continue to push the boundaries with their unmatched energy, soul, and grit. Strap in and get ready to roll with PALOOKA!
Palooka is:
Chuck Campbell: Vocals
Howard Binner: Bass
Jason Reaves: Drums
Glen Logan: Guitar
Chris Quinn: Guitar
Discography:
2024 – Save Yourself – EP
2021 – All Those Things Left Behind – EP
2017 – Turbo Excelente – Album
2011 – What’s Wrong With Wanting Everything – Album
Shared Stage:
Buckcherry, Michael Schenker, LA Guns, Pat Travers, TKO, Gilby Clarke, Hell’s Belles, Enuff Z’Nuff, Beautiful Skeletons, The Guessing Game
Tours and Fests:
2018 – Sky River Rock Festival – Snohomish, WA
2018 – NW Metal Fest – Seattle, WA
2018 – White Center Jubilee Days – White Center, WA
2014 – KISW Redfest
2014 – Brewer’s Fest – Redmond, WA
2013 – West Seattle Summer Fest – Seattle, WA
Past Features:
2020 – KISW 99.9 Band of the Week
2014 – KISW BJ & Migs Loud & Local Band of the Week
2013 – URock Band of the Week
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