Ska is having a bit of a revival, if you haven’t heard. (Not that it was ever gone, mind you—we of all people would have noticed.) The past few years in ska punk have been largely fueled by a younger, more diverse generation of horn players and 2 Tone connoisseurs; one such band is Catbite, a Philadelphia-based quartet who we’re showcasing today with a new single off their upcoming sophomore album, Nice One. Watch the music video for “Excuse Me Miss” below.
The video for “Excuse Me Miss,” made by Ted Kwan and Shane Scherholz, is set visually (and quite perfectly) in a roller rink. It’s the kind of power-pop hit you’d hope to hear blasting from a radio while skating around an empty parking lot: upbeat, catchy, and helmed by a chorus that instantly sticks. The track is a great showcase of Catbite’s unique blend of modern garage sounds, 2-Tone rhythms, and melodies very much in the vein of Elvis Costello. Not to mention the lyrics, which seriously pack a punch—the song was written together by singer Brittany Luna and guitarist Tim Hildebrand about a previous relationship the two were in together.
“‘Excuse Me Miss’ is a narrative of beginning to fall for someone but letting past relationship trauma and paranoia get in the way of your feelings,” singer Brittany Luna describes. “It’s about staying up all night wondering what this person, who you care so much about, is doing and if the feelings are mutual. It’s about overthinking everything and avoiding any sort of confrontation and direct communication until you end up losing it all.”
You can pre-order a copy of Nice One via Bad Time Records now, just ahead of the record’s August 6 release; check out the album art and track list below.
CATBITE
Nice One
Bad Time Records
Release Date: August 6, 2021
01. Asinine Aesthetic
02. Call Your Bluff
03. Excuse Me Miss
04. Not Ur Baby
05. Stay
06. Creepin
07. Bad Influence
08. TV Screen Beauty Queen
09. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
10. Lipstick Lines
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