“Happy Hour“ by The Party After

“Happy Hour” by The Party After is a riveting five-track EP from this eclectic rock trio. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, this band is made up of Jared William Gottberg, Derek Talburt, and Tony Bates. The artistic chemistry between these members is palpable in each moment of each arrangement, from the way the electric guitars dance over the energetic drums, and how the instrumentation works to support the vocal and its narrative. This EP follows a character who feels trapped in their small town, but is too hard headed and fearful to put in the work required to make a change. 

The EP opens with the title track, “Happy Hour.” Huge, grungy guitars build a tension-filled atmosphere and drums begin to ripple across the arrangement. The energy only continues to rise as the song goes on, immediately telling you that The Party After is not to be overlooked. Lines like “each and every day, you’re in the very same place” tell us about the stagnancy of this character. Their life has become routine, boring, and cyclical. This is an unfortunately relatable theme for many of us who have big dreams, but can’t figure out how to get to them.

Another standout song on the EP is the closer, “Blast Off.” Starting with a fun countdown that makes you think of a real rocket blastoff, this high energy song soars from start to finish. The metaphor of “blasting off” shows up in lyrics like “lost in space, never coming down,” making for a clever narrative. Filtered vocals echo and swirl across the song, making you feel like you yourself are lost in space.

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