Melbourne-based punks Clowns—which, let’s face it, is one of the best single-word band names in history—have revealed the third single from their forthcoming fifth full-length, Endless. “Thanks 4 Nothing” was written by bassist Hanny J and sees her, rather than usual singer Stevie Williams, take the lead on vocals. It’s a song that almost wasn’t, and kind of a song about the fact that it almost wasn’t.
That’s because the blisteringly catchy and frantic blast of noisy melody is all about the way the music industry came crashing to a halt with the pandemic—especially in Australia, with a rigidly enforced government curfew—as well as the renewed sense of joy and appreciation for live music that came when things finally started opening up again. “‘Thanks 4 Nothing’ is a love song to the music scene and our family, summing up how COVID lockdown seemed to be an insane juxtaposition of government-mandated, isolation-induced madness crossed with new collective energy, of new ideas and a new appreciation for what we have and what we're gonna do,” Hanny shares of the track.
The song perfectly captures the restlessness of not being able to go out at all, as well as the sheer relief that it all did kick back into gear again—as does the video, which flits between shots of Clowns onstage and off on their recent tour of Europe, and which captures the fun and adrenaline of life in a band. More than that, it illustrates just how important and vital a role music plays in their lives. “Thanks 4 Nothing” feels like a lifeforce in full flow—a powerful and important reminder to never take anything we love for granted, because it can always vanish faster than an unmasked sneeze.
Watch the video below, and expect Endless to arrive October 20 via Fat Wreck Chords (or Damaged Records in Australia).
