Take a ride with the dudes of I Believe in Julio in their debut music video for Big Trucks, the hit track off their upcoming, and long-awaited album, "An Episodic Memory," to be released this summer by 1980 Records. The official release show will be July 9th at The Pyramid Scheme featuring local bands FLUSHED, Bong Mountain, and Lambo.
The video, directed and produced by Skyler Klingenberg, features the art of local artists Rayne Klar and Cassie Heuton, while taking you on a trip through bright and colorful flora, mandalas, cultural marijuana symbolism and classic gamer icons such as video game controllers, bleeding hearts and broken coffee mugs (look close, pay attention!).
Each note pounding out, demands the attention of the listener, and encourages head turning, and squinty eyes at every turn. The ever lovable Dan Fisher (bassist of I Believe in Julio and four other Grand Rapids bands) is featured as the devil and Tony Speilmaker (drummer) as an angel. The two duel it out with the ever neutral Julio lookin' chill-as-ever, floating in the foregroud while they duke it out in circles around him, an accurate representation of the on-stage persona of the group. The lyric content of the video of "Big Trucks" allows the viewer the opportunity to truly engage in the experience, the opportunity to match Julio's raw and unforgiving vocal tones with their own and feel a stronger connection to the music.
"It doesnt matter just what I do, the more you want something the farther away it gets, and I'm spending all my time thinking about this and I'm writing it down and hoping it'll stick."
There is definitely much to be taken away from the lyrical content of I Believe in Julio's debut video, commentary on human connection, and life lessons on letting things go, or accepting things for the way they are. The pleasure of a sneak-peek at the album was extended to me, and each track, rolling into the next, serves as a highly relatable narrative of life as a 20-something actively participating in a music scene, figuring out how to maintain personal connections.
My vote goes to I Believe in Julio, for coming up with the most wittingly charming ways to tell everyone to get up and do the damn thing, live your life, and don't just let the world pass you by.
I know I'll be picking up the I Believe in Julio cassette at the show on July 9.
Disclosure: Claire Breen has been employed by the Community Media Center and is friends with artists named in this piece.
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