Abstract Artimus ain’t no quitter. If anything, he’s a rock’n’roll lifer and workaholic, evidenced by years of constant writing, recording, and touring. His new single, “Quitter’s Face,” is his latest iteration of a consistently idiosyncratic mix of punk rock perseverance, Southern boogie blues, garage-soul vocals, and experimental estrangement. “Nobody wants to see a quitter’s face,” he exclaims in the chorus, another of his mantras, referencing his own relentless pursuit of rock’n’roll transcendence. The song has an anxiously propulsive sound until the sequence of solos that jump exquisitely into oddball psych territory. It’s compelling and rockin.
Artemus’ new album, Rite of Passage, will be out on September 6 and is available for advance purchase on his Bandcamp page. If his latest offering is anything like the last two (also available for free on his Bandcamp page) then expect more bizarro garage country shenanigans, more prog-post-proto punk (figure that one out). The album will be followed with a tour and publicity campaign by the PR firm Team Clermont, who’ve worked with Drive-By Truckers, Arctic Monkeys, and R.E.M, to name a few. After many years of hard work the prospect of this artist finding a larger audience is exciting from a hometown fan’s perspective.
For Mobilians who’ve witnessed Abstract Artimus’ sweat-soaked and sometimes literally electrifying live performances, the prospect of him stopping through every opportunity he has is a must-not-miss spectacle. Patience rewards the faithful, because with a new album on the way and new single unleashed, his coming North American tour will have him stopping at the Alabama Music Box in late October.
In addition to all this excitement is the music video for “Quitter’s Face.” Art portrays a three-piece band, waking up in the morning and rockin into the sunset. His message isn’t subtle: Abstract Artimus is a working man who eats cereal with beer for breakfast. He’s just like you and me.
