By Josie Reinker
Antlerhead is a three piece alternative group rooted in Indianapolis, Indiana. Members include Ty Bush (vocals & guitar), Billy Germano (guitar), and Kyle Kincer (drums). Their intricate guitar parts and aggressively relatable lyrics make them a group to keep an ear out for. Antlerhead has put out three EPs: Am I Dreaming (2019), In a Day Dream (2019), and a live session Live at Golden Press (2023). The indie-rock group has been releasing music since 2017 and is currently working on their first album!
The band name “Antlerhead” originates from the iconic Fall Out Boy music video for their hit single Sugar We’re Going Down, which features a man with antlers. Frontman Bush recalls watching this music video at age 15 and the idea has stuck with him since. The name also pays homage to sketches of humans with antlers that were found in Bush’s highschool notebooks. These art forms present a hint at an intimacy that is directly reflected in the band’s lyrics.
Antlehead’s most popular single, No Tail, gained the group a lot of traction after it was posted on TikTok, which led fans to ask for its release and for it to be played live. Bush revealed in a recent interview that it was “never really intended to be a real song”, but it became something that he now confidently says, “I’m proud of every bit of it”. He had written No Tail independently, but due to the high demand of the song on tour, Billy and Kyle learned the instrumental parts in a parking lot outside the van one night so the single could make its live debut.
Lyrically, Ty Bush continuously shows his creativity, originality, and vulnerability. When faced with the question of which Antlerhead song he would rewrite if he could, the immediate response was Yellow Fox. In terms of these provocative lyrics, Bush says, “I was mad and hurt when I wrote it. There are lines I would never say to a person now.” He had a different world view at the time the single was written. At live performances, Bush even changes the lyrics to reflect a more accurate representation of the message he wants to get across.
Antlerhead’s most recent single, Kid, was released a few weeks ago and is climbing in popularity. It was written in the year 2020 and reflects the struggles of being a cog in the capitalist machine during trying times with high stakes and the nostalgia of childhood. He had initially planned for the song to be a full band affair, but upon presenting it to the rest of Billy and Kyle, it was decided that the impact would be greater as an independent work. Essentially, the song sends the message, “I miss being a kid and not having responsibilities.”
What’s next for Antlerhead? A new single is coming in the near future that is sure to invoke angst within listeners. We can look forward to this release in the next month or so. Live shows are in the works as well. Antlerhead may be coming to a city near you this summer. The album that Ty, Billy, and Kyle are working diligently on will be out once perfected. As spring and summer approach, fans can plan to hear more from Antlerhead!
Find Antlerhead online!
Website: https://www.antlerheadmusic.com/
Instagram: @antlerheadmusic
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