“Yeah his father was a Mason / he kept his feelings underground / picked pockets at the station when no-one was around.” So opens ‘Hey Hey’, the latest single from Bristol/London group Saloon Dion. Consisting of Dave Sturgess (vocals/synth), Tom Simpkins (guitar/vocals), Taryn McDonnell (guitar/vocals), Luke Mullins (bass) and Ben Molyneux (drums), the outfit are something of a supergroup, drifting from various post-punk and surf rock groups around Bristol and coalescing into a band. The result is an eclectic blend of punk and funk topped by raw and volatile energy. As cryptic as a mason, as fleetfooted as a thief. “Hey hey / I’m gonna break my one commandment man!”
The song has been released to celebrate Saloon Dion signing with Nice Swan Records, and introduces them as an inventive and playful addition to an already impressive roster. But more than just having fun, the song pushes under the layers of the contemporary psyche and picks through the mess beneath. “None of us can claim to be perfect, we are all capable of both good and bad,” Sturgess explains of the track. “I found it interesting when writing this song to think about where certain traits of mine came from. There have certainly been times when I’ve stood by people who didn’t necessarily deserve it, and vice versa. We all carry with us certain destructive behaviours that can be damaging to ourselves and those around us if unchecked.”
‘Hey Hey’ is out now via Nice Swan Records.