"So Long was very close to being a farewell record," says Glory Glory's Adam Warren. The band began recording in 2012, hoping to raise production values from its self-recorded 2010 release Zombies by tracking with Tim Jim Baker at The Shed in Shad Bay. But things didn't quite go as planned. "We ran out of money, my wife and I had a new baby, and the tunes ended up on the metaphorical shelf for a year while I kind of ignored the fact I was even in a band for the most part, being pretty obsessed with being a new dad," he says. "There were some pretty awkward jams during that time. There were some issues with mental health going on, and lack of communication between the three of us. It was probably our most difficult period as a band, and certainly our least productive. Not a lot of musical fun was being had."
Glory Glory has been together since 2006, so it makes sense that there would be some peaks and valleys. Thankfully, So Long wasn't marking the end of the band, but instead a shift to a new sound. As they say, band that evolves together stays together (they say that, right?). Glory Glory wrapped up recording with Ed Renzi, and tossed around the idea of hiring a high-profile mixer, landing on Justin Gerrish from Vampire Weekend and The Strokes.
"We'd been wondering for a while if we would really hear the difference if we hired someone with Justin's profile to do it," says Warren. "When he responded saying he thought the music was rad, that he would do it, and we could even afford to work with him we were all 'AMAZE,' if you know what I mean."
The band plays The Seahorse to kick off a European jaunt, playing The Great Escape in Brighton, and Liverpool Sound City. The Seahorse show will be guitar player Nick Jones' fourth show–with Ryan Brown and Gavin C. Maclean, Glory Glory is now a four-piece.
The band's evolution also involved an increased focus on having a good time. "I think the biggest shift has been in our approach to writing," says Warren. "These days, we're much more interested in having people dance and enjoy themselves while we play, rather than having their minds blown by how weird we can make a pop tune. I think at this point we've fully recovered from being university music students."
Glory Glory w/Rain Over St. Ambrose, Best Fiends
Friday, April 11 at 10pm, $8
The Seahorse Tavern, 1663 Argyle Street