Foxgrave unleashes angsty, hook-filled new EP

Foxgrave’s new release, “Snake Oil,” is a five-song single-sided 12-inch record that masterfully teeters on the line of loose rock ’n roll and tight, melodic pop punk. It’s pissed off, yet poetic. Rowdy, yet reflective—similar to The Replacements in their heyday. Vocalist/guitarist Caleb Shook chatted with City Pulse, here’s what he had to say about the band’s new release, its third, on Smog Moon Recordings. 

When and how did Foxgrave form? 

Caleb Shook: In the summer of 2015, a friend of mine introduced me to his musician cousin, Taylor Doty (bassist). We became fast friends and decided to jam with a friend of his, Josh Fitzgerald (drummer). We jammed on prototypes of the songs we would come to play in our parents’ basements. This took place in small towns south of Lansing — Charlotte and Potterville. We started taking things seriously after Skyler Ashley (guitar) joined in 2016. (Ashley is the arts and entertainment editor of City Pulse.) That’s when we started gigging and self-producing. Through that, we found Smog Moon who provided us with good quality recordings and help with promotion. We hooked up with them late 2018.

How was it recording this new EP during the pandemic? I know you worked with a team, including engineer Cody Hobbins and Nate Iversen who mixed and mastered it.

We recorded “Snake Oil” in our drummer Josh’s basement with Cody Hobbins as our engineer. Recording in a COVID environment was difficult. Production was halted multiple times because one member felt a little under the weather or had a tickle in their throat. We made sure to only interact with each other, but one can never be too careful. It was hard because we made deadlines and goals for ourselves but could not reach them because we weren’t willing to endanger each other.

Does Foxgrave have a songwriting process the band follows? 

Songwriting is a mix between myself and Skyler. Though, to say that Josh and Taylor aren’t heavily involved would be a lie. Skyler and I come with ideas and we work through the details together. I write a majority of the lyrics, but Skyler contributes a large amount.

What inspired your lyrics on these new “Snake Oil” tracks? Any reoccurring themes? 

For me as a lyricist, I entered new territory. To be honest, most of my song writing before this project was negative. I tried to focus on more positive aspects this time with songs like “Still” and “Wall to Wall.” Those songs are about positive feelings and experiences. They don’t involve the indecisive and angry feelings that our earlier material touched on. That being said, I do feel angry, scared and dissatisfied with the current state of the world just like everybody else. Those feelings are covered by “Grifter,” “Machine Learning” and “Nocturnal.” I am upset about the handling of suffering by those with the power to change it, the intolerance and arrogance of those who choose not to evolve and my own brain sabotaging itself for reasons that are unclear to me — all of those respectively. There are not really recurring themes, but I hope that the EP is from a point of view that a lot of people share. I just want it to be relatable. I want it to be human.

Where did you grow up, how did you first get into music and writing songs?

I grew up in a small town. The name does not matter, they are all the same. I grew up with a family that loved singing songs and playing music. My family never did anything special with it, they just enjoyed it. They never wrote or pursued any type of career. By the time I was in high school I was obsessed with rock, punk, blues, metal, rap, jazz and all the other bullshit names people have given to music that pisses off your parents. I have pursued a life filled with music, whether it’s my job or not.

Early on I was inspired by classic rock like CCR, Bob Dylan, Hendrix and all that stuff — you know what I’m talking about. In my formative years, I listened to pop punk like Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Anti-Flag, NOFX, Blink 182, and all that, plus earlier punk like The Ramones, Stooges, Dead Kennedys and The Clash. Around the time the band started, I got really into David Bowie. I will always credit him as a huge inspiration. My philosophy has always been, “If it sounds good, it’s good”

The cover art for the new EP is terrific, where did that come from?

[Lansing artist] Craig Horky did an amazing job on this cover as he does. We asked him to replicate the cover of the 1930s film “Cocaine Fiends.” We originally wanted an early 20th century propaganda poster, but eventually settled on the design from the movie poster after I presented it to the band.

Do you have some plans set for the remainder of 2021? 

Hopefully we’ll be touring in late 2021. But as for now, we’re doing internet promotion. I would also like to add that we are really thankful for Smog Moon and anybody that takes the time to listen to us. Without people listening we are just making pointless noise.

Listen to Foxgrave at: 

smogmoonrecordings.bandcamp.com

wearefoxgrave.bandcamp.com