Has it really been four years? Windang’s favourite sons Hockey Dad released their last album – the ARIA #2 Brain Candy in 2020 amongst a backdrop of uncertainty. It turned out to be their biggest album yet and set them on a path of constant touring, not only in Australia, but demand for shows around the world.
Now comes the exciting news of album #4, Rebuild Repeat which will be released on 14th June 2024. It’s a body of work which sees guitarist and lead vocalist Zach Stephenson and drummer Billy Fleming stretching themselves creatively and embracing new sounds which, whilst unmistakably Hockey Dad, take the band into an invigorating new direction.
New single ‘Base Camp’ is case in point. The song, about the journey life takes and the challenges of taking those first steps of change to achieve certain milestones, was worked on with Alex Burnett (Thelma Plum, Sparkadia) and Oli Horton (Foals, Alice Ivy) who co-wrote, produced and mixed the song alongside Tim McArtney (Gang of Youths, Jarryd James). The result is a feel good melodic pop song which still sounds quintessentially Hockey Dad.
‘Still Have Room’ was first taste of Rebuild Repeat for fans which they embraced, voting the song in at #45 in triple j’s annual Hottest 100 countdown of 2023, their 8th entry over the history of the countdown.
“This album for me feels like a fresh rebirth after a muddy, hazy couple of years for us and everyone else in the world,” said Zach Stephenson. “Rebuild Repeat as a title kind of describes the process of making a new record as a band. You only have yourselves as raw materials. You knock down what you had from the past, re-design, rebuild it and repeat. Hopefully you learn some structural integrity tips along your way.”
The video for ‘Base Camp’ sees Zach and Billy revive their role from the ‘Still Have Room’ clip as down on their luck artists who are in a fight to save their creations from an eccentric art thief. Will we find the truth behind where the paintings originated? And perhaps discover the greatest super villain to ever stalk over a sleepy steel town (aka Hockey Dad bass player Steve Bourke)?
“It was great to work with Jamieson Kerr as he really brought our initial ideas into a whole new dimension and worked super hard running the shoot,” the duo said. “We had so much fun shooting this video alongside the clip for ‘Still Have Room’. Twisting the storyline between them both has been really fun and we can’t wait to see how it all goes down.”
To celebrate the release of Rebuild Repeat, Hockey Dad have announced an Australian tour which will see the band performing some of their biggest shows to date. Starting in Perth on Friday 21st June at The Rechabite before heading to Adelaide on Saturday 22nd June at Hindley Street Music Hall. Then it’s over to Brisbane on Saturday 29th June at The Fortitude Music Hall, Melbourne on 5th July at Margaret Court Arena and finishing in Sydney on Saturday 6th July at the Hordern Pavilion.