Every crisis calls for an escape plan. Always look for exit stairwells, in case of a fire; always check your rear and side view mirrors, in case you have to veer out of someone’s way. But not every imminent disaster throws up thick smoke at the onset. Fumes trickle through the vents, in corners you can’t see from your elevation. Any student of the Holocaust could’ve told you that, sure—yet, as walls physical and metaphorical begin to divide the folks of this country, do we wait in their shadows or turn tail? Scale that down: Suddenly, after two years of hope and hermitage, you’re stranded in a city with nothing but yr dwindled savings and an iron-clad lease.

“We could leave today.” That’s what Flamingo Shadow propose, and you’re inclined to believe them with the rocket propulsion behind their new single “Black Cloud.” “I got the shirt on my back / some money in the bank.” And yet, for all the Arctic Monkeys-sized pyrotechnics, thumping hand drums, and groovy tension that jet this forward, vocalist Madeline Adams never reveals if the getaway pans out. Even as they crank up the heat, and guitars ricochet into riots, all that’s left is just the impending dread. Boy, it’s a hoot, but I can’t help but wonder if I’ve overlooked my own black cloud.

“The song was born from our anxiety-ridden conversations about the state of the nation,” Adams explains. “Late nights asking ourselves what it would take to flee the country. By the time it was bad enough to leave, would it be too late? … These are dark times we’re living in. How could it not affect your work?”

“Black Cloud” is the latest single from the group’s upcoming first full length Earth Music. Although a release date remains in the air, we’ve learned that the LP should expand their coiled rock frenzy, crystalized two years ago on their Vibe Control EP. According to Adams, the album will draw on everything from Riot Grrl punk to kraut rock and reggae, with the band’s kinetic verve serving as the unifying element.

“The thread that ties it all together is a sense of momentum,” Adams reveals. “If it doesn’t move your hips, it doesn’t make the cut.”

Flamingo Shadow will perform on Sat., May 19 at the 529. Joining them will be Smoke Bellow and Sisterwife with DJ Sweater Summer spinning after the bands. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8-10. 21+ to enter.

More Info
Web: flamingoshadow.com
Bandcamp: flamingoshadow.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @flamingoshadow
Instagram: @flamingoshadow
SoundCloud: @flamingo-shadow
Twitter: @flamingo_shadow