As band names go, Aree and the Pure Heart is as close to truth in advertising as they come. The Atlanta foursome write earnest melodic punk screeds and deliver them with honest, heartfelt passion. Their new EP is even called Heartsongs for godssake. Given the cloud of gloom currently hanging over the nation, part of me wants to dismiss this kind of dogged romanticism as incredibly naïve, but that’s the thing about bands like this: they don’t write songs to chase trends or to satisfy any sort of outside influence. They write, play, and sing with heart-on-sleeve intensity because they can’t do it any other way. If “American Love” reveals anything about the group, it’s exactly this. Directed by Patrick Elias, the video is a bare-bones, black and white affair that relies on the song’s singalong hooks and the band’s spirited energy to carry the day. It’s simple and sincere, and these days a bit of forthrightness can feel pretty radical.
Aree and the Pure Heart will perform on Sunday, December 18 at the Masquerade (Purgatory) in support of the Ataris. The Sunsets will open the show. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $12. All Ages.
More Info
Bandcamp: areeandthepureheart.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @Areeandthepureheart
Instagram: @areepureheart
Twitter: @Areepureheart