Frog, a band made up of musically-talented brothers Daniel and Steve Bateman, have released their folksy single “New Ro”– a bittersweet love letter to their hometown New Rochelle.
Frog’s upcoming album, Grog, is an eclectic and creative LP showcasing both of the brothers’ musical talents, and how they’re even stronger together. Preceding their album is a series of singles, including their newest, “New Ro.”
This single is another wild left turn from the unpredictable duo, following “Black on Black on Black” (sounding like a Jonathan Richman attempt at a Hall & Oates banger) and “Maybelline” (a song which was formed in a dream, as screamed by Bruce Springsteen), which was featured by Pitchfork, Stereogum and has reached #2 in the Hype Machine Popular Now chart. “New Ro” is a bittersweet love letter to the brothers’ hometown, New Rochelle, New York.
I don’t know if there’s relevant subtext for ‘New Ro,’ besides the obvious–Steve and I both grew up in New Rochelle, we went to New Rochelle High School, we recorded the entire album at our mom’s house in New Rochelle, we’re New Ro boys. The town’s got a lot of charm, if you know where to look. Some years ago they changed the tagline of the city from ‘Queen City of the Sound’, which ruled, to ‘Ideally Yours’, which…I’m not even sure what that is. There’s signs everywhere saying: ‘New Rochelle, Ideally Yours.’
Daniel Bateman, Frog
“New Ro” is a funky tune that is the embodiment of the good vibes of Kermit The Frog, which certainly works in their favor. It also has elements of “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons because of the fast, upbeat rhythm and acoustic backup.
The vocals are particularly striking, as a couple minutes into the track, they go into a very high register– and pull it off.
While a nostalgic song, the lyrics don’t hide anything: they delve into the good and bad of Frog’s home town, and that makes it all the more realistic and vivid. “…Take me home, north on the Anne Hutchinson // Through the Bronx, back to the place where we’re from // Where the girls they put out in a car // And the waitresses all got a scar // New Rochelle New York…”
New Rochelle should really consider changing their tagline from “Ideally Yours” to one lyric of Frog’s: “Take me home,” as it doesn’t sound like an ‘ideal’ home (does one really exist?), but it’s certainly their home nonetheless– and they love it regardless of whatever unideal aspects come with it.
Frog’s album launch of Grog will take place on the record’s release date (November 17) with a performance at YoFi Fest 11 in Yonkers, New York. This live show will be accompanied by a screening of their “Kings of Blah” UK tour documentary.
For more information, follow Frog on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and stream their music on Bandcamp or Spotify.
