Local rockers Downbeat Switch have been working on their new album, Birds Eye, for a really long time. While they've been playing shows and bringing new material regularly to their devoted live following, fans listening at home have had to content themselves with 2010's Red Door Sessions for nearly three years now. Thankfully, the wait is over! Tonight at Tobacco Company, the lovely lady and fine gentlemen of Downbeat Switch will present their new album for the enjoyment of all comers!
There's a lot going on in town tonight--believe me, we know. But it's not every day that one of the hardest-working rock bands in town premieres their new album. CD copies of Birds Eye will be available for purchase at the show, and Downbeat Switch love their fans so much that they're making admission to the show free in order to leave you with more scratch in your pocket--so that you can pick up a copy of Birds Eye, of course. The full album contains an unbelievable 17 songs, which is a great deal at any price; we previewed the album's title track back in late July, but Downbeat Switch has made another new song from the album available this week. And so, just in case you need any more enticing to come out to this show tonight, here's "Inhale My Love," from Birds Eye:
While there's not that much sonic resemblance, we detect a bit of a similar lyrical theme to "Inhale My Love" as that of "Sweet Leaf" by Black Sabbath. "All you gotta do is ask for a hit of what's driving you into a trance. 'Cuz they felt it, psychedelic--it's all they think about and they can't help it. The first taste of a sweet romance, so inhale my love..." Suffice to say, this is not a song about a person. Jenna Be's gorgeous vocals do an excellent job of personifying the sticky buds as some sort of sultry temptress, though, which definitely works for us.
Downbeat Switch's gala record release party for Birds Eye kicks off tonight at 9 PM at The Tobacco Company, located at 1201 E. Cary St in Shockoe Slip. Admission is, as we mentioned, FREE, so come prepared to eat, drink, dance, and generally have a good time--and of course, bring some cash so you can grab a copy of Birds Eye! For more info, click here.