The New York City post-punk revival pioneers Firewater take on Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime” as a comment on the political climate in the U.S. This single announces the bands return to the scene after a decade long hiatus.
The cover captures the spirit of the Talking Heads original while putting Firewater’s own post-punk flare on it. The moody vocal performance and the twang of the banjo add an unexpected, distinctive touch that gives the song a character of its own.
Firewater’s “Life after Wartime” isn’t a note for note tribute, but instead sounds like a band that understands why the song matters and insists on making in their own.
Formed in 1995 by Tod A, this approach reflects Firewater’s musical history. Tod A has built a career on exploring familiar material through darker, edgier lenses. A song about unease and survival under pressure suits a band whose own lyrics are politically infused and haunted by mortality.
The track will not appear on their upcoming album Bad Jazz. It’s absence on the album makes it a standalone statement, but certainly a good teaser for what is to come for Firewater. The choice of a New York-bred classic indicates that the upcoming album will be a return to Tod A and Firewater’s NYC punk roots.
Bad Jazz will be released December 11 via Pravda Records.
Listen to Firewater’s “Life During Wartime” below.
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