Genre-bending indie band The High Plains Drifters have released the first single “Since You’ve Been Gone” off their forthcoming second album about love and loss. The track, which tiptoes between neon synths, airy bass, and a glitchy beat, was inspired by a particularly painful breakup when frontman Larry Studnicky was still young enough to believe in the theory of the ‘one and only’. His girl dumped him, broke his heart, and forever disabused him of that notion but the pain inspired “Since You’ve Been Gone” and captures the utter feeling of disbelief after your significant other leaves.
“With Valentine’s Day coming up, the new High Plains Drifters single, ‘Since You’ve Been Gone,’ is for everyone who’s had their hearts ripped out of their chests and stomped on by the person they wrongly believed was THE ONE and couldn’t admit to their friends what had happened for the longest time,” shared Studnicky. “Thank God we learn from those mistakes! The song is a great introduction to the sound that’s prevalent on our forthcoming 2nd album.”
The High Plains Drifters were sired after a night of too much booze and too little food at a Tex-Mex spot in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea. Fast forward a few years and they boast one fan-favorite album—2019’s High Plains Drifters – and the critical acclaim of press and radio.
The group, led by frontman Larry Studnicky [lead vocals, lyricist], includes John Macom [rhythm/electric guitars, lead/backup vocals], Mike DoCampo [rhythm/electric guitars, backup vocals], Kyle Cassel [drums, backup vocals], Charles Czarnecki [keys, accordion, backup vocals], and Dave Richards [bass, backup vocals]. Their new release ups the ante with a bevy of undeniably catchy anthems about love and loss that fall somewhere between The Eagles and New Order, with more surprises to come.
Preceding the album, they closed out 2020 with the hilarious and hyper-charged renegade Christmas carol “Santa! Bring My Girlfriend Back!” In addition to widespread support from Amazon and Spotify, Harper’s Bazaar touted it among “16 Funny Christmas Songs That Will Add Some Cheer to This Dreadful Year” and Spotify’s Listrionics podcast heralded the tune as “one of the five best Xmas and holiday songs that were released” in 2020.
In the end, The High Plains Drifters roll through your speakers with one purpose. “When one of our songs does its job, you’ll relate,” Studnicky adds. “They’re often about relationships, love lost, and love found. Within three-to-four minutes, I’m telling a mini-narrative that is an actual story with some drama to it. I hope you go, ‘Yeah, that’s happened to me’.”