GREAT APES: Careless Whisper 🎷🤫

And a Happy New Year 🥳

Well, 2024 was not the best calendar — most people agree on that. There was war, there was record heat and flooding, passenger jets fell apart mid-flight, Putin murdered Navalny, Americans elected a felon president while French and German government coalitions collapsed, and Deadpool vs Wolverine succeeded at the box office. Yet, as we gaze back upon this smoldering landscape, we can’t help but smile.

That’s because for We Are Scientists, as you know, 2024 was very fine indeed. Much of it was spent at home in New York City, writing and honing and recording new music — our choicest work yet, as you’ll soon discover. And we celebrated an exalted history, first with a 10th anniversary reissue of TV en Français, then a 16th anniversary reissue of Brain Thrust Mastery. Sixteen being a critically important birthday in many cultures, we tacked on a tour for B.T.M., tapping NYC bosses Zeno Pittarelli and Sean McVerry to swell our on-stage footprint 66% — W.A.S. got thicc.

So as much of the planet limps, injured, into 2025, we, though not unsympathetic, have a bounce in our step. We hope and believe that as new tragedies unfold, our effect on the world, though minor, will be to improve it. We hope and believe that most of you, our cherished readers, will be able to say the same thing. (We don’t kid ourselves — a readership this size is almost certain to include apologists for Deadpool vs Wolverine.) It’s easy in a world so vast and complex to lose agency, or to feel that you have. But all that is needed from any of us, really, is the occasional “small, good thing,” in Carver’s words. And who lacks the agency for that? Why all it takes, to highlight a recent case, is remembering that the guy you brought on tour to play keys and a bit of sax is coming over for cocktails at 4, so why not record a casual little cover of “Careless Whisper”?

Take a listen, and notice that over the next five minutes, the world gets a little better.

Zeno on bass, Keith on guitar, Chris on mobile mic, and Sean on saxophone.

They say playing the sax is like riding a bike. People absolutely DO say that. Last time I picked up a saxophone outside of this Brain Thrust Tour (and this C.W. cover of course) it was to play a solo on the song “Lowrider” by WAR in my high school jazz band concert. They didn’t even have craft cocktails at that thing — a laughable event. If my band teacher Mr. D’angelo could see me now, sitting inexplicably on the arm of Keith Murray’s couch (sort of) playing the classic lead line on this George Michael song, I think he’d be proud. Possibly. He was always mixed on my tone and ability in general, but that’s for another time.

- Sean McVerry

“Careless Whisper” has always been humankind’s Saxophone Honking Acme Moment for me. Some people argue that Baker Street takes the SHAM title. I simply can’t countenance that. Has Sean McVerry ever honked up a rendition of Baker Street? If he has, please don’t tell me. Too much of my personality is invested in believing that Carless Whisper is the truest SHAM.

- Keith Murray

Playing “Careless Whisper” alongside my favorite friends, after drinking a multitude of Keith Murray’s artisanal Applejack cocktails, was pure bliss. I don’t think I’ll ever be that happy in my life again. Sean sure can honk the sax, too.

- Zeno Pittarelli

I knew that what was happening was a small, good thing that would improve the world or whatever it says up at the top of this post. But I was terrified that I would drop the phone I was using to mic sound, because of the innovative and courageous approach I took, which involved moving it around the room to capture the most important moments from each instrument. There was also the chance of accidentally touching the “record” button again and stopping the recording. We got very lucky that day, and as my dad says, it’s better to be lucky than to be good.

- Chris Cain

A couple of shots from the crowd taken at 2024’s last concert…

The photo pit (in no particular order): JC, James Pineda, Fabian Patino, Jon Kaufman, Cindy Dice, Jeuz Salvacruz, John-Luis Moretti, Sebastian Gutierrez, Top Ama.

Thanks for coming out to shows, subscribing to the newsletter, ordering the tee, streaming the tunes, gasing up the car, cleaning your room, voting your conscience, and doing your best. See you next year.

🏁,

Chris & Keith