Fire in the Hero Building, Tuff Sunshine
by Tuff Sunshine
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TuffSunshine.com
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“One of the most dynamic, energizing, and altogether rousing bands out there. James Tate Meets Paul Westerberg. ”
—Stereo Embers
“[A] sound that exists outside the convenience of pigeon hole tags and pretentious micro/sub-genre adjectives.”
—Impose Magazine
“Cool NYC trio Tuff Sunshine does emotive indie fare that skillfully fuses funky soul with wiry post-punk.”
—Time Out NY
“Hey indie fans, have you met your new favorite band yet, Tuff Sunshine?”
—New Noise Magazine
“Full of enough primal energy to make Jack White smile.”
—Louder than War
“Flaunts an instantly likable style of indie rock.”
—Magnet Magazine
Fire in the Hero Building is the debut LP of Brooklyn indie-rock trio Tuff Sunshine. The band’s influences range from Classic Rock to the soulful, bluesy Stax recordings of the 60s-70s. Timeout NY calls the album “Emotive indie fare that skillfully fuses funky soul with wiry post-punk.” With a concentration on evocative lyrics and a direct, no-frills approach to production, the music is deeply engaging, catchy, genuine, and generous, and speaks to the band’s refreshing commitment to create music that defies easy categorization while remaining true to their roots.
Tuff Sunshine, Fire in the Hero Building
Johnny Leitera (vocals, guitar)
Turner Stough (bass)
Ani Cordero (vocals, drums)
Ghettoblaster: “I always loved the stories of how John Lennon would watch TV and take bits and pieces of commercials and ephemera from life around him and use that as a base for lyrics. It’s a way to have direction and still have room for your sub-conscious to work through.”
Tribune Chronicle: “I think the band is growing with every record, as I would hope would be the case. As far as sound, there is less concern to stay true to a blueprint or ‘ideal’ of what our sound is and was. With each record, I’ve been open to expanding and getting back to some of the things that I love, which means acoustic tracks, experimentation, and lots of back-up vocals and harmonies.”
We Close Tonight: “I like to think of it as “post-hip”—no concern for what’s the flavor-of-the-day and just the music we wanna make. Raw and loose, but sensitive and smart, too.”
Radio Free Brooklyn: Listen to a live performance and interview with Tuff Sunshine
Fire in the Hero Building
Fire in the hero building
Pull the pin and aim for the base
Fire in the hero building
There ain’t enough spit in all of space
Fire in the hero building
There’s nothing to see here but just in case
This is where he broke away
Fire in the hero building
Stay back and sweep from side to side
Fire in the hero building
Everyone please just step aside
Fire in the hero building
I’m so sorry ma’am we tried
But this is where he broke away
Cough Your Baby Up
Wringing my sweaty hands again my friends
Looks like the altar boy needs an ambulance
I can’t see a thing thru the dirt on these fake lense
I can’t seem to bring enough hurt to make amends
Thought I was at the end of my rope but
See, my rope it didn’t have no end so
Antennae up but pickin’ it up has been tuff
I’m chuffed it’s just off the cuff don’t sweat the small stuff
It may taste rough but enough is enough
One sweet bite from the flesh spit the fluff
Thought I was at the end of my rope but
See my rope didn’t have no end and
When I saw that it would not bend well
That’s when I had to defend
Cough yer baby up
Less dream talkin’ and more sheen rockin’
Well that’s the ghost inside the machine talkin’
So I’m walkin—and when I can’t I will trot
I’ll take the hit for the solo shot
Thought I was at the end of my rope but
See my rope it didn’t have no end and
When I saw that it would not bend well
That’s when I had to defend
Cough yer baby up
Dreamin’
If I could mix a metaphor for what we be
A balsa wood rowboat upon a stormy sea
1000 lotus feet a swaying walk of love
A lost message round the neck of a homing dove that said:
If the big cat scratch
Then we scratch right back
If the egg don’t hatch
Then we patch the crack
If the bell don’t sound
We go another round
I got lots of dreaming left to do
And all my dreaming baby includes you
Find me in the crow’s nest i will mend the sail
Some vinegar brown paper when you’re feeling pale
Right you like a pilot when you got the leans
A slip stitch when you feel you’re breaking at the seams
And if the scratch it scars
Then we connect the stars
And if the patch don’t take
Then we complete the break
And if the bell don’t ring
We’ll take another swing
I got lots of dreaming left to do
And all my dreaming baby includes you
I Was a Shaker
I can see my grandfather though my grandfather’s dead
He’s scratching off some Take-5 tickets next to my bed
His pipe is always lit and his breath smells like lead
I found I could not sleep so I joined him instead
I was a shaker I aint shakin no more
They took me in they laid me down for a time
I whittled sticks into whistles I banged on pipes like they’s chimes
They gave me lists of words and I made them all rhyme
And when I did they never even threw me a dime
A was a shaker…I aint shakin no more
Did you notice that my hips be strung together with rings?
Here I barely walkin’ don’t remember a thing
I was tore up on the sidewalk outside Mr. Bing’s
They breaking my bloodfeathers as they clippin my wings
I was a shaker…I ain’t shakin no more
Sliding Through My Hands
(Voice 1)
My arms—well they are only so strong
And my heart beats but it just can’t take your pace
See my voice it can’t do justice to your song
If your song is just an echo in some empty space
Now what used to be within sight
Seems further away than it’s ever been
And what used to seem so right
Now seems like it’s just another dream
Baby I don’t wanna lose you
But the emotions don’t ring true
Baby I ain’t here to please you
and going thru the motions is something
I won’t do
Like so many hours over time
Like some fine grains of sand
While everybody’s insisting that it’s a crime
Well I’m busy
I’m busy making other plans
And baby you are sliding through my hands
(Voice 2)
You’re not the only one
Lying staring at the ceiling
You’re not the only one
Who was hoping for something more
And I’m not the only one
With a constant sinking feeling
Waiting for love to walk on out the door
Now what used to be my bright light
Has faded to a hollow glow
And the one I used to hold tight
Has turned into someone I don’t know
Baby you are sliding thru my hands
I Complied
I took a job working down by the docks
They told me son first you will empty a box
And then you will begin to fill it up again
The first day it rained and the second day it poured
The third day the sun came out and pierced me like a sword
And then the only thing in store was clouds forever more
And I complied yes I complied
I complied yes I complied
My true heart pumping blood
To both arms swinging wide I complied
I worked myself up and I worked myself back down
I tightened it up but you see it finally came unwound
At least that’s how the dream had somehow made it seem
I lost my circulation so I tied off with a purse
I took a vow of silence and I broke it with a curse
Oh, how my knuckles creaked, oh, how my poor heart it went so weak
But I complied yes I complied
I complied yes I complied
My true heart pumping blood
To both arms swinging wide
I complied
Dynamite
Unstable maybe but who’s counting the sheets?
Prone and weeping we collect in a pool at our feet
And here’s a bet—you’ll regret
Coming home all wet and
Scraping the sawdust off of your shoes
Lighting up in the cyclical blues
Saving face—by only casually keeping pace
The sandstone may sparkle but it will never be gold
We ain’t getting wiser baby we’re just getting old
Push that old-fashioned plunger so we can explode
Dynamite
Every Saturday night we get shaking and cold
And every Sunday morning we are welcomed back into the fold
Seashells and clay we return to the mold
Dynamite
I Won’t Go That Way
There’s a thimble full of faith that keeps the boat afloat
There’s a rhythm to the rockin’ as you mine the moat
There’s a 1,000 mile spiral that we all can coast
There’s a smile going viral feeding off the host
There’s a stroke is it luck or a break in the vein?
Can you tell the difference when the face stays the same?
There’s a thimble full of faith that keeps the boat afloat
When you pinning all your hopes on a left hind foot
When you every deep breath brings a throat of soot
When the rear-view mirror is saying time has won
When the daughter brings a tear to the first born son
Is it a fit you can’t quit or a fit to be tied?
Will you make it worth the while that the rabbit done died?
When you pinning all your hopes on a left hind foot
But I won’t go that way
No I won’t go that way
As you spinning ever slower as you head toward the pole
As you grinning while they lower you down into the hole
As you were to be sure for the final salute
As you dazzle from your birthday to your 3-piece suit
What keeps the heartbeat so goddamn sure?
What the meets the shaky feet at the hardwood floor?
As you spinning ever slower as you head toward the pole
But I won’t go that way
Rattlin’ Man
I recommend that you don’t take my advice
If you do not want to make the same mistake twice
I’m wading deeper see me up to my neck
I’m playing doctor I’m a nervous wreck
Im a rattlin’ man
Please sink your teeth friend into what is true
Before I get the chance mate to sink mine into you
I’m wading deeper see me up to chin
I’m playing operator as I’m phonin’ it in
I’m a rattlin’ man
Won’t you take this offering? Won’t you take my keys?
Smite me right here in my prime for doing what I please
I’m wading deeper see me over my head
I’m playing three chords and me I’m playing dead
Soundwaves
Make the caged animal feel free
Make the static sound like wind through the trees
Make the jaded heart believe
Hear the ocean’s roar in each shattered breath
We’re riding the waves and we’re cheating death
Tell me are we far because I’m seeing stars
Following soundwaves past the horizon line
break down the gates to paradise
Following soundwaves past the horizon line
break down the gates
What may seem like madness
is a steady resolve to mine through the darkness
and find the beauty in it all
Make a moment’s relief from all that we find
As we’re following soundwaves
Past the horizon line
Break down the gates to paradise
Following soundwaves past the horizon line
Break down the gates
All songs © 2017 Leitera/Cordero/Stough/Yinz Playin’ Music?
(BMI)