“Wait until the cows come home to roost/ for the semi-final round of duck duck goose/ for the patent on a new kind of abuse,” sings Daniel Hales, having some fun with word play on the song “Lion in Wait” off the new Frost Heaves and Hales EP, “Ghost of a Chance to the Shadow of a Doubt.” The song deals with waiting, which is fitting, since it was written around 2003 and Hales has waited a long time to record it.
“All the songs on this EP have been around in some form for at least 20 years,” singer/songwriter and guitarist Daniel Hales told Sounds Local. “Of all the songs I’ve written, these are some of my favorites and it felt very important to refine and hone every aspect till they were as strong and sharp as possible before releasing them.”
The Frost Heaves and Hales will celebrate the release of “Ghost of a Chance to the Shadow of a Doubt” with two free shows this weekend.
The first will be on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Luthier’s Co-op, 108 Cottage St. in Easthampton. The second show will be on Sunday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Lady Killigrew Cafe in the Montague Bookmill.
And Hales and the band haven’t overlooked that the new CD arrives on Halloween weekend, so the show at Luthier’s Co-op will double as a Halloween party. If you show up in costume you will get a free download code for the new EP (and a prize will also be awarded for best costume.)
The Greenfield-based Frost Heaves and Hales also includes bassist James Lowe and drummer Brian Canning. This EP, however, was recorded with their previous drummer Brian DiPippo, and they received some additional help from guitarists Dan Mickus and Noah Dowd. Chris Goudreau provides some operatic backing vocals on “Lion in Wait.”
The record kicks off with “Losing My Mind,” a song Hales wrote in 2009 after suffering a broken wrist and fearing he’d never play guitar again. (He wrote the music on a bass guitar held in his lap.) What starts out as an easygoing pop tune anchored by Lowe’s plucky bass line, is soon taken to another level when DiPippo’s drumming explodes, transforming the tune into a gritty, punkish tune.
It was Hales belief that DiPippo had the power and precision in his playing to be the perfect drummer for these songs, and that was a big factor in them finally being recorded. DiPippo had to leave the band due to other musical and family commitments, but the Frost Heaves have made a smooth transition to the “equally brilliant percussive” Brian Canning.
While their music has often defied easy pigeonholing, with “The Ghost of a Chance to a Shadow of the Doubt” Frost Heaves and Hales have released their most rocking release to date, lacing these songs about frustrations, fears and life’s challenges with plenty of propulsive drums and memorable guitar riffs.
There’s a musical twist around every corner, be it powerful tom-tom drumming on “Swept Downstream,” the jarring tempo shift heard on “Lion in Wait,” or the free-flowing garage band freak-out that ends the disc on “The Drifter.”
“Our last few releases have showcased more of our eclectic variety and nuance, but for a while now we have wanted to put out something that unapologetically rocked out and let our grungy freak-flag fly,” explained Hales.
“These songs also have a thematic cohesion that binds them together,” Hales added. “One of those themes is waiting, biding your time, but without losing your edge or passion. It feels like a solid five-song manifesto.”
Whether he’s writing about Alice in Wonderland (“Contrariwise”) or dealing with personal loss (“Unstable Oscillators”) Hales is a talented wordsmith who is also a published poet who released his most recent book “How to Tie & Untie Mist” this past May. His lyrics are always carefully crafted and rich in imagery, often subject to the interpretation of the listener. But some of the lyrics here are more direct and far angrier than we’ve heard from Hales in the past.
“If the Prince of the Proud Boys would just shut his piehole/He’d speak a lot less racism, ignorance and bile,” he sings on the raw rocker “If Mosquitoes Had Souls,” a song with the kind of heaviness that demands it be played loud.
“Yeah, there’s a lot to be angry about these days, and ‘Mosquitoes’ and ‘Lion in Wait’ in particular touch on a lot of the biggest things that outrage me daily,” he said. “It’s cathartic to have an outlet for some of that rage.”
Come hear some rage and more when Frost Heaves and Hales takes the stage this weekend.
“Ghost of a Chance to the Shadow of a Doubt” is available on bandcamp.com or you can purchase a limited edition CD at the shows. For more information, visit thefrostheaves.com
A Concert and Dance for Justice with Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem will bring their blend of American roots music to the to the Shelburne/Buckland Community Center, 53 Main St. in Shelburne Falls on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. This show is a fundraiser to support immigrants, their families and western Mass residents “impacted by the injustices of ICE.”
This community-driven event is being hosted by West County Climate Circle, Sheburne Falls Welcome Committee, and Immigration Rights Task Force of FCCPR.
Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem are longtime area favorites who have released seven albums on the local Signature Sounds label. The roots quartet are known for their uplifting music that blends folk, bluegrass, gospel and swing. Add to that their sweet harmonies and great rhythms, and you are in for a magical night of music that is all for a good cause.
Tickets are $15 and more if you can as all contributions will make a big difference in the lives of local immigrants. Advance tickets available at https://fccpr.us/november-1-2025-benefit-concert-dance/
More Music News
This weekend is Halloween and the biggest costume party in the area is happening at Incandescent Brewing Company in Bernardston on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. Jimmy Just Quit will be on hand playing all the hits and more from the 1970s to today. Prizes will be awarded for the best costume.
You can pick up your discounted friends and family Green River Festival tickets on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Iron Horse in Northampton whey they host a pop up box office from noon to 5 p.m. These will be sold with reduced fees or no fees if you are paying in cash. The festival will be held June 19-21 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, lineup announcement is coming soon.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., Christopher Elliott will host a listening party for his soon to be released doom folk EP, “Everything is Not Going to be Alright,” from his side project, Buzzard. To join in and hear the EP and hang with Elliott just go to bandcamp.com and search Buzzard.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.