Releases Friday, January 17, 2025

In the early 1970s, whenever Jolene came on the AM car radio, my parents would turn up the volume and hush us, saying, “That’s your Uncle Chip playing!” The iconic finger-picked guitar on Dolly Parton’s classic was performed by none other than my uncle, Chip Young (aka Jerry Stembridge). Before his passing in 2015, I was lucky enough to hear him play the song a couple times at family reunions. Despite his incredible career, he downplayed it around us – he was always just Uncle Chip to us.

Our version of Jolene takes a different direction from Ms. Parton’s somewhat upbeat original, highlighting the longing and emotional insecurity embedded in the lyrics. We made slight embellishments with Ms. Parton’s lyrics, giving a more modern, and inclusive feel to them.

This video flips the script on emotional struggles, focusing on growth instead of despair. It doesn’t directly touch on polyamory, but it could totally spark convos about relationships and how different approaches, like polyamory, can change the way we see new starts and healthy endings. Rather than spiraling into isolation, the main character chooses peace and moves forward on their own terms.

Credits

• Song: Jolene
• Written by: Dolly Parton
• Originally performed by: Dolly Parton
• Cover performed by: Tears for the Dying (appearing in this video: Adria Stembridge and Joshua Broughton)
• Cover mixed and mastered by: Jason NeSmith and Chase Park Transduction

Video Team

• Director: Franky Villanueva
• Producer/Cinematographer: Blake Pipes
• Makeup Artist: Harmony Kubiak

Actors

• Andi Stanesic
• Kat Williams
• Trevor Aeon
• Page Dukes
• Seren Dickson
• Sebastian Valdivia
• Lilia Reyna
• Lewis Bello
• Eden

Special Acknowledgment

In memory of Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young)

Thanks so much for the shoutout @ByCandlelight666 🖤🗝 Truly honored to be included as a Favorite Album of 2024 alongside so many incredible bands – including The Cure!

As 2024 comes to a close, we can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey this year has taken us on. From intimate shows in cozy venues to unforgettable nights in cities we’ve grown to love, every performance was made special by you, the faces close to the stage, the voices singing with us, and the energy we felt together.

We’re grateful for every stage we stepped on, every mile we traveled, and every new connection we made along the way. To the venues that hosted us, the bands we shared the stage with, and especially to you, our supporters, thank you for keeping the fire burning.

This year, we released our latest record, In the Shadow of the Midnight Sun—our first vinyl! We also debuted a beautifully edited video for “Higanbana,” created by our talented friends Blake Pipes @blakepipes and Franky Villanueva @frankymornings.

I was especially moved by the stories many of you shared with me across our travels this past year. Thank you for being you. 🫶🏻

Special thanks to Cody White @rockandrollwontdie, Page Dukes @pagedukes, Joshua Broughton @diver.josh.b, Jack Long @rockyroadtouring, as well as Adam Hebert, @bagoflazers and Audey, Tom Ashton @subvontom, Jason NeSmith @casperfandango, Flagpole @flagpolemagazine, Sam Lipkin @piecesofcrap, Johnny Ray @johnnyray_athensga, Dusty Gannon @visionvideoband, March Briner @djdeadparrott, Dave Bats @theedavebats (among a long list of dark scene DJs), Andre Bagus Prasetho @deepless.depressed, Tomasz Woodraf @batcaveprod, William Zimmerman @mooncoilmedia, Suzi Sabotage @suzisabotage, Ken Magerman @kenmagerman and @soundsandshadows for all the various support and encouragement you’ve given both us and to the scene at large.

Here’s to the incredible moments we shared together and the ones waiting ahead. See you in 2025.

#gratitude #darkscene #gothmusic #deathrock #gothrock #postpunk #darkwave #batcave #gothicrock #gothscene #deathrockrevival #gothcommunity #diygoth #transmusic #queermusician #transmusician #transgoth #80sgoth #oldschoolgoth #gothicsubculture #athensga #athensgamusic #deathrockband #tearsforthedying

Here are a few BTS shots from an upcoming video with a special guest appearance from our former bandmate, Joshua Broughton. Video direction, editing and filming by Franky Villanueva and Blake Pipes. Makeup by Harmony Kubiak MUA.

Please give a warm welcome to our new bandmate @pagedukes! We’ve been friends since our roller derby days 🛼, and we share similar passions in social justice. I’m so excited for you to see us together on our upcoming fall dates!

Fri, Oct 25 – Athens GA @ 40 Watt for Southern Gothic Festival – advance tickets
Fri, Nov 1 – Columbia SC @ Art Bar
Wed, Nov 13 – Charlotte NC @ Snug Harbor – advance tickets
Thu, Nov 14 – Greenville SC @ Velo Fellow with Nightsweat and DJ D / Dark Entries Dance Night
Fri, Nov 15 – Durham NC @ The Pinhook with Idol Talk – advance tickets
Thu, Dec 5 – Tallahassee FL @ The Bark with Candle Wishes and Degenerate State
Fri, Dec 6 – Lakeland FL @ The Barter Box with KT Kink, TV Extra, and Layne Lyre – advance tickets
Sat, Dec 7 – Jacksonville FL @ Underbelly with Last Grasp – advance tickets
Fri, Dec 13 – Asheville NC @ 27 Club with Feyleux
Sat, Dec 21 – Atlanta GA @ Boggs Social and Supply with Feyleux and Tokyo Teens – advance tickets

Photo by Mike White and Deadly Designs

Stoked to announce our fall tour across NC, SC, GA, and FL! 🦇
See you in the shadows very soon!! 🖤⚰️🥀

Fri, Oct 25 – Athens GA @ 40 Watt for Southern Gothic Festival – advance tickets
Fri, Nov 1 – Columbia SC @ Art Bar
Wed, Nov 13 – Charlotte NC @ Snug Harbor – advance tickets
Thu, Nov 14 – Greenville SC @ Velo Fellow and Dark Entries Dance Night
Fri, Nov 15 – Durham NC @ The Pinhook – advance tickets
Thu, Dec 5 – Tallahassee FL @ The Bark
Fri, Dec 6 – Lakeland FL @ The Barter Box – advance tickets
Sat, Dec 7 – Jacksonville FL @ Underbelly – advance tickets
Fri, Dec 13 – Asheville NC @ 27 Club
Sat, Dec 21 – Atlanta GA @ Boggs Social and Supply with Feyleux and Tokyo Teens – advance tickets

video by @spooniedreadful

We’re excited to return to this year’s Southern Gothic Festival right here in our hometown of Athens, GA on October 25. We’re performing alongside a stellar lineup of goth and post-punk bands such as The March Violets and Korine and many others. Tickets will sell out, so get yours today before that happens! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-southern-gothic-festival-two-day-ticket-tickets-844696669477

 

Oct 25 lineup: The March Violets Korine House of Harm Tears for the Dying Panic Priest Miss Cherry Delight Vincas

Oct 26 lineup: The Chameleons Deciets Vision Video

We recently collaborated with Adoration Destroyed on an gothic dance remix of our song Higanbana (from In the Shadow of the Midnight Sun). We hope you enjoy this high energy version as much as we do!

Listen/buy here:
https://tearsforthedying.bandcamp.com/track/higanbana-adoration-destroyed-remixx

“Higanbana” hits deep, exploring the feelings that come with facing a sudden health crisis. It talks about accepting that moving on is a natural and beautiful part of life, but also feeling the sadness of dreams left behind. Instead of seeing it as the end, “Higanbana” celebrates crossing over as the beginning of a new journey.

Yet, even in the darkest of hours, we can make a difference in the world.

Song by Tears for the Dying (Stembridge/Broughton/Payne)
Originally released 2024 via “In the Shadow of the Midnight Sun”
Audio mixed and mastered by Jason Nesmith
Video Director: Blake Pipes
Video Assistant Director: Franky Villanueva
Video Editor: Blake Pipes

Cody and I are finally back home in Athens after our East Coast tour supporting Vision Video and Aurelio Voltaire. We are tending to our human and plant babies respectively, and getting much needed rest. What an incredible set of shows!!

Today we are filled with gratitude and thanks for everyone who came out to dance and scream with us these past two weeks. Your energy was felt and heard, and we appreciated each and every one of you 🖤

Real talk, I was powering through Tour Crud ᵗᵐ on the road. I was barely able to talk by the time we rolled into Atlanta, let alone sing. I picked up the bass and gave everything I had.

The energy Atlanta brought gave us was off the charts and helped us so fucking much. We love all of our audiences, but last night was special.

ngl I probably also cried a little while talking with lovely fans after our homecoming show at @masquerade_atl last night. There were so many of you, and I wish we’d had more time to spend together. I was overwhelmed in a very good kind of way with all of your stories. Thank you so much for being you.

Queer and trans visibility is so fucking important, and ESPECIALLY in these times we live today.

If it’s okay for an aging deathrocker to say, I feel utterly blessed today. Thank you all.

I mean the ONLY thing that coulda been better would’ve been if @dollyparton happened to show up at @canneryhallnashville to hop up and sing our goth cover of her song. I hope Uncle Chip was filled with pride as he watched our performance from the great beyond, wherever and whatever that is.

Thank you so much for welcoming us into your cities and clubs. It was an amazing time and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Special thanks to @visionvideoband Dusty, Emily, Ryan, and Chris the merch guy and sound tech – ya’ll are inspirational and work so fucking hard at every show – @aureliovoltaire, @thencomessilence Alex, Jonas and Hugo – all of ya’ll rocked so hard these past couple of weeks! Also, thanks to Andrew, Joady and Jack at @rockyroadtouring for helping coordinate all of this for us!

#athensga #athensgamusic #goth #postpunk #deathrock #gothmusician #eastcoasttour #tour #transvisibility #autisticmusician #gratitude #dollyparton