Marin's psych-rock band Milk For The Angry is never lacking creativity in pretty much everything that they do, so much so that I’d even credit them as being an “art-rock” band. So when this bunch of freaky-weirdo-artsy-geeks gets together to make a music video, you know it’s going to be pretty epic.
Milk For The Angry’s latest music video (their 11th!) for the song “Doors Of Dismay” is the first single release from their upcoming album Free Gold Sunday, due this Spring.
For “Doors Of Dismay”, MFTA utilized multiple locations to film the “going through the door” imagery, dragging said heavy wooden door around the Bay Area for the shooting; San Quentin Beach, the MFTA studio, The Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, Mt. Tamalpais, China Camp, the funeral home Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, Druid Heights and many other nooks, crannies, and alleyways around the Bay Area.
MFTA prides itself on making DIY videos; filming, and editing the old-school way. “No CGI, just splicing out a certain area of footage and replacing it with the following scene”, states ringleader Dana Lindstrom. “The movement had to be consistent too, meaning we had to keep track of how fast the camera moved into the next world and at what angle. Lots of failed attempts.”
“The workflow has always been that I come up with some ideas, figure out how to logistically pull them off, and then my friend Will Rushton comes out to film and expand on concepts. He’s great, he oozes creativity and has an eye for making things pop on camera. He also does all the editing and that’s another huge aspect of the excitement.”
“Each video is different and everyone who’s involved helps in one way or another. Just showing up is huge. I’ve got to give a big thanks, hug, kiss, and shout out to my favorite person and girlfriend Angela Cieslewitz, who’s been there for every video in one way or another and always helps in a huge way.”
The video for “Doors Of Dismay” pulls off the vibe of a dreamy reality with the psychedelic riffs of the song leading us the way through the visual journey. The band took brilliance to another level by incorporating the incredible clay masks of local artist Rachel Pozivenec, which transformed the band members into the magic beings that lead us through the doors and the journey through the video.
The song "Doors Of Dismay", (performed in the video with Lindstrom on guitar and vocals, Natasha Bailey on drums, John Varn tinkling the keys, and Michael Masters on bass), is really epic, and the imagery the band uses to convey the story of the song is well suited.
“With a song like this where the topic isn't very clear, it slowly develops meaning for me over time”, states Lindstrom of his song crafting. “This one makes me think about leaving my body, experiencing new planes that are out of my vocabulary, and pushing into them with more curiosity than fear. This can also go with the idea of different ‘chapters' in life. I think about how my life felt 5 years ago. Totally different! A whole different theme, quality, and feeling to it. It really feels like a different world. Like most of my songs, I’ve never had luck trying to write a song about something. The words might start with vowels, then progress to words, then form an idea, then I find the missing puzzle pieces. I think Keith Richards coined a process similar to this 'vowel movement,' and that has always resonated with me and made me laugh”.
When you watch the video and listen to the song, you can’t help but allow your mind to become part of this fantastic reality MFTA is creating. You want to follow the masked being and dive through those doors of dismay and see what is there for you.