Robotic Hawks take a cue from perspective on the driving ‘Minnesota Fats’
New Hampshire power-pop trio unveil inspired new EP on Friday, March 31
Robotic Hawks play The Square Root in Boston the night of the EP release
LISTEN TO ROBOTIC HAWKS: BANDCAMP // SPOTIFY
HUDSON, N.H. [March 31, 2023] -- Only Robotic Hawks can whip up infectious power-pop about self-validation and perspective in the name of a legendary, larger-than-life pool hustler. But that’s what’s at play in the driving and anthemic “Minnesota Fats,” the title track to a new three-track EP that hits streams and screens on Friday, March 31, the day the New Hampshire rock and roll trio return to Boston to play live at The Square Root in Roslindale. The EP also features new original “Turn Away” and a cover of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers’ “I’m Not Your Man.”
It’s only fitting that “Minnesota Fats,” the single, arrives on the same day as a live show, as few songs in the trio’s tidal wave of new music since 2021 represent the live dynamo that is Robotic Hawks on stage. In fact, “Minnesota Fats” was road tested all over New England for more than a year after the band dedicated to put it on record, brought to life at the band’s rehearsal space in Hudson, New Hampshire, to capture its relentless live essence. It was then produced, mixed, and mastered by Andrew King, whose nine-year-old daughter Lily provides the instantly-memorable “na-na-na” backing vocals.
“On the surface,” says Robotic Hawks’ Tyler Pollard, “the song is about real life ‘pool hustler’ Rudolf Wanderone a.k.a. ‘Minnesota Fats’. Fats had a complicated relationship with his skillset and fame. Building on the success of the Jackie Gleason film The Hustler, Wanderone altered his original nickname of ‘New York Fats’ to ‘Minnesota’ in hopes of widening his legend and ultimately tying his legacy to audiences’ instant connection to Gleason’s character. Wanderone was convinced that ‘Fats’ was based on his life regardless of the film writer’s denial. When a gift or ability defines your purpose or meaning, how much validation does one truly need?”
Pollard adds: “I felt the story served as a great parallel to the struggles of musicians and artists. To non-artists, lack of financial success or global domination represents failure, losing. However, to me, I’m still here, I’m still playing and writing music that I’m proud of, which overrides that negative expectation/perception. Music is my purpose and my unwillingness to stop doing it makes me a winner. So, I guess ‘Fats’ is really about self-awareness, self-validation, ownership, and perspective. All artists are losers and winners, depending on who you ask.”
And much like the real-life Minnesota Fats, this new single finds Robotic Hawks on a winning streak. The last of the band’s batch of songs demoed during the 2020 Covid lockdowns, and first since last spring’s hopeful “Gravity” single, “Minnesota Fats” is positioned for those listening on headphones to get a taste of how the band rolls in a live setting. And the EP artwork is equally eye-catching, created by David SanAngelo, a ‘Society of Illustrators’ award-winning illustrator and an Emmy-nominated director of children's animated shows.
“‘Minnesota Fats’ is a freight train that aims to run you over,” says Pollard. “I think people tend to underestimate these three old bald guys, but ‘Fats’ should shake those notions. I think we’re doing something rather unique in the current landscape and I think that ‘Fats’ shows all of our sides. The song is powerful, fast paced, pounding, unrelenting and most of all, catchy.”
That’s been true of all the Robotic Hawks’ output in recent years, earning airplay across New England’s electric online radio circuit and on global platforms like SiriusXM’s Underground Garage. But while the past four single releases have used a familiar approach of pairing one original and one cover (like R.E.M.’s “Superman” and Agent Orange’s “Fire In The Rain”, not to mention 2021’s rendition of “Security,” the Otis Redding classic made famous by Thane Russal And Three), this release stacks the deck even higher. There’s the raucous alt-rock swing of “Turn Away,” a worthy single in its own right, and the Hawks’ inspired and bluesy take on Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers’ 1986 lost gem “I’m Not Your Man.”
“Turn Away” is about the emotional exit from a relationship that is full of contradictions, and how one can let that overall chaos and indecision lead to paralysis. “What I like most about the song is the juxtaposition of a cheery sounding rock song colored by a broken character comedically losing his shit,” Pollard quips.
The seeds of the Conwell cover were first planted back when Pollard worked at Record World in Connecticut in the ‘80s, and was allowed to take home a free promo album featuring the track, ultimately playing the tape bare. He recently sent the final mix of the Hawks’ cover to his then record store manager Tom, who approved of the band’s efforts.
“I suppose the common thread for all three of these songs would be knowing where to draw the line in your relationships with yourself and with others,” Pollard concludes. “I think our collective intent was to simply bookend this particular phase. More so than the previous releases, we hope that this EP will motivate new people to come out and see us… We would really love the opportunity to punch you in the face with our full-throttle rock n’ roll.”
Robotic Hawks are:
Tyler Pollard - vocals + bass
Brian Sturk - drums
Shawn Doherty - guitar
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All music recorded by Robotic Hawks at their practice place in Nashua, New Hampshire
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Andrew King
Backing vocals on ‘Turn Away’ by Andrew King
Backing vocals on ‘Minnesota Fats’ by Andrew King & Lily King
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The music of Robotic Hawks has been heard and featured on:
The Rodney Bingenheimer Show on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage; Eat This Music; Blood Makes Noise; Bay State Rock; Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood; Your First Listen on Ken’s FM; Belter Radio (UK); Christian’s Cosmic Corner, Marc’s Alt-Rock Playground, and Original Music Showcase on Mark Skin Radio; BumbleBee Radio; Fuzzed Out on WZBC; Tinnitist; Citywide Blackout: Ricky’s Daily Bangers; Lonely Oak Radio; Everything You Know Is Wrong on WMWM Salem State Radio; Monie’s New Music Radio UK; Garagerocktopia with Robert Kreutzer, Rising with Skybar on WMFO Tufts Radio; Laura Beth’s Mixtape Show on Reclaimed Radio (UK); Wave Radio Boston; On The Town With Mikey Dee on WMFO Tufts Radio; Volatile Weekly; The Music Bugle; The Bad Copy, and other fine shows, blogs, websites, and radio stations.
“Rock out with your hawk out… Just short of four minutes, the energetic Gin Blossoms-meets-Fastball number features wire-tight poppy harmonies and guitar wails that take you on a journey – almost akin to trying to become ‘the one’ after a long stint in the friend zone, like the song aptly discusses.”
_The Music Bugle on “Ansonia”
“This track has a great 70’s vibe like a punky Elvis Costello feel even though it’s an Otis Redding cover. More contemporary tones are there as well, I liken it a little to Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes but this has a good original vibe to it. It’s hard to believe the band is a trio because the track sounds so full and complete. … The Elvis Costello thing is still there with a very bluesy lead shredding on top of it all.”
_Blood Makes Noise on “Security”
