Photo by Nola Smith.
Sweet Baby Jesus have been rocking the New York underground since 2016 with a proprietary blend of raw '80s soul, giddy glam rock, and gritty street funk. The Brooklyn sextet features lead vocals from Max Brown, guitar from Paco Cathcart and Sammy Weissberg, sax from Carolyn Hietter, bass from Charlie Dore-Young, and drums from Jordan Trachtman, each member contributing to a fully fleshed out sound with a loose, jammy feel. Today, they're premiering "Wholesome Omen" — which follows "Tender Touch" as the band's second single since the release of their 2019 sophomore album, Discount Magic — with The FADER.
On the new track, Brown provides an emotive top line that rides above choral backing vocals and a full-band groove. "Tormented love survives / Doing the dirty work to pass the time / Waiting on a wholesome omen," he sings in the hook as Hietter's sax harmonizes with Cathcart and Weissberg's dueling axes behind him.
"The song is about going to venues, bars, clubs, and shows after hours, hoping to find something to take you out of that day-to-day anxiety we all share," the singer explains. "It’s about looking for moral/spiritual release in the cities 'Night World' for better or for worse… Is that really the best place to be looking for it?"
Listen to "Wholesome Omen" below.