After a four-year gap that had fans chomping at the bit, Scranton natives Captain We’re Sinking will release their sophomore album, “King of No Man,” on June 23.
Guitarist and vocalist Bobby Barnett attributed the gap to their first record, “The Future is Cancelled,” being released around the same time he began working toward a degree in education from Marywood University.
“I kind of focused too much on the band and had to just focus on school,” Barnett said. “The rest of the guys in the band were very kind and accommodating. It wasn’t anything like we all made this grand decision,” he explained in reference to the four years between records.
Barnett also made it clear the gap did not imply any lack of interest in releasing a new record, describing excited nerves.
“I think the week leading up to it I’m going to be a nervous wreck, but it definitely feels good to get out there again,” he said.
Barnett recently moved to Philadelphia to work as a ninth grade world history teacher at Delaware Valley Charter School. His moving there marks the first time in a while the band has lived in the same city. Barnett explained that they are able to practice more often now, which made the new album a lot more “easy and enjoyable” to write.
The band is currently comprised of Barnett, guitarist and vocalist Leo Vergnetti, bassist Zack Charette and drummer Bill Orender.
Two singles have been released from the new record — “Trying Year,” an upbeat, anthemic track that details the struggles of young adulthood, fronted by Barnett; and “Water,” a catchy, guitar and vocals-driven number fronted by Vergnetti.
Barnett described the creative process for the new record as being more collaborative than for their previous record.
“With the past record either Leo or I would come in with a full song pretty much shaped and then go from there, but this time, we were able to come up with an idea and shape it together,” he said. “Some of the songs have a lot going on, and that’s because everyone would drill their two cents into the ring to really shape the song into what it should be.”
This development acts as both evolution and regression, according to Barnett.
“When we were kids writing songs back in Scranton, it was very collaborative. Leo, Zack and I would meet up at (Leo’s) parents’ house and write a song, the three of us together … we’d each have an idea and we’d form it into … this cyborg-Voltron song where all of our ideas were shaping together to become one. Then when we moved away, it became more solitary,” he explained.
Barnett’s favorite thing about the new record is how eclectic it is.
“It kind of keeps you on your toes. It’s all over the place, and that’s exciting to me,” he said. “It’s not just tied down to one thing; it kind of goes crazy and hectic and then gets very soft and quiet. At another point, it gets very dramatic, and then it gets pretty light in other parts … it’s been a lot of fun to write and listen to, so hopefully people like that.”
The record release show for “King of No Man” is slated for 9 p.m. on the date of its official release, June 23, at Everybody Hits in Philadelphia, 529 W. Girard Ave. The venue doubles as a batting cage. The opening acts are Loose Tooth, Queen Jesus and Brackish.
The show was originally planned in Wilkes-Barre, but tour routes complicated the endeavor. The band hopes to book a show around their Northeastern Pennsylvania hometown in the summer, after their tour scheduled for July 9 to 23.
A few of those shows will be played with fellow Scranton-to-Philly migrants, The Menzingers — a band Captain We’re Sinking grew up with, one of the members being Barnett’s brother.
“It’s been incredible … we grew up with them, we grew up with Tigers Jaw, we grew up with Three Man Cannon, and they’re all out doing their own thing now … you feel like a part of you kind of goes wherever they go,” he said.
“I can remember shows in downtown Scranton with the four of us playing; everyone was trying to find their footing, and now everyone really has. It’s definitely cool, it gives you a little sense of pride to see that it’s a little community, a little music scene that you built up from the ground.
“It’s cool seeing young bands from Scranton doing that now … to go to Embassy Vinyl and play a show with a lot of other younger bands … kind of carrying that torch. It definitely gives you a good feeling … The Menzingers and Tigers Jaw are incredibly successful. Scranton is really a hot bed for music.”
