Sunny War – Armageddon in a Summer Dress
While reading over the materials for Sunny War’s latest album, one phrase of her bio struck me – “when I jumped out of bed with my machete.” The line itself was referring to the ghosts she may or may not have heard living with her in her late father’s house. But it also conjures up an image of Sunny War, the artist – observant, constantly capable of surprise, and maybe even a little dangerous. Over the past half-decade or so, she’s gone from busking acoustic punk to Americana Award winner while honing, but never dulling, her artistic edge. That new record, Armageddon in a Summer Dress, is her most “full-band” album, but it still rests on her anarchic poetry and fearless questioning of the world around her.
Sunny War starts spitting fire immediately on Armageddon in a Summer Dress. The first song, “One Way Train,” is an all-gas, no-brakes drive toward an uncertain (but almost assuredly better) future – “When there’s no one left to use/And no police or state/And the fascists and the classists/All evaporate” – with climaxing guitars all along the route (Armageddon contains, by far, the largest use of electric guitars in all of her catalog). Along with the guitars, the new songs stand out for their copious use of keys. “Bad Times,” despite its title, rides along an upbeat, Wurlitzer-y organ line as Sunny is intent on pushing away her demons – “Bad times stay away” – even while risking getting lost in the decline of capitalism; “I make the least you can in an hour/I’ve got no money, so I’ve got no power/Back pain and rotting teeth/Gets written off as working class grief.”
Nowhere does the embrace of keys and percussion play better than “Ghost,” a mildly spooky ode to Sunny’s father – “Felt his presence in the room/Pass gently/Might’ve left too soon/53” – while also admonishing listeners to treasure our loved ones while they’re still with us – “They’ll be down in the ground when you need them the most.” Sunny does her best to honor those elders. Punk legends John Doe (of X) and Steve Ignorant (of Crass) join her on vocals, the latter on the incendiary “Walking Contradiction,” which paints class war in all of its stark reality – “Your humanity does not outweigh your will to survive.” While Sunny War continues to sound the alarm – on this particular album, quite loudly – she won’t allow herself to stay mired in self-pity. Album capper “Debbie Downer” eschews complaining – “This life’s too short/And you’re too crude/Please don’t distort/Hijack my mood.” It’s not exactly optimism, but Sunny won’t give in to the worst of the negativity that surrounds her – “I won’t succumb/I’m tapping out.” In the dark days of 2025, stubborn refusal to capitulate might be the best hope we’ve got.
Song I Can’t Wait to Hear Live: “No One Calls Me Baby” – the riffiest tune on the record, spiked with Sunny’s banjo, reminds us that, even as her songwriting gets better and better with each release, you simply can’t ignore her playing – particularly in this feminist fuck-off, it’s downright FORCEFUL.
Armageddon in a Summer Dress was produced, engineered and mixed by Andrija Tokic and mastered by Dave Gardner. All songs written by Sunny War (“Scornful Heart” written with Tré Burt). Musicians on the album include Sunny War (guitar, banjo, lead vocals), Megan Coleman (drums, percussion), Jack Lawrence (bass), Jo Schornikow (keyboards, vibraphone, xylophone), John James Tourville (pedal steel, guitars, additional percussion), Andrija Tokic (additional percussion), Kyshona Armstrong (background vocals), Maureen Murphy (background vocals), Nickie Conley (background vocals) Adam Ramirez and Sunny War (sample on “Ghosts), Steve Ignorant (vocals), Valerie June (vocals), Tré Burt (vocals, guitar) and John Doe (vocals).
Go here to order Armageddon in a Summer Dress (out February 21): http://newwst.com/armageddonWE
Check out tour dates here: http://www.sunnywar.com/tour
Enjoy our earlier interview here: Interview: Sunny War on Food Not Bombs, Venice Beach Sound and “Simple Syrup”