Manchester-By-The-Sea has gotten a fair bit of national attention lately, thanks to the Casey Affleck film of the same name (sans hyphens, it should be noted). But where Affleck is garnering some Oscar attention for his excellent turn as a solitary janitor forced to look after his teenage nephew, the Cape Ann town isn’t just shining a light back to Hollywood. It’s also the source location for psych-rock trio the Rupert Selection, who, if we’re suddenly taking about awards, coulda/shoulda been in contention for Video of the Year at the upcoming Boston Music Awards had they released this mind-warped clip for “Tree Hands” a few weeks earlier.
But that’s no worry, as we’re just as excited to premiere the video today on Vanyaland. And like fellow north-of-Boston powderkeg Caspian, the Rupert Selection craft powerful, sometimes instrumental compositions that allow videos like this to tell a fuller, more graphic story. In the case of “Tree Hands,” it involves a cat person and some devious ass shit going down in the woods. We’re not sure who to trust in this scenario, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was Affleck under that mask. Plot twist — his nephew never saw it coming.
Meanwhile, the riffy, winding “Tree Hands” is the first taste of the Rupert Selection’s new EP, set for release in early 2017. The song and forthcoming EP was recorded with producer/engineer Alex Allinson at the Bridge Sound and Stage in Cambridge, and like the trio’s previous video — for “Funeral Party”, starring the same anthropomorphic creatures in what is unfolding as a longer, more intensive storyline — the “Tree Hands” clip was filmed, directed, and produced by the band members themselves.
Catch Rupert Selection performing at ONCE Ballroom in Somerville on December 9, as they share the stage with Consider the Source and David “Fuze” Fiuczynski. And watch “Tree Hands” below.