Everyone knows that The Bangles’ blistering rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Hazy Shade of Winter” — for the equally unfuckwithable Less Than Zero soundtrack back in blissful ’87 — is one of the greatest covers of all time. But we feel like it doesn’t get covered as often as it should, as perhaps because there’s a weird, unfounded fear cranking out a cover of a cover? Who knows.
What we do know is that The Downhauls, a Boston punk band that’s made a nice reputation of not giving a shit what you or anyone else thinks, have revved the song back into high gear with a Bandcamp-exclusive release that dropped today (March 10). As one would expect, it totally crushes.
“We have been hard at work on new music this winter,” the band writes. “As the winter transitions to spring, we’re dropping a new single from our forthcoming EP (due out in May 2023). The appropriately timed cover of a cover of ‘Hazy Shade of Winter’ by The Bangles weaves a relatable story about the unpredictability of life.”
The Downhauls are no stranger to full-throttle rock and roll, and this new cover, which features guest vocals by Tai Heatley, is no exception. Maybe they’ll bust it out tonight when they play The Middle East in Cambridge alongside SCÜMBARI and Ireland’s The Scratch. After all, there’s bound to be a better ride than what you’ve got planned.