New music video from Stray Owls

Coming out of the town of Mebane in North Carolina, Stray Owls is a rock band that takes cues from the greats of the past while offering something entirely new. A trio of multi-instrumentalists, the group features Jerry Kee, who plays drums, mandocello, xylophone, keyboards and bass, Matt French on guitar and keyboards and Scott Griffiths, handling guitar and bass, with all three contributing vocals to create a layered and immersive sonic experience.

Although their roots are firmly planted in classic rock, Stray Owls bring a fresh take on the genre. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts like Pink Floyd and combining it with the indie pop eccentricity of bands like Grandaddy, their sound bridges the gap between vintage influences and forward-thinking innovation. Their sound is at once nostalgic and avant-garde, delivering something for fans of traditional rock and those who seek out experimental aesthetics.

The band first shared their sound in 2017 with their debut album, A Series of Circles, an ambitious project that introduced their unique take on genre-blending rock. Building on that momentum, they released a double single the following year and followed with their second album, Stray Owls Versus Time and Space, in 2020.

In October, they returned with their highly anticipated third album, When the Going Gets Weird and now bring us the third single lifted from the LP titled “Scapegoats.” Serving up another slice of theatrical, psych-tinged alternative rock, the track starts with hazy atmospheric textures, wailing tones and sparse notes and percussive shots before the arrangement tumbles into place to craft a smokey, downtempo rock scene.

Gliding with a mellow groove and gritty guitars which add playful dashes and runs, the pattering punch of drums carries a subtly lively energy before the vocals enter halfway through, adding delicate melodies that drift through the soundscape. Wrapped in a mesmeric fabric and gliding with smooth ebb and flow, “Scapegoats” presents another engaging dose of Stray Owls weird and wonderful rock sound.

Accompanying the release is a music video shot almost entirely at the Duck Kee Studio in Mebane. Featuring the band performing the track live in session cut with scenes of them running down a street, the visuals are shot through trippy lens filters to add vivid colours to perfectly reflect the music and offer a stellar visual experience for the song.

Watch the music video for Scapegoats below

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