Song Of The Week: 5/3/20

Song: "Via Munich"

Artist: Tony Sly

Album: "12 Song Program"

Year: 2010

Place Of Origin: Santa Clara County, California

Years Active: 1987 - 2012



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Here's what Tony Sly told Spin magazine about this folk-inspired number of introspective longing, which is backed by acoustic guitars, accordion, and sweeping strings. "This song is about the inevitable and constant consumption of alcohol that goes along with being on the road," he said. "It's supposed to make tours seem shorter, but it's a method that doesn't really work and is terrible for your liver."

TONY SLY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2004 - Acoustic w/ Joey Cape (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - 12 Song Program (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Sad Bear (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Acoustic: Volume Two w/ Joey Cape (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON TONY SLY:

Tony Sly was most known as the lead singer of seminal skate punk outfit No Use For A Name. He joined No Use in 1987, but took over singing and songwriting for that band in 1989. As part of the Fat Wreck Chords family, No Use For A Name enjoyed that punk rock revival wave that occurred just after grunge in the mid-90's. As the chief songwriter and vocalist for NUFAN, Sly helped that band release 8 studio albums, 1 live album, 2 compilations and 4 EP's. Like many other punk rock frontmen, Sly began to pursue an acoustic/folk solo career beginning with his first album "Acoustic" in 2004 with his close friend and Lagwagon frontman Joey Cape. He focused on No Use projects after this album but in 2010, his solo material and touring began to take more of a center stage for him. He would drop two solo full length albums within a year of each other, 2010's "12 Song Program" and 2011's "Sad Bear". Then, in 2012, he and his pal Joey Cape released "Acoustic: Volume Two". This would be the last album which Tony Sly would release, solo or with No Use. The reason for this was that on July 31, 2012 while on a solo tour with Joey Cape in Gainesville, Florida, Tony Sly passed away in his sleep. This was just a crushing loss for the punk rock community and definitely one that I took very hard. No Use For A Name was one of my favorite bands growing up. I still love their music and play their albums often. Tony Sly was going to work on new No Use material around 2010/2011, but decided to work on a solo effort which would become "Sad Bear". I'm not sure if there is any shelved recordings of new No Use songs or maybe even incompleted songs. I'm sure they probably would have come to surface by now if there were. Thank God Tony left us with a shitload of music that we can go back to and reflect on. I'd say No Use is probably my favorite punk band, really one of my favorite bands in general. Sly's solo material is great as well. He is just a great songwriter. There is a definite despair and pain to a lot of his lyrics, especially his solo stuff. I miss this dude a lot! Tony Sly is a top tier artist as a solo performer and as the lead singer/songwriter of the most wickedly awesome punk band of all time!! Yeah, I said it!! Gone but not forgotten. Rest in peace brother!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Joey Cape
No Use For A Name
Dave Hause
Brendan Kelly
Sundowner

TEN TONY SLY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Not Your Savior (acoustic)
2. Chasing Rainbows (acoustic)
3. Justified Black Eye (acoustic)
4. Soulmate (acoustic)
5. Amends
6. Devonshire And Crown
7. Capo, 4th Fret
8. Chemical Upgrade
9. Via Munich
10. Homecoming