Hudson Valley Band Releases Most Reflective Album Yet

Laugh Lines marks the 8th release from Kingston band Grampfather. This album follows Pipes (2015), Gramps of Wrath (2017), The Gramp Stamp (2019), Magnum Grampus (2020), Gramppappies (2022), 666G (2022), and Live at the Hive (2023). Lead singer James Kwapisz says that Laugh Lines came from the idea that "as you're aging you get lines in your face, and it's a nice metaphor because you've laughed and cried and lived a life." James describes the album as being very "meta" being that it's about writing and music and writing music! Each project, Grampfather tries to think of something different, but Laugh Lines is more reflective than anything else.

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The Hudson Valley's Favorite Grampfather Releases New Album

"We've got a new album coming out called Laugh Lines," says James Kwapisz. "It's 11 songs, 44 minutes long. We jumped around a bunch genre-wise in our previous albums, but this project is more of a focused indie-rock record. It's been brewing and marinating for a while and we're real proud of it." Check out their music video "Dredging." First of all, I love the authentic rock sound from this sound. It's gritty and raw, and I love the lines:

"Exorcising the beasts inside of me—
tame them and frame them
to save them from the abyss
that they came from."

Just from this one song, you can understand the reflective vibe that Grampfather is shooting for. Lyrics and music that are wise beyond their years (in Grampfather fashion).

Grampfather urges fans new and old to enjoy this project from start to finish. They wrote on Instagram saying:

I know it’s common practice to listen to music in a fragmented manner, but consider playing the album through. We put a lot of thought and effort into making the songs flow into each other. That being said, be sure to add your favorite songs off the record to your playlists. Also, follow us on your preferred platforms and help #feedthealgorithm. Word of mouth is king—tell your friends about the album if you dig it. Any help in spreading the word is much appreciated!

The Band

To better understand the music, it helps to better understand the band. Grampfather is based out of Kingston, New York, and was founded in 2013. It was while in undergrad at SUNY New Paltz that James was inspired by the house/basement scene to make fun, energetic rock music. What was once a two-piece garage rock group has since evolved into "a four-piece genre-whirling force," said James. Some of the group's influences over the years have been Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene, and The Strokes, among a variety of others.

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These days, a major influence who especially inspired this latest project is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. James said, "I wanted to keep listeners on their toes by having our music waver between genres, momentums, feelings, whatever you want to call it... [King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard] exemplify the criteria that all my favorite bands share, and that I strive for with this project, in that they are eclectic,  prolific, and never boring or meandering."

Grampfather is composed of Andrew Blot on lead guitar, Tony DiMauro on drums, Jake Offermann on bass, and James Kwapisz on rhythm guitar and vocals. James writes, records, and mixes the band's music. Although the band has had members come and go throughout the years, James says that the current line-up is dedicated to the vision.

When asked out the band got it's name, James explained that he would often be called an "old man" by his friends because of his older, elder-like mannerisms. "Alright, Gramps," was a common response he heard from his friends following his antics. That's something that I definitely relate to myself since one of my nicknames going back to high school has been "Dad." There's just something special about us old souls! James went on to say that he thought "Grampfather" would be a great name for the band because of it's funny juxtaposition to the group's energetic, youthful and fun sound.