In 2017, the band received an opportunity it couldn’t refuse. The new Emerald City-based music festival, Upstream, had asked the band to play a reunion show. The band agreed and though they had to drop out of the festival at the last minute because a severe injury sustained by their drummer, the invitation created the momentum the group needed. Enter the band’s most recent record, Come Back. 

The 2019 album picks up where Lisabeula left off but also offers a musical evolution for the four-piece, which now includes Clint Hoyler on bass and Joe Patterson on drums. 

“Timing is everything,” says Ed. “Having the chance to make music feels really joyful. I love the creative process. Clint and Joe are so good; it really made me step my game up even further. I didn’t want to let these guys down. There’s no attitude, we’re all on the same page.”

Come Back features several hits, including the ear worm, “This Party Sucks,” a smashing, catching track flouting FOMO and pushing the listener to love what he’s doing rather than jump on the bandwagon of someone else’s joy. Much of Come Back was recorded at Earwig, which has become a community and creative hub for the band. Indeed, Earwig is the launching pad for the future of Suitcase and both Don and Ed couldn’t be more excited for the days, months and years to come. 

“We’re getting back to the music,” Don says. “The really cool thing about that is reconnecting with old friends. I remember distinctly what it was like in the 90s and 2000s. Then Ed and I started our families, life happened. Now, though, we’ve come back to the band. We have our sound. Ed and I co-write the songs and we’re ready to share Come Back with our fans before making even more music.” 
credits
released October 11, 2019 

Suitcase - Come Back 

Ed Otto Jr - guitar, vocals, keys and Chromonica 
Don Farwell - guitar, vocals, keys and percussion 
Clint Hoyler - bass 
Joe Patterson - drums 

Additional musicians: 
Julia Massey - vocals on “Super Knife” and “Coos Bay” 
Marian Macapinlac - vocals on “Coos Bay” 
Sharon Chang - vocals on “Coos Bay” 
James Han - keys on “Super Knife” and “Coos Bay” 

All songs written by Don Farwell & Ed Otto Jr 

© ℗ Suitcase 2019 

Produced, engineered and mixed by Don Farwell at Earwig Studio 

Recorded at Earwig Studio & Ed’s Garage 
Additional engineering by Ed Otto Jr, Jen Gilleran and Brandon Goh 
“This Party Sucks” mixed by Don Farwell & Jen Gilleran 

Mastered by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering 

Album design by Cara Hoyler 

Suitcase logo design and photography by Lance Hofstad 

Album sequenced by Sean Moe 

Special thanks: Levi Seitz, Brent Lyons, Sean Moe, Sharon Chang, Jen Gilleran, Marian Macapinlac, Julia Massey, Cara Hoyler, Brandon Goh, Lance Hofstad
license
all rights reserved

01 Jack Burton

This is the first demo I recorded in my home studio, which has ultimately provided the fuel to get me to Earwig Studios for my latest recording project.

Another Way

This song is about the aftermath of a breakup and is about the feeling of processing the breakup over a long drive and while arriving home - hence the titular "pulling into Prairie Avenue". It was recorded at Earwig Studios in Seattle and features some bouncy intersecting electric guitar lines as well as expansive choruses that highlight the line "I always saw the best in you, leaving no chance to improve"

Prairie Avenue

A cover of the Peter Bardens song from Camel's 1976 album Moonmadness. I must have been drinking, but this is the first time I have ever tried to sing anything, anywhere, at anytime.

Spirit of the Water

This one's a sonic collage that began life while I was playing around with the still-not-quite-for-sale Motor Synth from Gamechanger Audio. Don Farwell, the owner/engineer/sonic mastermind of Earwig Studio had just acquired a Moog Matriarch. With two shiny new toys on hand Don hit 'record' and the initial results were pleasing enough that I kept adding elements, including several sounds from a vintage Prophet 5. Naturally a few guitars were included along with Earwig's Steinway grand. All told something like 27 or so elements made their way into the piece. Eventually it was time to just say "stop!" and call it complete.

Sunday in the Park, Where's George?

It's the third of a four-part thingy where the first two parts aren't recorded and the fourth part hasn't been written. Cool use of found sounds courtesy of Earwig Studio's maestro Don Farwell. He was curious to see if they could be triggered with his newly-acquired Moog Matriarch. A few minutes of patch cord adjustment, in and output connecting, plus a few choice words of frustration and we had an answer: Yes, they could. Great fun to use a vintage Prophet 5 for all the synthy sounds. The piano is a Steinway baby grand, way above my weight class. But as a general rule, if there's every an opportunity to use such a wonderful instrument that opportunity should be seized.

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01 Jack Burton

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