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pick·le

[ˈpik(ə)l]

noun

pickle (noun) · pickles (plural noun)

NORTH AMERICAN ENGLISH
a small cucumber preserved in vinegar, brine, or a similar solution.

fruit or vegetables preserved in vinegar or brine and used as a relish.

the liquid used to preserve food or other perishable items.

an acid solution for cleaning metal objects.

informal
a difficult or messy situation:
"I am in a pickle"


“Pickle” is Van Goat’s wiliest song yet, a swing punk fever dream complete with gigantic riffs descending like a staircase to hell, a freaky elevator music B-section, and yelled assurances that yes indeed, “Everything will be just fine.”

The song was written in a car while practicing breathing exercises at 1 am driving to Dunigan Gas and Food at the crossroads of the 505 and 5. Vocalist and trombone player Lindsay Alexis says of the song: “There’s a special kind of absurdity you slip into when trying to reason with someone that keeps sending an argument in circles. The song was an exercise in poking fun at someone pushing you over the edge - as a way to sort of defang the offender, to chemically negate the toxic after-effects, and maintain some semblance of sanity.”

“Pickle” features high octane performances from its five members. Bassist Derek Burle is all over the neck, drummer Taylor Moxon circles the drum kit like a hyena with its eye on a tasty morsel. Keyboardist Ben Einstein alternates between blazing farfisa organs and tinkly little bells, and guitar player Aidan Ward attacks the freaky B-section, finding notes previously unheard by human ears.

The song was recorded in Ben’s old basement with Chris Nishimoto (Jazz Mafia, Futurelics, My Evergreen Soul), mixed by Chris Hughes (Lazer Beam, Jeff Saltzman, Jack Douglas), and mastered by Piper Payne (Geographer, Janice Ian, Victor Wooten).

The single artwork draws inspiration from the baseball definition of the word pickle - a situation where a baserunner is caught between two bases and faces the potential of being tagged out by the defending team. 

Van Goat will be releasing the single “Pickle” on July 11th 2025.

Pickle

Piddle in the middle
of the floor
nobody's around
to clean it up 
I gotta find a couch corner
to remodel
with the throttle on full 
I'm a jungle bundle
Roughin’ up anybody
Soft or hard
wood or yarn
make it smelly
if it lives or lived
It belongs in my belly
tell me that I can't sniff butts
what's the point
Of waking up?

I live in a bubble

Guard the house
with all my might 
I might just try 
to rip the top off 
the can with the turkey
and a tasty treaty meat buffet 
how tantalizing

Cranberry gravy 
and stuffing 
just in time for
late thanksgiving
with a hair pin turn I
Flavor frenzy
and drag it down with me

I live in a bubble

Just like things
You find in a puddle
I'm a living breathing
Piece of the puzzle 
In the rubble after
the pending disaster
Survival makes me faster
spoils of war 
restore my wings
history gets blistering
Throw it away
Hole in the wall
Head in the ground
to hell with it all

I live in a bubble

Guitars, clarinet, and vocals: Aidan Ward
Piano, synthesizer, pineapple, additional vocals: Ben Einstein
Trombone and additional vocals: Lindsay Alexis
Bass and additional vocals: Derek Burle
Drums: Taylor Moxon

Follow Me Under

I Live In A Bubble

National Identity

She carves
out the names
on the wall
to stay sane
and the dust
that it makes
is now paint
for her face
And indeed
politely
he believes
all her dreams
until what
she can use
is not what 
she has got

So you are a national Identity
It's border making
Please don’t be so closed off
A peaceful day
Is for the taking

She cries
out her eyes
and decides
to deny
that its one
one and all
from its rise
’til its fall
With a crutch
in her bag
and a tax
on the rag
its la luz
its the rain
its what flows 
through your veins

So you are a national identity
Its border making
Please don’t be so closed off
A peaceful day
Is for the taking

National Identity

Oh the malign the malign in his eye
And his gun is set to kill
fight is right and blood is rain
War is war is pain is pain

Oh the malign on the screen on the screen
Why don't you say won't you say what you mean?
Why don’t you say what you say what you mean?

Could have thought of it before
no turning back now
and it's a little late 

Oh the design the design of the mind
and the love is left to wilt
fall and fall and break the ground
down is up and up is down

Oh the malign of the lies of the lies
and the money flows upstream
flows to drain a caustic rain

Could have thought of it before
no turning back now
and it's a little late

Guitars and vocals: Aidan Ward
Melodica, organ, and additional vocals: Ben Einstein
Trombone and additional vocals: Lindsay Alexis
Bass and additional vocals: Derek Burle
Drums: Taylor Moxon

Finder

"Mixing Swing, Surf, Punk, and Pineapples into a magical concoction." 
- I Heart SF Bands

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