Boost Your Playlist: “Black Lungs (and a Broken Heart)” by One Way Out

Songs to get you through the pandemic.

Note: Boost Your Playlist is for songs either from local DC bands, or from artists that recently performed live in DC.

The DC rock band, One Way Out, has greeted 2021 with an epic new single.

“Black Lungs (and a Broken Heart)” is a powerful statement for the local rock scene, and these young rockers should definitely be squarely on your radar.

The opening riff sounds like something Nirvana would craft if they weren’t ridden with angst. In other words, One Way Out added a bright hue on the edges of the grunge sound. Lead singer Josh Gaba also takes us on a worthy Jack White paced lyrical journey about an alien dubbed ‘Freedom Man’. They use this reoccurring character concept in multiple songs, but here Freedom Man is visiting Earth (sadly during this pandemic), seeking love and large groups of revelers to rock out with at live shows. We can assume Freedom Man will find love and patience to stay with us awhile, until we can have nice things again. The band members tried to imbue different sounds beyond the typical into the song, like attempting to evoke the sound of an alien craft crash landing, using such unlikely rock tools as a screwdriver and a theremin.

Regardless of whether they were successful in giving Freedom Man his due, “Black Lungs (and a Broken Heart” is a great rock song, so give it a listen.

One Way Out as a band blends multiple styles, like blues rock, psychedelic rock, a little punk, and other hard rock elements. The band formed in 2012, with Josh, Jake Schaefer (guitar), Giulio Iacoviello (bass), Geist Topping (drums), and Ari Rubenstein (keyboard). They recorded the song at DC’s own Ivakota Studios.

Support local music and buy their songs or sign up for the mailing list on their website.

Welcome to 2021. Now rock!