Bad Copy

Today, we’re stoked to be premiering a brand new EP, entitled Fleabit, from Chicago’s own J. Douglass and the Sullen Hearts. Jason is a one-person dynamo. In addition to writing the songs, they also designed the cover art for the album.

Two of the tracks – “Even the Stars” and “Oh, What’s A Worried Boi To Do?” – were previous incarnations of Jason’s solo material and were initially recorded back in 2015. The title track, “Fleabit,” was written two years ago and was originally meant to be a song for now defunct band Turnspit. It was record this year by Dan Tinkler, who also played lead guitar, bass, and drums on the track. Jason did both acoustic and rhythm guitar and vocals.

Jason had the following to say about the title track:

“I wouldn’t eat my dog. How is a pig any different? This is the thought I had while listening to an early leak of Propagandhi’s “Supporting Caste” in early 2009. Despite my meat-and-potatoes West Virginia childhood, I knew then I had to quit eating meat. I went pescatarian first, then vegetarian, and finally vegan.

But the act of questioning such a fundamental and universally accepted part of our culture, despite the backlash I would go on to face (backlash I had, myself, directed at vegetarian friends in the past), pushed me to question so many other things I had taken for granted. In the years since, I have learned (and am still learning) to challenge everything from the gender binary to my own privilege, to interrogate how things I don’t even notice I do might be violent and/or oppressive, and it all started because the personality that anyone can see pouring out of my dog made me rethink something as invisible and fundamental as diet.

This one’s for Nibbler, the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Stream Fleabit in full now:

If you’re in the Chicago area, J. Douglass and the Sullen Hearts will be celebrating the CD release on Thursday, September 26th at Burlington Bar. We’ll be there, and you should be too!

Tour Dates