By Lauren Wisbeski of Indie Band Guru
Bronco Simmons is a garage-rock band comprised of five young men from Dallas. Based on their latest single, “Away She Goes,” I can tell you right now that they’re going places.
Jorge Hinojosa’s vocals are deep and strong, and it’s clear that he has tremendous control over both his voice and his guitar. Dom Garcia plays the bass and really sets us up for something great during the first couple minutes of “Away She Goes.”
Those critical moments are suspenseful in the way that “Teenage Wasteland” is. You find yourself rocking your head or tapping your foot in anticipation for the first line of vocals. Chris Hicks performs amazingly on the drums and especially shines towards the end of the song, when the emotion reaches its peak (and the musicians are given prime opportunity to showcase their skills). Cole Gerthoffer plays keyboards and Brendan Freeman, the guitar.
“Away She Goes” is a trip into a man’s psyche. It’s a cathartic song that delves into some intense emotion. It combines the angst of Holden Caulfield with the attitude of someone whose frustration is a bit more focused and certainly less confused. The song lasts for more than seven minutes, which gives the band enough time to develop a story, or at least a kind of character study.
Bronco Simmons Brings Lyric Mastery
In my opinion, “Away She Goes” is a lyrical gem. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and attempting to interpret the meanings behind the words. The singer paints a picture of a lonely guy who struggles to pass the time because all he can think about is how he messed up his relationship.
As a listener, you become emotionally invested, which speaks to the ability of Bronco Simmons to write songs. Hinojosa builds up an illustration on his way to the chorus, which is really fantastic:
It seems I’ve reached the end once again.
There’s no use in tryin’, cause I don’t feel like lyin’ anymore.
It’s seems I”ve fallen for you once again.
There’s no use in talk, cause I don’t feel like feeling anymore.
I can’t slip away from you, once again.
There’s a comfortable beat (if you think garage-rock is comfortable, which I do), and Hinojosa raises his voice whenever he acknowledges that something is happening “once again.” Perhaps he’s pained to admit that he’s fallen into a pattern. It’s dramatic and quite captivating.
Ends on a High Note
The song’s climactic end brings everything together: the name of the song, its lyrics, the universal idea that your recent romantic decision was a mistake and cause for regret. “I can’t stop my life cause I’m running in circles.” The cycle is repeated “once again.”
Our tragic hero seems to have reached the end once again, fallen for the girl once again, become unable to slip away from her once again. And (forgive me) once again, he’s warming up his dinner in the microwave, listening to David Bowie (RIP) and the Runaways, and watching TV in a dark room. What puzzled me (although I can let this slide) is that if he can’t escape, what end does he think he seems to reach over and over?
The actual conclusion of the song is predominantly instrumental, and you’re as caught up in the agony and emotion of our main character as he is. Maybe the explosion at the end suggests that our guy is going to move on from his torment. Perhaps he will finally be able to escape, and the musical eruption is an exorcism of the ghost of his relationship that’s been haunting him.
Whatever your interpretation, you’ll appreciate the purifying feeling this song provides. It’s a song to listen to if you’re going through something, or if you’re not.
It’s really just generally worthwhile, as are Bronco Simmons — hear and learn more here.
