See the Vandoliers’ Poignant ‘Endless Summer’ Video
There are few memories more visceral than those of childhood summers. Swimming pools, snow cones and – in the case of the Vandoliers‘ new video for “Endless Summer” – firecrackers all make up those blissful days outside the classroom.
“Endless Summer” features singer Joshua Fleming and company performing the feel-good cowpunk track from their recently released album The Native as shots of a cowboy-hatted young boy flash in and out. The song’s instrumental climax – all barroom piano and fiery fiddle – occurs just as the young cowpoke sets off a firecracker in the Shaun Colón and Joel Herrera-directed clip.
“It’s a bit wistful thinking back at how fast childhood came and went, which is the feeling we wanted to capture with the video,” Fleming tells Rolling Stone Country. “It was shot at the lake house where I spent every Fourth of July, back when the summers felt like they’d never end. We used Oliver Morgan – who is the same kid on our album cover – to play a younger version of me.”
The Native came out in late May and introduced Vandoliers, who landed on Rolling Stone Country‘s May installment of 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know, as one of the more exciting fresh voices in fringe country-rock. “Endless Summer” captures the Fort Worth, Texas, band’s crunchy twang and youthful spirit.
“You know that moment in Walk the Line where that record producer goes up to Johnny Cash and says something like, ‘If you had one last song to sing before you die, what would you sing?’ This never happens in real life, but if it did, I would sing ‘Endless Summer,'” Fleming adds. “I’m 28 years old. I have been writing and playing in bands for 16 years. It’s weird growing up, and I’m still not sure I’m very good at it. But this song is where I am at in my life.”
The Vandoliers are currently on tour through the fall.