THE BAND ICE CREAM

A typical song about failed romance will focus on the heartbreak and loneliness that comes when love isn’t meant to be. But every now and again, a band will find empowerment in being alone. They’ll realize that peace can, ahem, come without a lover’s touch. It’s that solitary bliss that The Band Ice Cream champion on their unambiguously titled new single “Jerk It Off”.

“‘Jerk It Off’ was conceived in a dingy, sweaty room with walls covered in pictures from old porno mags,” explains the San Francisco band’s singer/guitarist Joe Sample. “It was our old practice space. The riff was pretty dirty so we knew the lyrics had to be too. Masturbation is a reoccurring theme of conversation for us, and the hook ‘jerk it off’ stuck immediately. It’s pervy and empowering. Probably had the most fun recording the vocal takes … Nothing like telling your friends they need to yell ‘jerk it off’ with more authority!”

For a song with a theme of self-pleasure, “Jerk It Off” is certainly a lot of fun for anyone listening. It’s garage pop for the stoned surfer, playful guitar licks skipping and swaying over sturdy drumming from Louie Rappoport. Impeccably produced by the legendary Bruce Botnick (The Door’s L.A. Woman, engineer on The Beach Boy’s Pet Sounds), the liberating mix is fittingly shameless as Sample growls, “You had your chance/ I don’t need romance/ I just need my hands baby.” Take a listen below.

“Jerk It Off” is the opening track from The Band Ice Cream’s forthcoming full-length debut, Classically Trained. Pre-orders for the album are going on here. - Consequence of Sound

I don’t know about you, but my favorite time of year in S.F. is definitely not the winter time. I mean, it’s not as terrible as, say, Connecticut is in January, but it ain’t no (warm) walk in the park, either.

Fortunately, if you’re like me and can’t actually get out of the city, there’s always the option of turning to music as an escape. This is where The Band Ice Cream‘s new track “Mexico” comes in.


Slathered in upbeat, burbling guitar, this charming, lollipop rock track will (not literally, but figuratively) make you feel phantom rays of sun on your back and get your armpits all sweaty. Upbeat with alternating verses from each member of the San Francisco band, “Mexico” is the perfect antidote to beating the winter blues and a great “goals” song, to boot. Before you know it, you’ll be planning a trip to Mexico or somewhere equally as sunny, and hey, you might even find yourself working out at the gym to get in shape for your future beach-scapades, or holding back on buying those black suede booties so that you can save up for your impending trip.

It might sound like I’m just talking shit, but I gotta admit: After listening to the song four times in a row, I’m in a great fucking mood. And, it turns out that’s the whole point of the track.

According to The Band Ice Cream‘s vocalist and guitarist Kevin Fielding, “Mexico” is all about reminiscing on good times, like “that one summer your friend bought a beater car and drove it to Tijuana and it miraculously made it and you met Veronica and you thought you were too young for real love and now you look back with optimism every time the sun sets pink.”

This sweet, little ditty — which the band considers their “own little ode to “Girl From Ipanema” — comes out on their debut album, Classically Trained, on March 10.

So listen to the song, pull up kayak.com on your web browser, and start online shopping for some new sunglasses, ‘cuz you’re gonna want a pair after you listen to this song. Trust. - SF Weekly

Today, Punknews is excited to debut the new single by The Band Ice Cream!

Obviously acolytes of raw rock and roll, The Band Ice Cream have constructed an interesting junction. The band takes the fuzzy feedback from the 90s grungers, the blown-out melodies from the 80s neo-garage rockers, and the mighty riffs from the 70s rockers (we're talkin Thin Lizzy, people!) "Sand Dunes" shows an affinity for all these influences, but retains an intelligence about the source material. This isn't rock hero worship so much as cutting rock heroes apart and assembling something new from the pieces.

Frontman guitarist/vocalist Kevin Fielding spoke to Punknews about the tune, "This song is like a sunday morning diner chat between you, now, and you on your deathbed, each warning the other to be happy while they can because they currently can't find it. Grass is always greener bullshit."

The band's new album is called Classically Trained and you can pre-order it through Urban Scandal records right here!. In the meantime, check out the new tune below, right now! - PunkNews.org

Perfect garage vibes, peppy lyrics and a generally snarky presence — all attributes contributing to our newfound love of San Francisco’s Ice Cream. - The Wild Honey Bee

6. Ice Cream, Ice Cream

Sweet, sweet, classic garage rock. Ice Cream’s self-titled album forces us to remember the reasons we fell in love with rock in the first place. Dirty, honest guitar riffs, quick, aggressive drum patterns, weaved into gritty barely-there vocals, Ice Cream is the perfect combination of garage sound and punk attitude that will pour gasoline on that flickering fire inside. - the deli

Already last year, catapulting Ice Cream in her hometown of San Francisco with the laconically titled cassette EP "We're set" on the musical map between sunny indie rock, biting Fuzz, Slackertum and rattling garage rock. Now the band with the single "Seventeen" has refilled, commutes almost seven minutes delightfully askew between drunken Surf Rock, Rock'n'Roll "Ohohohs" Strokes moments and Catchy indie Fuzzpop. - Visions Magazin Germany

...the somehow tender melody comes shoving through anyway (not the least thanks to a good bottom end), like that just drunk enough lonely guy deciding, “Screw it!” he’s going to get through the crowd and ask that girl out. - CMJ

...The music of Ice Cream may not be as innocently sweet as the treat they’re named after, but they’ll certainly delight anyone with even a passing interest in garage rock. - The Bay Bridged

Beginning with a scene reminiscent of the classic Office Space, the video is shot completely in black and white, capturing both the mundanity of everyday office work coupled with humorous moments that we have somehow come to expect from this incredible band. The unique, fun track blends well into the storyline, while we observe the trouble you can get into when you’re not at your day job. - Impose Magazine