Photo by Adrian Littel
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- The last we heard from Banquets, they announced their third and final LP, “Spit at the Sun.” The Jersey City quartet had decided to hang it up after years of shows and several releases with Black Numbers. They played their final show in February of 2016 and the members went their separate ways, parting on good terms but with the understanding that the realities of life made it difficult to carry the banner any further.
In 2021, the band started practicing with the intention of playing The Fest in Gainesville, but the effort ultimately failed. Despite the physical distance between all the members of the band, the seed was planted and the spark was there. That spark started a new fire among the band members, who started working on new material almost immediately after the cancelled Fest performance. Slowly at first, they started sending demos back and forth. Once time and geography allowed, Banquets were back in the same room again hammering on what would become their fourth LP. With 11 new songs done, Banquets tapped longtime friend Andy Clarke (Luther, The Ruining) to produce at his studio in Philadelphia (Retro City Studios).
“Petty Relics” picks up where “Spit at the Sun” left off, even if it took them 10 years to get going. The album is a reflection on getting older while you still have the passion for something you loved when you were younger, while also looking to the future and what’s left in your wake.
Sonically, “Petty Relics” draws from a lot of Banquets’ usual influences, but has a more natural and indie-leaning feel. Despite the melancholy self-reflective tone of the lyrics, the brightness of the melodies and instrumentation gives the listener a sense that Banquets are satisfied with the mark they’ve made over the years. Get useless. Get used to it.
"Pretty Relics" will be released on October 17, 2025 via Black Numbers. It is available for sale at Bandcamp.
