Hit the Floor!, by Vista Blue

Hit the Floor!

by Vista Blue

supported by

The Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl thumbnail

Rick Warhall (Chasing the Essential) thumbnail

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$3 USD or more
Full Digital Discography

58

releases

Get all 58 Vista Blue releases available on Bandcamp and save 70%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Somebody's Favorite Band, Christmas Every Day, Even Dracula Will Be There, Heathcliff, Runaway, Bandcamp Friday Is Here!, Radio Jams, Coming Out Swinging, and 50 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

$15.60 USD or more (70% OFF)

1.	Summer Wonderland 03:45		buy track
2.	Three Chord City (The Cold) 02:19	info	buy track
3.	Big Stars 02:20		buy track

about

“We were gonna be big, big stars…”

Summer, 1999. Mike Patton’s band at the time was called Park Bench, and they set up a show for my high school band The Pendletones. It was a stuffy June night in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and while the crowd was thin, there was an abundance of melodies and harmonies like I had never before witnessed in real life. We had never heard the term Power Pop, but we both worshiped The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Weezer, so we became fast friends.

The first record I ever produced was an EP for Mike’s band The Robinsons in 2001. It was done with no budget and recorded in my parents’ dining room, but we had a fantastic time hanging out and listening to pop punk bands like The Travoltas, The Queers, and The Mr. T. Experience. The songwriters of these bands all possessed the gift of melody, a rare talent that sets them apart from others in their genre. When I heard Mike’s song, “Rev It Up” for the first time, I knew he shared that gift as well.

Several bands and one category 5 hurricane later, Mike was living in Nashville and we were making music again with our group the Loblaws. Sharing the stage with the three Patton brothers was a thrill for me, and the music we made brings back amazing memories. “Tossing And Turning” is one of the best pop punk songs I’ve ever heard. Great melodies, harmonies, and huge fuzzy guitars. What more could you want?

“Let’s do something that we’ve never done before…”

I know how much they love Big Star, so for Mike’s latest group, Vista Blue, to get the chance to record this new single at Ardent Studios in Memphis was a huge deal. “Summer Wonderland” dates back to 2003, and I can still remember seeing Sally Stitches perform it for the first time. It sounds like it could be a lost Bruce and Terry track from 1964, amazing layers of harmonies, a huge chorus, and clever lyrics. Absolutely an essential for cruising with your girl, no matter the season.

“Big Stars,” a not so subtle nod to Ardent Studios' most famous clients, also pays tribute to Mike’s DIY values that brought him to this point. It also features some fantastic soaring harmonies from Perry Leenhouts of the Travoltas. A brilliant collaboration.

“Three Chord City” is a great track by an early '80s New Orleans group called The Cold. Equal parts The Hondells and The Ramones, this track is a perfect blend of the styles that make Vista Blue so much fun to listen to.

I couldn’t be prouder to know these guys and to be a small part of a fantastic musical journey. The gift of melody lives on, and I’m thankful.

- Wyatt Funderburk
wyattfunderburk.bandcamp.com
www.sailonsounds.com

credits

released December 19, 2019

Order vinyl here: radiantradish.storenvy.com

Side A

Summer Wonderland (M. Patton/R. Bates)

Side B

Three Chord City (V. Degeneres/K. Radecker)
Big Stars (M. Patton)

Recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis in July 2019. Engineered by Mike Wilson. Mixed/mastered by Perry Leenhouts of Point Break Sound.

Cover photo by Chuck Billiot
Layout design by Matthew Ostrom

Richard Bates - guitar, vocals
Reese Chism - drums, vocals
Mark Crowley - bass, vocals
Mike Patton - vocals, guitar, organ

Also: Perry Leenhouts - vocals, tambourine

Thanks to all of our kickstarter backers! This project could not have happened without you!

Kickstarter thanks:

Alex Retro, the Creative Fund, BigEd45, Rick Warhall, Wyatt and Mandy Funderburk, Rusty Spell, Mick Fletcher, Boyd Stubblefield, John Sheets, Chris Wilson, Jonathan Bell, Amanda Pickering, Drew Miranda, Brett McChristy, Doug Clubok, Jinger Roy, Matthew H., John Sims-Jones, Ryan McLaughlin, Gerald Neyland, Allison Sambola, Andy Miller, Chuck Billiot, Erica Husosky, Mike Bodayle, Dean, Lerussard, Allen, Chad Shields, Mark Chow, hopman315, Vance DeGeneres, arrscott, Matthew Collier, Matt Drastic, Eric Johnson, Marc Wall, Rita Crowley, Patti Crowley, Jerry, and Patrick McVay!

license

about

Vista Blue Nashville, Tennessee

Vista Blue is a rock band based in Nashville. Rooted in New Orleans, members have played in The Loblaws (Mutant Pop), Second Saturday (Excellent Records), and The Robinsons (One Eye, Mooster, Killer Records). Influences include: Beatles, Beach Boys, Ramones, Fountains of Wayne, Weezer, MTX, Queers, Apples, etc.

Pre-order the upcoming Seasons 12-inch here: radiantradish.storenvy.com ... more

contact / help

Contact Vista Blue

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Vista Blue, you may also like:

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out
by Ralphie's Red Ryders

supported by 10 fans who also own “Hit the Floor!”
go to album
Passport - International Split Series Vol.1 - Windowsill/Horror Section Split
by Mom’s Basement Records

supported by 9 fans who also own “Hit the Floor!”

Pure pop punk goodness coming from my favorite record label, my favorite band (Horror Section) and a new band to discover and love equally (The Windowsill). Although its shorter than most of Horror Section's other splits, the songs absolutely slap and i couldn't ask for better. hightidejake
go to album
44 Golden Greats!
by Various Artists

supported by 9 fans who also own “Hit the Floor!”

What a rad idea! MP was such a rad label and released quality records. When I was younger it was my dream to release something on the label some day. God Bless Mutant Pop! Hail Satan 666! Death to false metal! The Thorazines
go to album
JUICE
by Born Ruffians

15 years into their career, the Toronto indie rockers sound sharp and ebullient as ever. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 1, 2020
go to album
Which Witch
by Peach Kelli Pop

Fans of Marine Girls and Talulah Gosh will find a lot to love in the new EP from Allie Hanlon's long-running fuzz-pop project. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2018
go to album
Absolution
by Riverby

Rising Philadelphia band balance oversized pop punk hooks with vivid, intimate lyrics, presenting a raw, honest vision of guitar music. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2022
go to album
Wanna-Be's - Out Went The Lights
by Mom’s Basement Records

supported by 9 fans who also own “Hit the Floor!”

Solid pop punk-too bad we had to wait so long for this!!! John P
go to album