Like a John Hughes movie or a thrift store cardigan sweater, the driving rhythm and earnest melody of Telltale is both familiar and reinvigorating in equal measure.
The quartet – composed of John Carteret (vocals), Bryce Marshall (guitar), Tim Fogg (bass), and Travis Slack (drums) – crafts anthems that immediately connect with the kids who pack clubs and theaters to see newer bands like Neck Deep as well as the older set that cherish early records from Fall Out Boy and Lifetime, but with their own distinctive spin. The Richmond, Virginia-based band’s latest EP, Lie Your Way Out, provides a relatable glimpse at the world outside, capturing the frays and phobias of the 21st century.
Made with earnest ambition and emotional precision, Lie Your Way Out is a short burst of soul-searching, melodic desperation, and reaching upward toward a peace of mind that is too often frustratingly out of reach. Produced by Zach Jones, the record follows their 2019 breakout EP, Timeless Youth.
Telltale have steadily charted their own path through impassioned performances and friendly charm, supporting bands like Broadside, Knuckle Puck, Point North, and Rarity, both at home and on the road.
With heavy doses of saccharine sentiment and self-aware camp, Telltale are perfecting the recipe. They are fresh champions for the underdog, a group who makes the everyday soundtrack for the uninvited, brokenhearted, and cast aside.
