Written by Sophia Bronwyn

“Bleachers,” the new release from The Runarounds, doesn’t just revisit youth, it brings it back to life. Full of energy and nostalgia, the track captures that feeling of freedom from when curfews mattered and nights felt endless.

From the opening lines, “Headlights, we’ll turn them off like we used to / My heart starts racing like in high school,” the song immediately puts you in a memory. It paints a clear picture: sneaking out, tiptoeing down driveways, chasing moments that felt small at the time but meant everything. It feels almost like flipping through old photos you didn’t realize you’d miss this much.It instantly took me back to late-night drives with no real destination, something I still do from time to time, with the windows down and the music up loud. The kind of moments you don’t realize you’ll miss until they’re gone. 

At its core, “Bleachers” is about growing up and realizing how fast those moments passed, while still wanting to hold onto them. There’s a bittersweet feeling throughout, like moving forward but wishing you could go back just for a night.

As Axel Ellis shared, the song was inspired by those high school experiences: sneaking out, turning off headlights, and holding onto the thrill of getting away with something. “It’s a reconnection with youth, recognizing although you might not be in that same place anymore, why not try to keep the good days alive?”

“Bleachers” is a reminder that growing up doesn’t mean you have to lose what made you feel alive. It’s the kind of song that feels perfect for summer, roll the windows down, turn it up, and let yourself feel young again. 

While the band was originally brought together for their Amazon Prime show, I’m excited to keep following where they go next and even more excited knowing they aren’t slowing down anytime soon. The Runarounds are heading into a second leg of their tour and continuing to sell out shows along the way.

Also out this week, we’ve got new singles from Shakey Graves, Max McNown, and S.G. Goodman. From an intimate new track, “On My Own,” by Austin-based DIY artist Shakey Graves, to S.G. Goodman’s take on Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper,” and a raw, folk-Americana-leaning release “Heart You Didn’t Break” from rising singer-songwriter Max McNown, there’s plenty to dig into.

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