I was caught off guard the other week when Corey Campbell and Jenna Desmond of Babe Club let me know that they were leaving Susto to pursue that project full-time. Looking through pictures it seems like the duo was with the Acid Boy crew for three years, fitting in perfectly to a Susto lineup that was in need of stability at the time. Babe Club is the second act that’s spun off the strengthening Susto bandwagon, with Johnny Delaware leaving the band last year to take The Artisanals to the next level. Now we have Babe Club going full steam ahead and another act out there on the road showcasing our state’s talent. Plus, we all know that it was just a matter of time before Babe Club took off one way or another.
Babe Club first appeared as the opening track of our 2017 Sampler under Jenna Desmond with the track “Automatic Love”. Even before that release there was buzz and anticipation surrounding the band. After the release of that track that buzz grew, and crowds poured in for the occasional shows. Now with the release of “Hate Myself” attention continues to build, with the song even included on NPR’s New Music Friday playlist and a series of tour dates.
“Hate Myself” is the first song the band self-produced and recorded at the AAA storage units downtown where Wolfgang Zimmerman used to have his studio before moving operations to Rialto Row. The track features both Corey Campbell and Jenna Desmond along with High Divers drummer Julius DeAngelis, Ross Bogan on synthesizer, and Camille Rhoden singing harmonies.
Via their press release Desmond says about the single and leaving Susto
“It’s a reflection of my life over the past few years. When I started playing in Susto, I had just graduated school, and Corey taught me how to play bass so I could join them on the road. It was monumental to me that the guys in Susto saw potential in me, and gave me the opportunity to be on the road with them. Corey and I played our last show with Susto on on September 29th in Columbia. It’s bittersweet to go, but we’re excited to do Babe Club full time.”
When talking about “Hate Myself” specifically Desmond refers to how her time on the road with Susto isolated her as she sometimes felt out of touch during our current political climate. “I lost contact with a lot of ladies in my life at first, and felt alone because I had no one to relate to. So hence “I hate myself”. I think in general when people start working full time, everyone gets busy, and keeping friendships and staying social is really hard sometimes.”
Playing Royal American in Charleston, SC on 11/10 with Airpark and Tom Angst.
See tour dates below with Airpark.
11/7 Athens, GA Georgia Theater Rooftop
11/8 Macon, GA The Creek Stage at Rookery
11/9 Savannah, GA El Rocko Lounge
11/10 Charleston, SC The Royal American
11/13 New York City, NY The Bowery Electric
11/14 Washington D.C DC9 Nightclub
11/15 Swarthmore, PA War3house 3
11/16 Philadelphia, PA Sofar Sounds
11/17 Norfolk, VA Lava Presents: Toast
12/8 Columbia, SC The White Mule ** With Fredrick the Younger
12/9 Greenville, SC The Radio Room ** With Fredrick the Younger
12/11 Raleigh, NC The Pour House ** With Fredrick the Younger
