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Here at Heyday (NocturnalSol’s sister company) we are no strangers to the greatness of indie college radio darlings, turned global phenomenon, R.E.M. and its frontman and chief songwriter Michael Stipe. We were thrilled when just earlier this year we added the genius, haunting, breakthrough 90’s single, Your Ghost, by Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses, featuring Michael Stipe, to our catalogue. So, it’s not surprising when our very own Man’s Body recently recorded R.E.M’s classic Driver 8, and delivered their true to form, yet very unique spin on it, by literally adding some signature ‘bells and whistles’, that we were over the moon.

Inspired by a greater sense of urgency that is born from these extremely divided and critical times we are living in, founding member and songwriter, Greg Franco, also of our very own Rough Church, resonated with the songs repeating lyric, ‘take a break Driver-8, we’ve been on this shift too long.’ That lyric and it’s subtext for Greg, compelled Franco, a huge fan of R.E.M. in his formative years, and band members, J. Niimi (who wrote a book on R.E.M’s very first full length record, Murmur, in the 33 1/3 book series) and Marco Obaya, to play the song live in Chicago for the first time, which was received by cheering accolades so intense, that Man’s Body simply didn’t have a choice...they had to record and release their version to the world, in hopes that Stipe’s message grab hold and take root, so everyone, everywhere, might take pause to think, stop and take that much needed break from the laborious grind we have all been slaving away on, for far too long.

This final version you are listening to now, captures all of the magic that is Man’s Body’s live show, and it’s not even live. And any of you who know a thing or two about music and playing it live, know just how difficult that can be. The sound of Man’s Body is so complex, that in order to deliver live, what you hear on this recording of Driver 8 is comprised of Franco on lead vocals, Niimi and Obaya, both on guitars, Marc Doten on bass, piano and backing vocals and Derek Crawford on drums and percussion, to provide those aforementioned, ‘bells and whistles’ which round out this total package, and it’s full sound, by incorporating actual bells, and the signature touch of the glockenspiel. All of these symbiotic pieces of this intricate puzzle put together in this perfect way, yield nothing short of the ultimate send off and tribute to this classic song.

Recorded at legendary Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago, and engineered by Mike Hagler, guru engineer of praiseworthy Wilco, The Mekons and Neko Case, this cover of Driver 8 falls nothing short of perfection. Go ahead, take a spin or infinite spins, and you couldn’t possibly disagree.

Keep a lookout for Man’s Body full-length release ‘A Set Of Steak Knives’ coming our way early 2021!!

And if you’re not yet familiar with Franco’s, Man’s Body, or his companion act, Rough Church, here’s your chance. We guarantee that anyone who are fans of skinny-tie, indie power rock, won’t be disappointed!

Enjoy! We are!


Artist: Man’s Body
Track: Driver 8
Label: Nocturnal Sol, a division of HeyDay Media Group

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