_{By Andy McFerren}

2024 is shaping up to be a big year for Cardinal Bloom. Not only did they end 2023 with a bang, playing a packed New Year’s Eve show, but they’re starting off the year just as strong with the release of their new single, “Waste Your Time.” 

The song was born out of a typical jam sesh with three members of the band. “A lot of the first ideas kind of stuck,” said lead guitarist Josh Thomas, explaining how the song came together rather quickly in a bit of songwriting magic.

Produced by Scott Wiley at June Audio, “Waste Your Time” highlights exactly what this band does best: a rhythm section of bass and drums that will hypnotize you into swaying those hips like you’re in a beginners jazzercise class, silky smooth guitar that haunts you like a siren song, and a catchy chorus that will be stuck in your head for days – even after a single listen. 

I can’t get over lead singer Joey St. John’s delivery of the line “baby did you get too high?” in the chorus. There’s a sultry tone that sucks you in. You can’t ignore it. In particular, right before the instrumental bridge of the song, the line is borderline erotic. I blushed listening to it for the first time, worried that someone else might encroach on the intimate moment. At the very least, buy a man some dinner first! 

Outside of the spicy vocals, the thing that stuck out to me the most was the guitar solo as performed by Joey St. John. The guitar tone is otherworldly, accomplished through a Leslie speaker and a ton of other studio magic. The result is a wobbly organ that shreds so hard it’d melt the ice if ever played at a hockey game.  

The song is out today, January 12, just in time for their two-night stay at Kilby Court. They’re playing tonight, January 12, and Saturday, January 13. Tickets are on sale now. Click here for night 1. Click here for night 2.

“Waste Your Time” is just a taste of more to come from Cardinal Bloom this year, including a full album that they aim to release sometime this spring. Make sure to follow Cardinal Bloom on Instagram and stream “Waste Your Time” below!