Oliver Elf Army calls its music “sinister-pop” for a reason. The Everett band’s sound is edgy.
The trio will release their new LP, “Oliver Elf Army Are Sending Thoughts and Prayers,” on March 21. The nine-song project — which they’ll perform in a live-streamed show Saturday evening on Everett’s Black Lab Gallery’s Facebook page — showcases their penchant for making lighthearted tunes about controversial subjects, including mass shootings, political division and class warfare.
The members — Martin Adams, Mary Adams and Henry Yarsinske Jr., who all live in Everett — spent the past two years channeling their frustrations, observations and social commentary into their music.
“I feel like we really don’t mince words,” said Yarsinke, who sings and plays bass. “It’s very politically charged.”
Throughout “Oliver Elf Army Are Sending Thoughts and Prayers,” the trio’s sharp lyrics purposely contrast with their cheerful, catchy melodies. The songs take jabs at President Donald Trump, the National Rifle Association and right-wing rocker Ted Nugent.
Mary and Martin Adams, who are married, formed the band in 2009. Mary said the new album showcases their improved songwriting and technical skills.
“We’re much more interesting to listen to than we were,” said Mary Adams, who sings and plays drums. “It just comes through when you listen to the record.”
Oliver Elf Army has performed at Everett Music Initiative’s Fisherman’s Village Music Festival, been featured on the TV series “Band in Seattle,” and gotten airplay on KSER-FM.
Martin Adams, 49, and Mary Adams, 48, recorded three albums as a duo before meeting Yarsinske at the Fisherman’s fest in 2016. They added the 33-year-old bassist — who grew up in Marysville — to the band a year later.
“Oliver Elf Army Are Sending Thoughts and Prayers,” which also is available on vinyl via Bandcamp, is the first record that all three have worked on together.
“I used to go away and come back with songs,” Martin Adams said. “Now we do it together and talk them out. It’s more collaborative now than it has been.”
The LP dips into satire. One song, “Corvette Summer,” asks whether the world would be a better place if “all the rich kids drove their Corvettes off a cliff,” said Martin Adams, who sings and plays guitar.
Others are more lighthearted. “Young Riddles” pokes fun at how kids speak to each other.
“Kids don’t speak in sentences anymore,” Martin Adams said. “They sort of quote memes. They all seem to understand the language themselves, but for an outside viewer, it’s like, ‘What?’”
Evan Thompson: 425-339-3427, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @ByEvanThompson.
If you stream
Oliver Elf Army will perform 6 p.m. Saturday in a live stream on Black Lab Gallery’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/blacklabgallery. The trio’s “sinister-pop” music also will be available to stream Saturday on Bandcamp, iTunes, SoundCloud and Spotify.
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