Crooked Spies Release Their Soaring “Vanity” Music Video

Crooked Spies harness the holy spirit in their best bowlers with a soaring new video for “Vanity.” On the lanes in matching powder blue bowlers, Crooked Spies split the release of their new single “Vanity,” rolling out a holy spirit-infused-themed music video alongside the 3-minute 25-second indie punk ballad.

The newly released track imparts lead vocalist Dylan Evanik’s guttural timbre through soaring chorus lines that dance alongside a boundless melody compliments of brother Steven Evanik’s guitar. Together, they create a euphoric and communal feeling reminiscent of late 2000s pop punk. Inspired power progressions weave throughout the track, with Aaron Samson’s bass driving the song forward. The crescendo is met at the bridge compliments of Mark Lawlor’s technically punctuated drum fills, which serve to slam listeners head first into a wall before the group evocatively asks for your trust in their personal growth via the utterance of the lines, “If you pick me up, I won’t pull you down.”

The song departs from the blues-infused garage rock the Calgary, Alberta-based outfit has previously been recognized for. Powerfully affirming the band’s forward progress, “Vanity” is a glimpse into the new era Crooked Spies has carved out for themselves. Written collaboratively between all members, “Vanity” explores the right and wrong way to conduct oneself when set against a backdrop of influence, calls to salvation, and pleasing followers. This first glimpse into the new material doesn’t hold back from harshing on the sensationalization of institutions, past and present, pinning unchecked glamour and self-sacrificing theatrics as vain and trivial.

The group can make light of the subject and poke fun at themselves in the locally produced video with a little help from their friends. The video depicts two all-star Canadian 5-pin bowling teams, both under the alias of Holy Rollers, competing toe-to-toe for The Championship. Things quickly take a page from Carly Simon’s book (“You’re so vain”), and the focus shifts towards which team can more emphatically harness the holy spirit to out-celebrate the other with one team calling in favours from above. The finale includes a blindfolded Dodgeball inspired tie breaker and an appearance from the holy ghost in a demon-curing dance party that the dude would abide.

“Vanity” marks the first of a series of singles set for release over the coming months as the group teases the announcement of a full-length release having enlisted the services of Josh Gwilliam, Dave Schiffman, and Philip Shaw Bova to bring their vision of the tracks to life. With their fully flared live show that is notorious for switching lanes, Crooked Spies will be hanging up their uniforms for upcoming appearances at BIG Winter Classic on January 26th and supporting Australia’s dance-punk trio DZ Deathrays at Dickens Pub on March 22nd.

Crooked Spies “Vanity” single artwork