Local band Crunk Witch ‘levels up’ on new album
One of the benefits of living in a small community is certainly getting to know your friendly local electro-rock band. With husband-and-wife duo Brandon Miles and Hannah Colleen aka Crunk Witch, the experience is much like befriending a hometown roller derby queen with warm smiles and punching the clock during the day … only to crack music fans in the emotional ribs at night with their signature mix of disorienting beats, howling vocals, and fantastical imagery.
Breaking Trail
By Dianna Leighton 
The band’s debut full-length album, “The Legend of Manicorn” (released 2010 on Milled Pavement Records) brought listeners face-to-face with familiar roleplaying game foes such as zombies and demons, while also leaving many wondering if the restorative powers of Phoenix Down could revive someone from too much dancing. The debut was frequently satirical, sometimes shocking, and full of tongue-in-cheek.
With Crunk Witch’s sophomore album, “Faith in the Thief” (released earlier this month and available for download at most online retailers), fans will be delighted to find a new epic adventure, but, this time, with a lovelorn earnestness glowing through many of the new tracks
This time, Crunk Witch’s hero is a covert-operations agent of sorts who must tumble and fight his way through a myriad of worlds and planes to find his kidnapped love … with listeners plugged-in for the ride. Along the way, there are triumphant underdog anthems in “Kill Phil” and “Diamonds in Death Lock” (“say good bye, you’ll probably die, but as long as you’re alive you’ve got a chance”), along with beat-filled ballads such as “Scream Love” (“in times of darkness we fund our fears/you feel the thunder but I’m right here”) and the heart wrenching “Tentacle Serenade.” Yet, the album’s otherworldly concept shines strongest in tracks that effortlessly blend musical influences, such as the eight arms of “Glocktopus” grabbing hold of Sunset Strip swagger, the far-reaching warbles of a zurna, and a rockabilly chant all in one fell swoop.
Much like their heroes, Crunk Witch is in the midst of a pretty epic journey of their own: a breakneck 36-stop nationwide tour to promote “Faith in the Thief.” While their home base lies on the outskirts of Presque Isle, their fan base is far flung thanks to such relentless touring.
How does a band keep a tight-knit [but also global] community of fans engaged in the digital age? To stay connected, the duo brings their unique humor and charisma to online social media. Leading up to the release of the new album, Crunk Witch offered loyal fans the opportunity to enjoy a home-cooked vegan dinner for pre-ordering albums through the crowdfunding site Kickstarter, continued to respond directly to fans’ posts on their popular Facebook page, and even participated in the popular Internet meme, the Cinnamon Challenge, on their YouTube channel while unveiling new tracks.
Through personal connections like this, Crunk Witch brings a small-town feel to their gigantic sound. Along the way, the larger-than-life battles waged in their songs inspire listeners to rise above everyday challenges … heartbreak, anxiety, or even just that springtime flooding in your dooryard.
Dianna Leighton is youth librarian at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle. Her professional and personal interests include community building, digital media and content creation, and promoting transliteracy skills. In her spare time, she enjoys testing her cooking skills, reading anything she can get her hands on, and sharing stories and experiences with those in her community. Dianna can be reached at (207) 764-2571 or via e-mail at diannaleighton@presqueislelibrary.org.
