Pickle

New Single from van goat

To Be Released: July 11th 2025

Single Release show:

The First Annual Pickle Ball! July 10th at the Rickshaw Stop (ticket link)

Single artwork

Press Photos

Van Goat is Aidan Ward, Lindsay Alexis, Derek Burle, Ben Einstein, and Taylor Moxon. Press photos taken by Ginger Fierstein (1,2) and John Woodworth (3)

Lyrics:

Got yourself in a pretty good pickle

Need some help but you’re pretty damn fickle

Stuck in flux and the weights bearing down

But you won’t bait me, I won't bow

Make your faces all you want

Someday someone’s gonna get you taught

Come on man, pick a side

Ain’t you sick of this circus ride

Wait, stop, easy - don’t say that, don’t be mean

Everything will be just fine

Wait, stop, easy -don’t say that, don’t be mean

Everything will be just fine

Let’s strike a deal to keep things simple

Let’s get you out of this Goddamn pickle

Heave your things and look ahead

At least someday we’ll both be dead

Got yourself

Ha ha ha ha ha

About the song:

pick·le

[ˈpik(ə)l]

noun

pickle (noun) · pickles (plural noun)

NORTH AMERICAN ENGLISH
a small cucumber preserved in vinegar, brine, or a similar solution.

fruit or vegetables preserved in vinegar or brine and used as a relish.
the liquid used to preserve food or other perishable items.
an acid solution for cleaning metal objects.

informal
a difficult or messy situation:
"I am in a pickle"

“Pickle” is Van Goat’s wiliest song yet, a swing punk fever dream complete with gigantic riffs descending like a staircase to hell and a freaky smooth-jazz elevator music B-section, punctuated with yelled assurances that yes indeed, “Everything will be just fine.”

Vocalist and trombone player Lindsay Alexis says of the song: “There’s a special kind of absurdity you slip into when trying to reason with someone that keeps sending an argument in circles. The song was an exercise in poking fun at someone pushing you over the edge - as a way to sort of defang them, to maintain some semblance of sanity, and chemically negate the toxic after-effects.” Principal writing for the song took place at 1 A.M. in a car driving to Dunnigan Gas and Food at the crossroads of the 505 and 5 freeways, while practicing breathing exercises.

“Pickle” features high octane performances from its five members. Bassist Derek Burle is all over the neck, drummer Taylor Moxon circles the drum kit like a hyena with its eye on a tasty morsel. Keyboardist Ben Einstein alternates between blazing farfisa organs and tinkly little bells, and guitar player Aidan Ward attacks the freaky B-section, finding notes previously unheard by human ears.

The song was recorded in Ben’s old basement with Chris Nishimoto (Jazz Mafia, Futurelics, My Evergreen Soul), mixed by Chris Hughes (Lazer Beam, Jeff Saltzman, Jack Douglas), and mastered by Piper Payne (Geographer, Janice Ian, Victor Wooten).

The single artwork draws inspiration from the baseball definition of the word pickle - where a baserunner is caught between two bases and faces the potential of being tagged out by the defending team (see definition 2: a difficult or messy situation).

Van Goat will be releasing the single “Pickle” on July 11th 2025. The single release party is at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on 7/10, which immediately precedes a Northern California tour.

Track credits:

Trombone / Lead Vocals : Lindsay Alexis Smith

Vocals / Guitar: Aidan Ward

Bass / Vocals : Derek Burle

Organ / Glockenspiel / Vocals: Ben Einstein

Drums / Percussion: Taylor Moxon

Recorded by Chris Nishimoto

Additional Recording by Ben Einstein

Mixed by Chris Hughes

Mastered by Piper Payne at Neato Mastering

Contact email: vangoatband@gmail.com

American Booking: lee@lofrequencyartists.com

European Booking: kurt.de.bont@telenet.be

Genre: Swing / Punk / Rock
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Sounds like: Shannon & The Clams, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Southern Culture on the Skids, Legendary Shack Shakers.

Live PHOTOs

Live photos taken by Ginger Fierstein