As it traditionally does, Vista Blue has released baseball-themed music to commemorate the beginning of baseball season. This year, that required some early preparation since Major League Baseball chose to start its 2025 regular season nine days before the actual start of the regular season. But Vista Blue was on it, and "Clearing the Benches" is another A+ pop-punk baseball release.
While classifying Vista Blue as a baseball band would be no more accurate than classifying it as a holiday band or a movie band, I must say it never feels right for baseball season to commence without Vista Blue having had the first word. So by the time the Cubs took the field in Japan against the best team money can buy on Tuesday, "Clearing the Benches" had been released into the world, and I was emotionally ready for the first pitch to be thrown. The title track is a tribute to one of baseball's greatest traditions: dramatic, furious brawls in which no one actually fights. A couple of errant pitches cause tempers to flare. The umpire issues a warning. Someone charges the mound. The benches clear. The bullpens eventually do as well. But who's gonna throw a punch when having two working hands is integral to your livelihood? It's far better to just talk a little smack or go have a chuckle with your old college teammate. Vista Blue has accompanied the release of "Clearing the Benches" with an official music video so you can witness some perfectly family-friendly brawl footage as you listen to the song. And of course I love that the chorus is a callback to an iconic Ramones lyric. On the virtual B-side, "See You Later, Billy Ripken Card" is pretty much the ultimate pop-punk baseball song. If you remember the infamous Fleer Billy Ripken error card, then you know exactly which Queers song is being referenced here and why this song is an absolute work of genius. A ode to profanity this wholesome could only have come from the same guys who gave us "I Didn't Say Fudge" b/w "Notafinga" a couple year ago. For those of you who still own that particular card, you could probably fetch $150 for it. That could buy you 16 dozen eggs these days!
It can't be easy to produce top-quality baseball songs every year (especially if you're not a baseball band), but Vista Blue has again delivered in the clutch. I'd be a total f**** face if I kept "Clearing the Benches" off my Opening Day playlist.
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