Icarus Phoenix Examines Lived Experience of Social Anxiety With “80’s Night Dance Party Singing ‘Send Me an Angel’”

Icarus Phoenix uses the vehicle of power pop Americana with “80’s Night Dance Party Singing ‘Send Me an Angel’” to deliver the realest lines about social anxiety rendered in thoughtful couplets. It’s posed as a series of questions coming from a place of compassionate curiosity and works whether directed to a friend or to oneself. Singing “Why’s it gotta be you feel alive with no one round?” A.R. Herrin sums up what it means to be an introvert but recognizing the limitations of going too far into yourself to the point of isolation. “Riding on my bike abandoning social events every time” is a line at the end of the song that so succinctly creates an image of a habit of a different kind of escapism than simply binging on entertaining media or chemical alteration. The sparkling, jangly guitar work as almost processional strumming frames this song about getting to the root of one’s anxieties that one’s well-constructed system of coping mechanisms aren’t fooling anyone and no longer serve the interests of your heart. Listen to “80’s Night Dance Party Singing ‘Send Me an Angel’” on Bandcamp and perhaps further explore the full album No tree can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell out now on Telos Tapes. Also, connect with Icarus Phoenix at the links provided.