Author: pushpuppets_kcvzez

Erich from Push Puppets spoke with Dimitris from Myth of Rock to discuss the past, current and future of Push Puppets.

With their fourth album “Tethered Together”, Chicago’s Push Puppets are proving that smart, heartfelt pop-rock is alive and well. Led by songwriter and frontman Erich Specht, the band blend catchy hooks, lush arrangements, and genuine emotion in a way that feels classic and refreshing. In this chat with Myth of Rock, Erich opens up about the band’s evolution from a solo project to a full creative unit, the making of their new record, their love for big sounds and real strings, and what keeps the fire burning after four albums. This is the story of Push Puppets.

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UK arts publication The Swindonian has some nice things to say about Push Puppets.

Tethered Together is not the music of the past, but it is music built on an older, more robust, and more sonically meaningful set of values. Push Puppets is a band setting wonderfully high benchmarks in both songwriting and delivery. Other bands take note, and take them on at your peril.

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Push Puppets songwriter/singer/guitarist Erich Specht sat down with Graham Coath for the My Music podcast to talk big hooks, bigger harmonies, and the new album Tethered Together. We get from deep-dish pizza to deep-cut influences in one leap: Roy Thomas Baker-style productions (Cars/Queen), XTC, @crowdedhousehq , a dash of Jellyfish, and even a hint of glam on what’s coming next.

Erich unpacks the album’s themes of connection (spot the shark and “pilot fish” on the cover), the breakup and life moments that powered the lyrics, and how songs often start as voice notes in the car.

We go behind the scenes with Steve Frisbie’s soaring backing vocals, sessions at Gravity Studios with Doug McBride (Smashing Pumpkins, Silversun Pickups, Veruca Salt), and a real string quartet across eight tracks—used not as wallpaper, but as a co-star.

Listen for:

• The wall-of-voices on “Shake It Like You Mean It”
• Why “All Together on 3” reprises its bridge and hides a delicious rhythmic trick in the outro
• Strings vs. guitars sparring on “Launching a Satellite”
• Writing systems: 250+ ideas logged, voice memos, and reading sprees that spark melodies
• The sweet one inspired by a much-loved Basset Hound

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Music publication The Big Takeover has shared some thoughts on the song and video for “Probably” and the rest of the album.

Where most bands’ albums are a collection of songs that act, largely, as a bridge between two or three singles, Tethered Together seems to flip that ratio between singles and album tracks on its head. And even then, the songs that Push Puppets feel might not deem suitable to go out into the world in their own right still equate to the sort of song that most bands would be more than happy to have as a lead single.

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Music publication Myth of Rock has shared the video for “Probably” – and share some kind words about the music.

“Probably” is one of the standout moments on “Tethered Together”. Poignant yet uplifting, it’s Push Puppets at their most genuine – crafting music that makes you feel, reflect, and ultimately smile through the tears.

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Music publication Skylight Webzine has the premiere of the video for “Probably”.

Push Puppets manage in developing a song that is particular, suitable to bring comfort to anyone who has loved and lost. “Probably” remains like a beloved memory: soft, bittersweet, and shining.

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Independent music publication The RingMaster Review has shared a flattering review of “Tethered Together”.

If you are drawn to sentimentally communicative songwriting bound in an infection of indie pop rock than we can only suggest you head the way of Tethered Together. It is the new album from Chicago-based outfit PUSH PUPPETS and a collection of songs that merge the romance of emotion with the adventure of labyrinthine enterprise.

Completed by the provocative shadowy drama of The Logical Conclusion, a song as compelling in enterprise as it is in surprise, Tethered Together is quite simply a playground and adventure for all indie pop/rock hearts.

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The Big Takeover has shared the premiere of the video for “Shake It Like You Mean It”.

An anthem to “just doing it,” rolling the dice, leaving it up to fate, and perhaps the wider public to decide if you have what it takes, it’s a great message, especially in this age where poise and polish and perfection are seen as tantamount. Of course, it is also a great song.

And a great song requires a great video, in this case a blend of silly silent movie clips juxtaposed with slick band performance footage, echoing the song’s own balance of wit and wisdom.

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Music publication The Big Takeover has the premiere of the video for “Launching a Satellite” – and share some kind words about the music.

Forget genres; call this classic…or at least future classic; the only missing ingredient is the time needed for the music to find its way into every corner and crack of contemporary culture and work its magic, to pool and percolate into the collective consciousness of the discerning music fans. It won’t take long to do that, trust me.

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