When I hear an artist like Sean Atkins, I find myself hoping that they’ll go viral and find the recognition they deserve overnight, but that’s not what Atkins wants. “I can’t do the whole ‘guess the drummer’ Instagram bullshit. You’re at such a tough road where if you make a video like that, you can go up so quick, but it’s just a sleazy way to do it,” he told me, sitting outside of a Five Guys, after his set at Treefort Music Fest.
“I think it’s an ego thing, which I could just drop, and maybe some success would come my way. But I like that one of these days I’m going to play the song, and somebody’s like, “oh, that’s dope enough for me to listen to,” rather than the goofy-ass reel,” he said.
I’m the person listening to Atkins music and thinking, “That’s dope enough for me to listen to,” and I hope you are too.
“Bullshit rock”
Atkins is a self-described “bullshit rock” artist based in Washington. His sound is similar to Asheville indie and folk-rock acts that have been gaining a lot of traction in recent years. “I’m in this circle full of bands that are kind of just, you know, sniffing the farts of MJ Lenderman and Wednesday, and I’m not gonna hide that,” he said. It’s probably true that if you’re like me, and a huge fan of Lenderman’s guitar playing and Hartzman’s songwriting, you’ll like Atkins too.
The most compelling part of Atkins music is his lyrics. He largely writes about his friends and family and their experiences in a way that blends the sad, the funny, and the mundane; it makes his songs all the more relatable. Some of Atkins’ favorite lines are “Milk in his ice cream to make himself a bit thinner,” and “I got my skull mask on. I’m working in Party City, scaring the kids.” My personal favorite line is, “he used to drive to the liquor store with me in the baby seat.”
Atkins’ lyrics stand out the most in his recorded music, but I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy his live set at Treefort. Even though it was at a smaller stage and at 2 p.m., it might’ve been one of my favorite shows of the weekend.
He played with a seven-piece band including four guitars, bass guitar, keyboard and drums, under the name “Sean Atkins & Carrington.” At times, I feel like adding too many instruments can be over the top, but not in this case.
Every instrument seemed to be contributing in its own way, with bass, drums, and distorted guitars driving the song, and keyboard and smooth lead guitar lines adding texture. Atkins sang in a way that felt conversational and earnest, beautifully contrasted by the keyboardist’s higher backing vocals.
What’s next
Atkins is graduating from college soon with a degree in audio engineering and is looking forward to the free time to focus on his music. “I’ve always had a bad relationship with the music that I put out,” he said. “Now I know how to make it sound so much better and all that, I want to take my time. I’m not gonna rush it.” He will be going on tour this November and hopes to play in Salt Lake. I’m excited to hear the music Atkins continues to write and release, and to catch him again live when he goes on tour.