The story behind Lubec, Maine, the new release from The Tail Lights

Kaufman - cover art by Neil Denny

The Tail Lights release their track Lubec, Maine on 10th October 2025.

The song was inspired by friend of the band, Brad, an illustrator living in New York.

"A couple of years back, Brad recognised that post-covid NYC was badly affecting his wellbeing. He had family members in a place called Lubec, Maine and they were insisting that he should go and convalesce with them for a few months."

"It turns out that Lubec, Maine is a very small town with a population of maybe less than 2000. Curiously, it is the eastern most municipality in America."

"I was chilling on a Sunday afternoon, just playing with chords on the guitar. At the same time Brad was posting on Twitter about his experiences in Lubec. That was the original spark for the song - the town name alone has something ugly-lyrical about it. There is something about the heaviness of 'Lubec' resting alongside the breezy, evocative notions of the Maine coastland.

"This idea of remoteness adds to the romanticised idea of it taking 'Three days to drive' to get there. It doesn't take that long but never let the facts get in the way of a good lyric. The exaggeration also speaks to what must be a vast gulf between life in the Big Apple and Lubec.

"The complete line - Three days to drive, how do you know when you have really arrived? - is a sincere one even if factually incorrect. It speaks of my concern for Brad; even when you get there physically, how will you know that the convalescent effect is being accessed, how will you know that you have fully brought yourself and that you are not just waiting to get back to the city?

"This was one of those songs that come like a gift. Its first version took no longer than 90 minutes to write. It is based around a stupidly simple three chord riff (G/F/C). There are a few songwriting devices in the lyrics that I think work quite well.

"Firstly, I always felt that songs anchored to a defined place have a natural authenticity to them. We have another couple in the tank that do similar - Santa Cruz and Newfoundland Bay Skylines.

"The use of lists is another trustworthy song-writing technique.

"The second verse lists NYC references that I knew would resonate with Brad, lifted as they are from his own posts, "East Village bodegas, Ray's Candy Store, out on the corner, tenements without windows..." Again, I understand that the candy store is not, in fact on a corner, but it scanned so it stays.

"The final verse is also a list, this time of three legendary rock acts that Brad and I both greatly admire, Sonic Youth, Tom Waits and Frank Zappa.

"Other musical influences came to the fore in the recording studio - more on that experience in another post - but The Tail Lights were joined by Dan Scullion on lead for his recording debut. His love for J Mascis, Dinosaur Jr and Sebadoh, shared with Neil and sound engineer/producer Ryan James is clearly heard in his phrasing. The rhythm guitar takes on a much crunchier aspect as well together with Henry's very fast, loose bass and all cemented to Jensen Tyrell's infectious, driving beat.

"First mix and master is by Ryan and then we switched out to George Moulos for final production mix on the release version... again, more on our work with George in a future article."

Lubec, Maine will be released on 10th October 2025.