“For 2021, we’re releasing one song per month,” explains THE COLOR FRED vocalist and lead guitarist Fred Mascherino. “There’s a vast array of styles to the songs, and besides the core members of The Color Fred, there are also a few unexpected collaborations. We’ll be releasing video content with each song as well. I record all of the music at my studio, my guitarist Steve Angello mixes the music, and our bassist Keith Gibbons films the videos. Since we’re doing it on our own, we can invite people in to see the entire process. This process includes instructional playthrough videos and breakdowns with more intricate explanations, both plugged and unplugged performance videos, and of course music videos. In addition, we do a livestream performance to premiere each song the night before its official release.”
January’s installment “Never Wanted” is a dark indie rock ballad about slowing down your music career to work a day job. “The higher up the ladder I got, the less time I had to make music,” recalls Mascherino. “At one point, I wasn’t even playing at all. It was the very first time since my childhood. Being a married father of three, I felt trapped. I began to analyze things in my life that were positive and negative. I slowly started trying to get back to the things that I love. This song best describes my thoughts of wondering how I ended up in a situation that I didn’t want to be in and questioning if there would ever be a way out.”
The daily grind of the working stiff.
Or the hopeless man looking down the cliff.
I never wanted to be either man.
The stripped-down macabre performance video was filmed at Mascherino’s West Chester, PA studio Diver Down Studios and features Mascherino on lead vocals and acoustic guitar and drummer Monte Holt on keys, backing vocals, and harmonies. Also, the full-band version of “Never Wanted” is now available via music streaming services.
The Color Fred is an indie rock band headed by former Taking Back Sunday guitarist/vocalist Fred Mascherino.
Bend to Break, The Color Fred’s first full-length album, was released on October 30, 2007. The album hit #8 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. The band toured throughout North America and Europe, playing with bands such as Dashboard Confessional, Angels and Airwaves, and Four Year Strong. They released an acoustic EP titled The Intervention for Record Store Day in 2009 and did a virtual solo acoustic tour in support of its release.
Mascherino then entered the studio to record LP2 and wound up collaborating with his friends Josh Eppard (Coheed and Cambria) and Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit) in what eventually became Terrible Things. The trio signed to Universal Motown Records, released their popular self-titled full-length, then spent most of their time on the road supporting bands including The Offspring, Minus the Bear, Bayside, Circa Survive, and Streetlight Manifesto. Mascherino then went on tour playing bass in The Lemonheads and guitar for Say Anything. Rejuvenated and refreshed, The Color Fred has returned full-force to writing and releasing new music in full-force. Fans can expect a new song every month along with loads of video content.
The Color Fred is Fred Mascherino (vocals, guitar), Steve Angello (guitar, backing vocals), Monte Holt (drums), and Keith Gibbons (bass).
