Video Premiere: The Burning of Rome – “Ballad of an Onion Sprout”

San Diego’s The Burning of Rome are set to release their new full-length, With Us, on September 18. We’ll have more on the adventurous album later, but for now suffice it to say that With Us is one of the best records to come out of San Diego in recent memory. That’s why we’re proud to bring you the premiere for the band’s new single, “Ballad of an Onion Sprout.”

The ridiculously catchy song sounds like what would happen if Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros were to abscond in a space shuttle with Blondie’s Jimmy Destri. But, for lead singer Adam Traub, the video feels more like the band arriving on Earth than fleeing it.

“The ‘Onion Sprout’ video is a greeting the band could give to the world to get people acquainted with The Burning of Rome,” says Traub. “What you see in the video is what you might expect to encounter at [The Burning of Rome’s] live show.” (Speaking of shows, you can experience The Burning of Rome live at the Che Cafe on August 17.)

Either way, the song is undeniably appealing. The infectious keyboard lead pulls you in for what soon reveals itself to be an ornate sonic tapestry complete with church bells and ethereal moans. It’s ambitious but accessible, a combination The Burning of Rome pull off with ease.

14 thoughts on “Video Premiere: The Burning of Rome – “Ballad of an Onion Sprout””

  1. Andy, if only everyone were talented enough to produce the generic garageband loops on top of answering machine messages that you call your music. How embarassing. This “gazette of a webzine you’ve got hear” did a fine job on this piece – might I suggest an entry level English course? Tell them you need special help with homophones. I hear San Diego City College is now accepting applications from middle-aged bitter misogynists and hack musicians. P.S. Anal Cunt IS a great band.

  2. mmmm….. now you’ve got me fantasizing about Anal Cunt, chopped and screwed… fuck yes! let us know when you get it up on the internets!

  3. Somebody dumped a crate of shitty 80s music in the dumpster behind Winston’s and some hippies found out about Split Enz and Haircut 100. Great. I’d rather listen to Anal Cunt chopped and screwed then be subjected to another pretentious bunch of twenty something year old virtuosos-in-their-own-mind try to re-define palatable pop music for the masses. I think they’re definitely evil, not in a black metal way, evil in like a Menendez brothers way. Except for the chick, who is obviously being forced to play with these guys from some sick elaborate extortion scheme. Secretly she’s plotting revenge. This sounds horrible. Almost as horrible as the writing in this panderers gazette of a webzine you’ve got hear. Let’s pray you don’t ever waste the resources needed to actually print this slop on paper, cuz that would truly be a crime against nature.

  4. I’m really digging this. The melodies throughout are just wonderful and it has an ambient energy that i rarely find in modern music. Hopefully this finds its way to tumblr cause that’s where bands like TBOR get popular

  5. Great video and even better song! The Burning of Rome has talent, creativity and a unique personality unmatched by many bands of the genre. Their alternative punk, dance style is definitely something special!

  6. Awesome video from a band with wild talent. I dig how much each of their personalities come through. Thanks for posting this, O&B. I’m going to be catching these guys at the Che Cafe on August 18.

  7. So stoked on this new vid!!
    Share some love for your local San Diego Talent!!
    Cant wait to see em’ on the 17th 🙂

  8. The Burning of Rome are so awesome to see live, and have now came out with an AWESOME VIDEO! So excited for there up coming shows! 🙂

  9. Awesome video by a great local band – Love to Owl and Bear for posting this! Can’t wait to see them live at Che Cafe!

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