Pensacola rock band Heavy Kid will celebrate the release of their new album, five-line farewell, with a special album release party at The Handlebar on Saturday. The album, which is filled with heartfelt and reflective moments, features a poignant tribute to Kent Stanton, a beloved local musician who passed away in 2020.
Stanton, known for his work in bands like The Unemployed, Plaid Girl, and Neutronic, as well as his solo singer-songwriter career, was a key influence on many Pensacola musicians, including Heavy Kid. The band’s track “For Kent” captures the essence of their shared admiration for Stanton and the Minneapolis band The Replacements, a group both Stanton and Heavy Kid frontman Ben Bogan deeply revered. The song’s gentle acoustic intro, followed by its dynamic shift between delicate beauty and bold rock energy, mirrors the spirit of The Replacements’ most memorable songs.
Bogan reflects, “Kent and I were both huge fans of The Replacements, and when ‘For Kent’ came on, it felt like a piece of their legacy—something Kent would have truly appreciated.”
The album, dedicated to the friends and family members the band lost during its creation, carries a sense of nostalgia and reverence. The cover art, a paper flower made from a music sheet Bogan discovered under The Handlebar stage years ago, features musical five-line staffs as petals, further linking the album to the local music scene.
The release party, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, will feature opening acts East Hillbillies and Color the Void. Admission is $10, and fans can expect a night of live music, memories, and a heartfelt celebration of Heavy Kid’s latest work.
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