Long Rehearsal by Whitney's Playland

Whitney’s Playland have returned with Long Rehearsal, a short and sweet three-song 7” EP set to be released in Summer 2025 via Dandy Boy Records (Oakland, CA) and Meritorio Records (Madrid, Spain).

After the 2023 release of their debut full-length LP Sunset Sea Breeze (Meritorio / Paisley Shirt), which was recorded as a duo, the Bay Area band took a brief hiatus. While these new songs recall the first album’s distinct style, they diverge from their bedroom pop introduction. Long Rehearsal sees the full band performing together for the first time on a record since expanding into a four-piece. The trio of tracks bridges the divide between jangle-pop and crunchy 90’s alt rock, plumbing the depths of tonality and mood. The whole thing is anchored by Inna Showalter’s delicately determined voice, which might help you forget about your trials and tribulations for a brief moment. The result is a more polished production but still keeps in touch with the band’s lo-fi roots. All three tracks were recorded at the band members’ San Francisco, El Cerrito, and Santa Rosa home studios.

The songs are introspective as ever, with themes of alienation and trustworthiness. The title track “Long Rehearsal,” bolstered by catchy guitar hooks, brings to mind a relationship that was once lost but is revitalized against all odds by the passage of time. “Only Daughter” is a fuzzed out ode to eccentric neighbors everywhere, with just a hint of girl group bounce. The moody B-side “Talk” describes the emotional ride of trying to wrestle control from your own mind and voice box. Where do we end up? Somewhere better.

Whitney's Playland is the pandemic-era project of Inna Showalter and George Tarlson, longtime friends and veterans of the music scene (Grandma’s Boyfriend, Blades of Joy, Modern Charms). The band expanded into a four-piece in late 2022 with the addition of Evan Showalter and Paul DeMartini.