As I write this, I’m sitting on the veranda of a condo in South Florida, mooching off my folks for the week. Don’t worry, I’m aware we’re still in a pandemic, so I’m not exactly itching to run into the nightlife scene of Miami.

For now, I’m content to be chill and unplug from the world, and one upside to doing so is the chance to dig into new music without distractions.

One of those bands is Thomas And The Work-Men, a group I highlighted as an Ohio Band to Watch in 2021.

In their debut music video for “Why Can’t I Ever Say No” they touch on some serious themes in a humorous light. The humor spotlights these themes in a way that isn’t demeaning or belittling, something I appreciate as someone who’s out of town at the moment. Time away from home is a period I view often as a time to reflect intentionally in a healthy way on personal trial and challenges. In that same way, the band aims to be that own sort of reprieve for listeners, if only for a few minutes. People will likely watch this video, and laugh and relate all at once.

The band is making the most of this unique period in history, through outlets such as a recent virtual show with Paper Morning at Columbus favorite The Shrunken Head, continuing to hone their sound, and leave their cheery, alt-rock meets funk imprint with movers and shakers around the region.

Take a listen and watch of their music video below:

Follow the band on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photos are by Kayla Kreller, also known as BlazingChakrams Photgraphy.

The single is being released via Free Dive Records.