Last week I received an exciting email. (I also received a stupid email: Dunkin offered triple points on one order — not even a free coffee — for my birthday. Uh, thanks I guess.) Anyways, the good email was from Warren Campbell of Dead Billionaires, and it was a heads up and a press release about the band’s new single.

DB released some of my favorite songs last year, so I was thrilled to hear what was next for them, and you should be too.

I fell in love with their More! EP last year (my best of 2025 is still forthcoming, really… having my own blog where I write what I want when I want is really nice but also means that sometimes things get started and never finished or just posted whenever) and they’re back with a new single in a new style.

The name of the band is hopeful, and the song is an manifestation of that hope, sending a positive message out into our troubled times, complete with a horn section.

“If I feel just a little bit hopeful, won’t you tell me that feeling’s ok?”

“Washed Away” cautiously finds inspiration and joy in the rubble of today’s world.

Outside of Dead Billionaires’ usual power pop and garage punk grit, “Washed Away” follows in the tradition of second wave ska – social unity, staccato guitar, offbeat drum rhythms, constant rumbling bass, and bright horn accents.

“Lyrically it had been kicking around since 2022,” says singer and guitarist Warren Campbell, “Originally it was a post-pandemic song, but seeing the communal resilience of Americans in the face of ICE occupation, corruption, and extended economic stress has made me continually hopeful that the people will prevail.”

With a horn arrangement by Nathan Koch (Murphy’s Kids / Mighty Joshua), Dead Billionaires enlisted trombonist Vicki Q Agrawal (Backyard Superheros / Beach Dwarf) and saxophonist Matty K (Lightmare) to round out their maiden ska expedition.

Dead Billionaires is Warren Campbell (vocals/guitar), Nick Trbovich (bass), and Kevin Vorhis (drums/vocals). Together they wield music as a tool for grappling with the problems of our modern society, and have a hell of a lot of fun doing it.

Virginia & Philly, get to the gig!

Here’s where you can catch the band in the next few weeks. Tell them Crit sent you.

4/14 - Flowerama (solo, house show) - Richmond, VA
4/16 - Superfly Brewing - Charlottesville, VA
4/18 - The Grape - Philadelphia, PA
4/20 - Banditos - Richmond, VA
5/5 - The Camel (Just Neighbors Fundraiser) - Richmond, VA

Find Dead Billionaires online: Tiktok / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook

(Header photo by Miranda Jaroneski)

If you like reading about good music, please subscribe!

Recent posts you might also enjoy: