Hear Tell’s “Pavement,” a Breath of Fresh Air

“Pavement” is the debut single for Hear Tell, a post hardcore trio based on the eastern shore of Maryland. Replete with vintage skater vibes, “Pavement” comes out of the gate with a crunchy, rhythm guitar driving aggressive power chords inside of a powerful, cut-time drum beat. After a few bars, the rhythm is interrupted by a sensitive, arpeggiated riff on a clean electric guitar. Then just as suddenly, the rhythm accelerates again with more power chords and a thumping, double-bass pedal drum beat. The song brings great energy from start to finish, with groove changes and djenting breakdown sections between choruses.

The lyrics of the song mirror the nostalgia of its sound. In verse one the narrator is introduced as someone who is frustrated, disappointed, and feeling alone. In the chorus, he longs to feel “remnants of pavement on [his] knees” and for “a breath of fresh air from the ocean breeze.” The imagery of skating at the beach, an iconic visual of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater era, evokes the looming closeless of the ocean to the quiet Delmarva town of Salisbury, MD that Hear Tell calls home.

In verse two the narrator ponders messages they have absorbed over the years and invites the listener to relate: “Just grow up, you know just how it feels.” The closing line of verse two, “I’m still young, broke, and scared, feeling unprepared” could be a slogan for many millennials as they continue to navigate the challenges of recent decades. Now grown up and on their own, many endure moments of wishing to return to bygone days when wiping out on pavement was as hard as life got.

“Pavement” would sound right at home blasting out of the busted speakers of a hand-me-down Saturn. If you are excited by the return of Vans Warped Tour, or are someone with a neck injury from head banging too hard in your youth, this song is for you. And you don’t need to worry about Limewire viruses anymore, either!

“Pavement” was released in April, 2025.