Ax and The Hatchetmen Drop New EP Constant Change Featuring Rare Rivers Cuomo Demo & Collaboration with Albert Hammond Jr.
Photo Credit: Harry Bearrows
Chicago indie-rock band Ax and The Hatchetmen have released their highly anticipated new EP, Constant Change, out now via Arista Records. Mixing gritty garage-rock, sunlit psychedelia, and energetic jam-band vibes, the five-track collection delivers feel-good energy while exploring themes of love, escapism, and everyday stress.
The EP shines with two major highlights: “7×9,” built around a previously unreleased Rivers Cuomo demo from Weezer’s archives, and the electrifying lead single “Blurry Lights,” created in collaboration with Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes. Legendary producer Jake Sinclair (Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Avril Lavigne) played a crucial role in shaping the record, helping the band connect with their heroes and refine their signature sound.
Fans can watch the official music video for “7×9” below and stream the full Constant Change EP on Spotify and Apple Music.
“7×9” is a playful, sun-drenched love song bursting with Beach Boys-style harmonies and nostalgic nods to Weezer’s Blue Album. Frontman Axel Ellis delivers the catchy chorus:
“Seven times nine is 63, she is dressed up so sexily / I don’t know much but I think it’s true, I want to spend my life making love to you.”
Reflecting on the new EP, Axel Ellis shared:
“Everything’s so stressful these days. We want to create something that pulls listeners out of the chaos, even for a few minutes. That’s what music does for me — it leaves me inspired.”
Other fan favorites on Constant Change include:
“Hotel Room” – an upbeat mix of jangling guitars, lively drums, and glistening horns capturing the ache of long-distance romance.
“Stay // Honestly” – a racing, heartfelt tribute to unrequited love.
The EP follows last year’s Love Songs EP, which featured “Love Songs” and the fan-favorite “Where tf Did I Park My Car.”
Earlier this year, Ax and The Hatchetmen wrapped the second leg of their Way Too Late Tour with a memorable stop at New York’s Mercury Lounge — watch a live performance of “Stay” here. Now, the band is gearing up for another busy stretch: they’ll kick things off at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, CA, before joining Fitz and the Tantrums on their Man on the Moon Tour. The summer run wraps up with a performance at the Mighty Roots Music Festival in Clarksdale, MS, this October.
Discover more and keep up with Ax and The Hatchetmen on Instagram and TikTok.
Listen to Constant Change now on Spotify or Apple Music.
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About Ax and the Hatchetmen
Formed in 2018, Ax and the Hatchetmen came roaring out of Chicago with feel-great, crowd-pleasing shows, tight-knit musical camaraderie, and a wide range of influences spanning generations and genres. Led by guitarist/singer Axel Ellis, the band also features Sal Defilippis on guitar, Hunter Olshefke on bass, Nick Deputy on drums, Phil Pistone on trumpet, and Quinn Dolan on saxophone. Along with Ellis, the road-tripping sextet originally met in music school, where they were studying jazz. Though each band member has a formal music education, together Ax and the Hatchetmen have a loose, organic, rollicking vibe, channeling everyone from the Strokes to the Specials to the Rolling Stones, the Black Keys, Pink Floyd, ELO, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Cage The Elephant, and Hippo Campus.
Over the past few years, the guys have sold out headlining tours, played the hometown festival they once looked at with stars in their eyes (Lollapalooza), blessed fans with a 2023 live album, scored a deal with Arista Records, and released a steady stream of singles including recent drops like 2024’s brightly explosive “Where tf Did I Park My Car” and the racing bliss bomb of a 2025 opener “Stay // Honestly,” also produced by Sinclair. Ellis is also launching his on-screen career this year with a featured role in the upcoming Amazon episodic series The Runarounds.
As the band gears up to unveil more music and go back out on the road — both headlining and in support of Fitz and The Tantrums — they hope crowds will connect with their uplifting sound and, as Axel puts it, “aspirationally optimistic” lyrics. If you do catch them live or even in headphones, though, you can bet on one thing: as long as you’re with Ax and The Hatchetmen, all will feel right in the world.
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Ax and the Hatchetmen Live Dates
07/23 – Pappy + Harriet’s – Pioneertown, CA
07/24 – Humphreys Concerts by the Bay* – San Diego, CA
07/25 – The Parish – Anaheim, CA
07/26 – Talking Stick Casino* – Phoenix, AZ
07/28 – Sandy Amphitheatre* – Sandy, UT
07/29 – Denver Botanical Gardens* – Denver, CO
07/31 – The Truman* – Kansas City, MO
08/01 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE
08/02 – First Avenue* – Minneapolis, MN
08/03 – UP District Festival Field* – Fargo, ND
08/05 – The Sylvee* – Madison, WI
08/06 – The Palladium* – Carmel, IN
08/07 – The Vic Theatre* – Chicago, IL
08/08 – Newport Music Hall* – Columbus, OH
08/09 – Majestic Theatre* – Detroit, MI
08/11 – House of Blues* – Cleveland, OH
10/04 – Mighty Roots Music Festival – Clarksdale, MS
* supporting Fitz and the Tantrums
Links:
Official: https://www.axandthehatchetmen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axandthehatchetmen
Instagram: https://instagram.com/axandthehatchetmen
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@axandthehatchetmen
