GRAVEHANDS BY PRINCE DUCK

Have you ever read a comic book? I mean actually read a comic book. There are a lot of “comic book fans” out there now who I swear have never read a single one. And much like comic books are an underappreciated form of storytelling,* music is wildly underutilized as a storytelling medium today.

So what happens when you combine music and comic books? You get “Gravehands” by Prince Duck, that's what happens. A comic book in music form in all of comic books' wonderful glory. It’s thoughtful. It’s surprisingly deep. And it’s ducking** weird in the best way possible.

“Gravehands” is about a superhero who used to be a healer and then his powers changed to the point that he started to take lives. The song details the fallout that proceeded this turn of events. No one else is writing songs like that. At least not good ones.

Back in May, I fortuitously stumbled upon Prince Duck at Kilby Court. When “Gravehands” came on, a hush came over the crowd, captivating everyone for those five minutes. An otherwise rowdy crowd was quiet with reverence, as if hearing the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise for the very first time. Because "Gravehands," much like the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise, is a tragic tale.

*If you need an existential crisis, check out Daytripper by Fábio Moon and Garbiel Bá.
​**This typo is intentional.