Steve Geraci of The Tear Downs balances wisdom and doubt with ‘Voice In My Head’
Massachusetts musician rolls solo with an indie rock buoyancy through an infectious new single about our inner monologues on Friday, March 14
NOW PLAYING: Listen to ‘Voice In My Head’ on Spotify
Performing live March 29 for a fundraiser for Needham Food Pantry
‘Voice In My Head’ on Bandcamp
BOSTON, Mass. [March 14, 2025] – Most of us played some kind of competitive sports as kids growing up. And though we didn’t realize it at the time, the lessons we learned had very little to do with the scoreboard – and more to do with the lives we’d go on to lead as adults.
Years ago, Boston music scene veteran Steve Geraci had a baseball coach who would often say “You don’t wanna compete against an opponent AND yourself during a game.” While at the time the sentiment was directed to his inner voice that was questioning his own ability – and in this case, his fastball – the message stuck with him through adulthood. Now, the core of that sentiment emerges through Geraci’s vibrant new single, “Voice In My Head,” set for release on Friday, March 14.
The new single, a sun-kissed and spring-loaded indie rock cruiser that blooms with an infectious melody and street-smart lyrical wisdom, finds The Tear Downs frontman and Needham native rolling out a series of solo material over the course of the year, the follow-up to his 2024 EP Coming From Your Blind Spot.
It’ll lead up to a new EP at some point in the foreseeable future, and possibly a debut solo album late this year or in 2026. But for now, “Voice In My Head” serves as a light-hearted cautionary tale that recalls the new wave glide of Talking Heads and indie-pop buoyancy of Vampire Weekend.
“‘Voice In My Head’ is about the driving inner voice inspiring us to reach new heights or daring us to fail,” Geraci admits. “It can help build you up, but also quick to knock us down or second guess; solving all your world issues when your head hits the pillow or when you’re out at dinner and it’s scolding you not to take the extra slice of pie or telling you to drive faster as you approach a yellow traffic light.”
That voice in Geraci’s head is also leading him to contribute to societal good, as The Tear Downs will perform live March 29 at Needham Town Hall for the Needham Community Council’s Party for the Pantry food drive benefit.
Though officially a Tear Downs live gig, the band will also play Geraci’s solo tunes mixed in with Tear Downs tracks, and the beat rolls on for a series of shows around Massachusetts’ Metrowest through the spring: April 10 at Needham’s Cook Restaurant; May 10 at Belkin Lookout Farm in Natick; and then back to Cook’s on June 19.
Geraci says the relationship he has with his Tear Downs bandmates allows him to branch out and take a few musical chances, all while retaining his own creative vision and weaving it into the band’s emerging storyline.
“The Tear Downs are a great group to collaborate with and are very supportive performing my solo stuff along with our originals,” he says. “But, with this EP and specifically ‘Voice In My Head,’ I had a well-defined path regarding arrangements and instrumentation and a small window to record. So, tracking the four tunes came together rather quickly.”
Part of that was due to Geraci’s collaboration with producer and engineer Dave Westner, known for his work with homegrown luminaries Peter Wolf and Dropkick Murphys, who provided drums and piano on the track to complement Geraci’s work on guitar, bass, and vocals. “Voice In My Head” was recorded by Westner at Woolly Mammoth Sound in Waltham, where The Tear Downs often recorded with Dave Mineham, and it was mastered by David Lock at JP Masters in Seattle, Washington.
Westner’s funk-infused drumming and conga rhythms help give the track its propulsive nature, creating a torrent of thoughts and emotion as Geraci wrestles with the lyrical themes of wisdom and self-doubt doing battle inside one’s head.
“Working with Dave Westner has been a creative boost for me,” Geraci adds. “His experience from both sides of the console whether producing or performing, capturing raw energy in the tracks, building out instrumentations and harmonies is second to none. Plus, he’s a great guy to work with!”
People are also saying that about Geraci, who with The Tear Downs was invited to take part in last year’s WMFO Live Day, performing alongside Sal Baglio of The Amplifier Heads, Happy Little Clouds, Jennifer Tefft & The Strange, Andrea Gillis, and others for the Tufts University radio station’s banner event. The year ahead looks just as promising, and Geraci hopes that his music and its upbeat sound and bouncy demeanor will bring a bit of brightness to the listener’s day.
“I think we all need a good diversion or two these days!” he says with a laugh. “I make music for those of us who enjoy different shades of rock complete with relatable story-lines, interesting hooks and harmonies with a delivery all of my own! I’ve been writing since I was 15 years old and today I’m a better observer of life, refiner of words and deliver of stories than anytime before.”
Even his old baseball coach would be proud. But while Geraci’s been in this particular game for a while, he knows the best is yet to come, and even as life gets stressful, he trusts that inner monologue – even when it seems like it’s telling him to live life a bit recklessly. He doesn’t need to throw pure heat in the game of life; like that crafty lefty up on the mount, sometimes, experience matters.
“The best part about making music in 2025,” he concludes, “is embracing and trusting the creative process and getting better at it: Choosing a theme, writing, re-writing, demo’ing, tracking and finally getting excited to share something that never existed before. It’s such a great feeling!”
That’s not just the voice in his head telling him that; it’s reality.
‘Voice In My Head’ production credits:
Written by Steve Geraci
Performed by Steve Geraci on guitar, bass, vocals
Produced and engineered by Dave Westner
Drums and piano performed by Dave Westner
Recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound in Waltham, MA
Mastered by David Lock at JP Masters in Seattle, WA
Single artwork and press photo by Jennifer Geraci
‘Voice In My Head’ single artwork:
Steve Geraci bio:
A fixture in the Boston music scene for more than 25 years, Steve Geraci has honed his songwriting and performance skills in clubs and venues across the city. As the frontman of The Tear Downs, Geraci has gained global recognition for his introspective songwriting. With three studio efforts, including the acclaimed Open Air Cellars and Escape to the Lake, Geraci and The Tear Downs continue to push the boundaries of indie rock with this latest release. This year, Geraci embarked on a solo career, releasing a string of singles throughout 2025, starting with “Voice In My Head” set for release in March.
Media praise for Steve Geraci:
“The 11 songs on [The Tear Downs’] Open Air Cellars fit comfortably within the expansive territory of power pop and straight-ahead rock.”_Metro West Daily News
“Based off of our first listen of Open Air Cellars, this is one of the most cohesive sounding records that come across our path in quite a while. From start to finish, it certainly shows off a wide variety of genres, however, The Tear Downs have put a signature sound on it that distances themselves from the rest of similar acts producing similar sounds.” _We Write About Music
Press Contact: Michael O’Connor Marotta at michael@knyvet.com
Artist Contact: Steve Geraci at teardownsband@gmail.com
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