The Penske File Reflect on Life and Mortality on “Rocking Chair”

Hamilton, Ontario punk rock lifers The Penske File have released the official video for “Rocking Chair,” a standout track from their new album, Reprieve, released October 3rd. The song highlights the trio’s reflective side, exploring themes of mortality, memory, and acceptance with a warmth and honesty that has become a hallmark of their music.

“‘Rocking Chair’ is a special kind of song to us. One that arrived naturally and inspired, seemingly out of thin air, as we sat around the fireplace with a guitar in a rented house in Germany on an off night on tour in the summer of 2024,” says frontman Travis Miles. “It’s a hopeful, yet bittersweet song about looking back on a full life from the end of the road. I think we all hope that, someday, when death comes for us and our loved ones we'll be at peace. That's what this song is about.”

The recording process for “Rocking Chair” mirrors the song’s intimacy and immediacy. Captured live in producer Adam Michael’s living room, the track preserves the raw energy of the moment it was written. Longtime collaborator Victor Wiercioch filmed the session, creating a video that offers an unfiltered glimpse of the band’s connection after decades of friendship and shared purpose. “Being so emotionally connected to the way the song originated, we decided to try and capture that initial spark of inspiration on the record,” Miles explains. “We set up a few mics and got the whole thing down in one live take.”

While The Penske File are often celebrated for their high-energy punk anthems, “Rocking Chair” shows a deliberate embrace of restraint. The song’s quiet beauty contrasts with the band’s usual chaotic energy, offering a moment of reflection amid the turbulence of life. Its thematic resonance – balancing hope and acceptance in the face of mortality – makes it one of Reprieve’s most poignant moments.

Across its twelve tracks, Reprieve explores the passage of time, transition, and resilience. Yet the album consistently returns to the themes of connection and intimacy. “This album is about holding on to the light in your life – chasing dreams and holding onto the ones you love, celebrating moments that are worth celebrating; laughing in the face of sadness, hardship and death,” Miles says. “It's about cutting through the heavy noise of existence in this world and finding moments of reprieve that make life worth living.”

The Penske File’s longevity as a band is reflected not only in their music but in the stories embedded in songs like “Rocking Chair.” Written during a quiet off night in Germany, recorded live with minimal production, and captured on film with no embellishment, the track represents a testament to authenticity. The band’s ability to distill deeply personal emotion into their music connects listeners with the universal experiences of life, loss, and love.

Reprieve is a love letter to the youthful spirit that sparked the band more than two decades ago, while simultaneously celebrating the maturity and endurance that come with age. Recorded with sweat, tears, and light beers, the album bridges the energy of the band’s early years with the reflective insight of their present selves. Songs like “Rocking Chair” show that while punk rock can roar with defiance, it can also pause to reflect, to grieve, and to celebrate life’s quieter, more intimate moments.

In “Rocking Chair,” The Penske File offer a meditation on the inevitable passage of time without abandoning hope. With Reprieve, the band demonstrates that even after decades of making music, there is room to grow, explore, and create moments of emotional resonance that stand apart from the noise of everyday existence.