It’s been nearly a full year since self-described “landlocked surf-rock” outfit Fellow Kinsman released “Find A Way.” That single was meant to lead off the group’s new album, Break Room, due in October 2025. Well, October came and went without Break Room. As did November, December, January, February…
Fast-forward to May 2026, and Break Room is finally here, complete with “Find A Way” and eight other new Fellow Kinsman tracks. That’s certainly a delay, one that frontman Nate Kinsman chalks up to life events both mundane and serious. Happily, one listen to the record and it’s clear that the wait was worth it. Also, this is absolutely a summer record.
Opener “Find A Way” sets the stage with a jittery and sun-soaked jam highlighted by Kinsman’s hazy vocals. Those vocals soon take a turn for the heavy, however; “Galactic Lovin'” and “The Glass” are even more laid-back and sun-kissed than “Find A Way,” but they feature Kinsman employing a deeper register. Both vocal approaches work well and float along nicely with the musical current provided by Will Hansen, Erin Bagatta, Cleo Jackowick, and Duwayne Davis. “The Glass,” especially, benefits from the full-band collaboration, with terrific tropical pedal steel from Hansen and dreamy backing vocals from Bagatta.
Songs like “Love Came Through” and “Liar’s Liar” up the tempo a bit; the former channels the bleary dance vibes of gone-but-not-forgotten Milwaukee group Surgeons In Heat, and the latter approaches scuffed-up punk territory. “Slasher” finds Kinsman returning to his “Find A Way” voice, while the pared-down closing title track features only Kinsman with electric guitar accompaniment. “Break room / Scream into the pillowcase with you,” he croons in the record’s final moments. (Also, shout-out to “Cash It In,” which references Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.”)
“It’s sometimes easy for people to dump a record every year, and there are some artists that don’t release records for several,” Kinsman told Radio Milwaukee late last year. “Again, you’re going to be your own harshest critic. People really want to hear new music and to have you perform and do all these things, but also it’s worth the wait.” That about says it all: Break Room may be long overdue, sure, but who cares? The wait was absolutely worth it. And, again, this is absolutely a summer record. Take a break and enjoy.
Fellow Kinsman will celebrate the release of Break Room with a pair of shows at Cactus Club on Saturday, May 23. The 5 p.m. show will feature support from Ellie Jackson; the 8:30 p.m. show will feature support from Josh Evert. Each show is $18 in advance, or $20 at the door.
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