Look up “legendary Milwaukee power-pop band” in the dictionary and you’ll find a picture of Trolley. For 30 years, the dapper Mod- and psych-influenced outfit has peppered the city’s music scene with meticulously crafted albums and sparkling singles. There’s “Born In ’77,” released in 1996. There’s Caught In The Darkness, released in 2016. And now there’s “A Carnival Of Grey And White,” released in 2025, just in time for Trolley’s 30th anniversary.
But the song comes with bittersweet baggage. Trolley singer-guitarist-producer Mike Perotto passed away in 2021 at the age of 47. He left behind devastated friends and family, as well as a half-completed Trolley album. Bassist Terry Hackbarth and guitarist Paul J. Wall—along with producer Shane Olivo—have spent the past four years slowly finishing that record. A Carnival Of Grey And White (the record) will be released on October 3; “A Carnival Of Grey And White” (the song) can be listened to and savored now:
It’s a lovely piece of work—full of swirling synths, bubbling bass, and ’60s-esque diminished guitar chords—and a lovely tribute to Perotto. “Consider it a total write-off / To contemplate a total loss,” Perotto sings in the chorus. “Well maybe we should start all over again.” Sigh. If it were only that simple.
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