MP3 of the Week: The New Highway Hymnal "Hey Kid (Gotta' Run)"

The strip of Interstate 495 that slices Haverhill in half is much like any other commuter stretch in eastern Massachusetts — tree-lined, suffocating, and a default motor speedway for angry locals. But take a musical ride with THE NEW HIGHWAY HYMNAL through their hometown and envision something else entirely: desert landscapes, sun-faded asphalt, and relaxed views into endless, hazy mountains. The New Hymns’ latest single, “Hey Kid (Gotta’ Run),” puts that vision to song — it’s a slow-burning, bluesy rock séance, a long, deliberate drag of the cigarette once sparked by Jesus and Mary Chain and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. A fresh-faced group of locals you should keep an eye on , they’re at T.T. the Bear’s July 17, with instrumental experimental duo Motel Mattress; at the Allston DIY Fest in Ringer Park on July 23; and then they kick off day two of Deep Heaven Now IV at Precinct in Somerville on August 6. In the meantime, take a ride with the “Hey Kid (Gotta’ Run)” MP3 below.

DOWNLOAD: The New Highway Hymnal "Hey Kid (Gotta' Run)" [mp3]

PHOTO BY TIM OXTON