There’s a lived-in honesty to The Doolittles’ new single, “California Time.” It’s a song that leans into the ache of letting go while carrying the sun-drenched swagger of classic rock. Drawing from the spirit of Dylan, The Stones, and Tom Petty, the band channels a sound that feels at once timeless and unflinchingly present. At its heart, the track wrestles with distance and change—how love fades, landscapes shift, yet some threads still tug at us long after we’ve moved on.
For frontman Mick Thompson, the power is in the small, unvarnished details. The bridge—“You can’t keep holding on / to what’s already gone / nothing’s ever as it seems”—lands like a quiet gut punch, simple but undeniable. “It’s so real,” Thompson reflects, and that understated truth runs through the band’s ethos: they’re not chasing nostalgia for its own sake, but writing songs that feel lived and lasting.
The band’s chemistry brings that vision to life. Alongside Thompson, drummer and producer Chris Kotky (Soundwire Studios), bassist Jon Jon Alevisakis, and keyboardist Eamon Flynn build a layered, organic sound. Jangling guitars, smoky organ tones, and steady backbeat grooves give “California Time” the kind of pulse that begs for a car stereo and an open stretch of highway. As Thompson jokes, “Just play it while driving”—but beneath the laugh is a truth: these songs are meant for motion, for reflection somewhere between where you’ve been and where you’re going.
The Doolittles aren’t standing still. Their upcoming single, “Broke in LA,” leans further into country storytelling, complete with pedal steel and desert-worn grit. Rather than being boxed into one genre, the band lets each song find its own shape—whether that’s through rock swagger or country twang. It’s less about labels and more about honesty in whatever form it takes.
For listeners searching for rock that values heart over flash, The Doolittles offer something rare: music that lingers. “California Time” is more than a nod to the past—it’s a reminder that good songs aren’t tied to trends, but to moments that feel true.
Hit play, roll the windows down, and let The Doolittles ride shotgun. Some songs stay with you long after the last chord fades—and “California Time” is one of them.
