LA haze meets ‘90s Britpop nostalgia in a swirling, heartfelt deep breath before everything changes. For fans of Slowdive, Pulp, Smashing Pumpkins—and records made with heart, not hard drives.

The latest offering from LA indie rockers Dear Boy is a barn burner.  "After All" (featuring Alithea Tuttle of Rocket) The single also serves to announce the arrival of their sophomore album, Celebrator, set for release on October 17th via Last Gang Records.

With its swirling vocal harmonies, louder than life guitars and Ben Grey’s distinctly clever yet emotional wordplay, "After All" captures what makes Dear Boy so beloved in Southern California, while pushing the band into new sonic directions. The sound is reminiscent of 90’s Brit-Pop and Alternative, but is also on the bleeding edge of modern rock and roll.  And for lead vocalist Ben Grey, the track is a long-overdue addition to their catalog: "It is crazy to have been a band for this long without contributing a primal-teenage-bedroom-rock riff. Happy to finally right a wrong."

The collaboration with fellow LA alternative band Rocket brings a layered vocal chemistry that elevates the track into dream-soaked territory. The partnership stems from a genuine friendship that runs deeper than music. "We first played with Rocket on New Year's Eve a few years ago and became fast friends. We're both from the Valley, went to the same pre-school, a tale as old as time," Grey explains. "But truly, they're an important band, and I think Alithea has one of the defining rock voices of this generation. We feel so honored she sang on After All. It's the Catherine Wheel/Throwing Muses moment we've always dreamed of."