OF LIMBO’s “Joke’s On You” is a gut-punch of an acoustic track that refuses to fade into the background. From the moment the slinky, almost hypnotic opening guitar line rolls in, there’s a magnetic unease—an underlying dissonance that both grips and unsettles. It’s a tension that builds with each measure, culminating in a smoldering, righteous fury that embodies the very essence of rock and roll. In an era where mainstream rock often feels sanitized, this song is a visceral reminder that raw, unfiltered energy still has a place in the genre.
The Long Beach-based rockers, led by brothers Jake and Luke Davies, have long prided themselves on their ability to bring danger and authenticity back to the scene. “Joke’s On You” is proof that they’re not just talk. Self-produced in their home studio, the track is an acoustic departure from their typical heavy sound, yet it’s no less intense. The hand claps, stripped-down instrumentation, and evocative vocal performance create a simmering sense of frustration and defiance, mirroring the song’s themes of gaslighting and emotional manipulation.
What makes “Joke’s On You” so refreshing isn’t just its unpolished, no-frills approach, but its emotional honesty. Jake Davies’ lyrics pull no punches, dissecting the all-too-familiar experience of being gaslit in a toxic relationship. The frustration is palpable as the song slowly crescendos, his vocals shifting from weary resignation to fiery conviction. It’s a powerful moment of realization—of seeing through the manipulation, calling it out, and walking away stronger.
The accompanying music video, shot on an iPhone 14 with little more than a $20 LED light and a six-pack of tall boys, embodies the band’s DIY ethos. Filmed in a park next to their mom’s house in Australia, it captures the raw emotion of the track without any glossy distractions. The red and blue overlays, representing the two-faced nature of gaslighters, add an extra layer of visual storytelling. It’s a reminder that you don’t need a massive budget to create something impactful—just authenticity and a clear artistic vision.
Beyond the song itself, “Joke’s On You” is a beacon of hope for rock music. OF LIMBO proves that rock doesn’t need to be pigeonholed into overproduced, formulaic structures to be commercially viable. They bring back the danger, the unpredictability, and the catharsis that made rock a cultural force in the first place. Kevin Martin of Candlebox called them “the last dangerous Rock N’ Roll band you f*&^rs will ever see live,” and it’s easy to see why. Their energy, both on record and on stage, is infectious.
With their upcoming unplugged LP set for release this fall and a string of live dates lined up, OF LIMBO is poised to remind audiences what rock and roll should feel like. Their past work, from “Estrada” to “California Demon,” has already garnered well-deserved acclaim, but “Joke’s On You” proves they’re capable of reinvention without losing their edge.
Rock needs bands like OF LIMBO. In a time when the genre often feels like it’s teetering on the edge of irrelevance, acts that bring a genuine, unfiltered intensity to their craft are more important than ever. “Joke’s On You” is more than just a song—it’s a statement. And if this is just a taste of what’s to come, the rock community has a lot to look forward to.
