LOUD WOMEN is proud to premiere the music video ‘Fuck the DMV’, the latest single by NYC art punk band Tea Eater.
Fronted by Tarra Thiessen (Gustaf and Sharkmuffin), Tea Eater continues to deliver music that makes you want to move and shout. ‘Fuck the DMV’ is the second single from Tea Eater’s upcoming LP, Obsession, out 6 October 2023.
On ‘Fuck the DMV’, Thiessen pulls inspiration from purgatory on earth…the DMV. After the video, read a LOL worthy story of back and forth from Thiessen’s point of view of her DMV situation.
‘Fuck the DMV’ is a quick and fun video (so the opposite of a typical DMV visit). This chaotic video was directed, shot, and edited by Emily Hughston using a 360 camera. Through a distorted and glitchy lens, we are on the DMV journey with Tea Eater . The music video also features bandmates Vram Kherlopian and Lindsey Ann Lawless as DMV employees.
Tarra Thiessen shares the story behind the inspiration of ‘Fuck the DMV’.
“Here is my Department of Motor Vehicles story…I junked my tour van in the fall of 2019. I didn’t know I had to send in my plates and registration. In April 2020, while in Lake Placid for COVID lockdown, I got a letter that my license was going to be suspended for driving this car (which no longer existed) without insurance. I had my roommate in Brooklyn mail me the plates and registration to mail to the DMV + a $100 fine. I sent it all in on time, but then I got a letter a few weeks later that my license had been suspended. It was very serious looking and stated I would need some kind of commissioner confirmation to reinstate my license. After calling the DMV multiple times a day for the next month to no avail, I got another letter with a refund of my $100 fine, but nothing about the status of my license. I couldn’t get anyone on the phone, so I called the police. I asked if they could run my license to see if it was suspended (like if they had pulled me over) and surprise! They won’t do that for you. They did tell me I could make an online DMV account to see the status of my license. When I did that the website had to mail me my login info. Another month goes by until I get my login info. Every time I try to login the website is under construction. At this point it’s October 2020. Vram and I bought a used SUV. We go to 2 different NJ DMVs where there are lines around the building to get in. The third DMV tells us the secret- we have to get there before they open to get a ticket to go in to register our vehicle. The next day we wake up at 4am and drive to the DMV to stand outside until they open at 8am. There is already a line halfway around the strip mall this DMV is located in and there are people selling seats closer to the entrance. We get our ticket, and go in by the afternoon. Vram registers the car and asks if they can run my license to see if it is suspended. The DMV clerk says they can not do this because we are at a “Vehicle Center.” If we want to check on my license we would have to go to a different DMV that is a “License Center.” I gave up. Finally, while on tour in March 2022 I am pulled over in North Dakota in a tiny town speed trap. The cop runs my license, and lets me go. Fuck the DMV.”
In support of their latest single, Tea Eater is hosting a beach show on 12 August at Rippers in Rockaway, Queens, with Wild Yaks and Skorts.
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