B-Side Guys

When a Juilliard-trained jazz bassist, an indie rock veteran, and one of New York’s most dynamic drummers converge, the result could easily become an overcomplicated mess. Instead, Big Building’s “Just Can’t Take It” delivers a masterclass in controlled chaos, proving that sophisticated musicians can still create gloriously straightforward rock and roll.

The track opens with an immediate punch that showcases the band’s collective strengths. Quinn Murphy’s guitar work demonstrates why he’s been a fixture in bands like Young Bugs and the Riverboat Gamblers, while Dan Stein’s jazz background reveals itself in bass lines that maintain rock solidarity while threading subtle complexities throughout. But it’s Ricc Sheridan’s legendary drumming that elevates this from excellent to exceptional – his promised “mind-melting” solo lives up to the advance billing without sacrificing the song’s momentum.

Recorded straight to tape at GB’s Juke Joint, the production captures both power and nuance. The mix allows each instrument to occupy its own space while building to a cohesive wall of sound, particularly during the chorus where Murphy’s vocals cut through with raw urgency. Lyrically, the song builds a portrait of performative persistence in the face of collapse. Lines like “keep pretending that its all good / keep on nodding like you understood” establish a theme of forced facade, while “might as well keep playing give them all a show” reveals the exhausting theater of it all. The titular phrase “You know I just can’t take it” arrives as both confession and release, its simplicity cutting through the pretense described in earlier verses.

This collaboration, born from pandemic-era remote sessions and a shared admiration of Earl Greyhound’s power trio dynamics, showcases what happens when accomplished musicians strip away pretense and embrace pure rock energy. The result bridges the gap between indie rock authenticity and arena-ready power, suggesting that Big Building’s foundation is built on particularly solid ground.