B-Side Guys

Some endings begin as whispered melodies. For Southern California’s Sitting On Saturn (formerly Sitting On Stacy), a simple voice memo recorded during a dog-sitting gig has expanded into “Ticket To New York,” a polished pop-rock examination of that peculiar moment when you’re watching someone’s departure while still feeling the gravity of their presence.

The track—recorded, produced, and mixed by the band in their home studio with collaborators Sean and Diegok—captures a specific emotional terrain that exists between acceptance and longing. “This song is about that bittersweet moment when you know it’s over, but a part of you still holds on,” explains guitarist and lead vocalist Hoyt Yeatman. This tension forms the song’s emotional nucleus, creating a push-pull dynamic that propels the narrative forward.

What distinguishes “Ticket To New York” from conventional breakup songs is its unflinching focus on that most awkward of post-relationship moments: witnessing an ex’s new beginning in real time. Lines about watching someone “intertwined with someone else” and “toasting your future with wine” create vivid tableaux of romantic displacement. The imagery of “thorns without leaves” perfectly encapsulates relationship pain stripped of its former beauty—all puncture without counterbalancing life.

Musically, the band balances polished pop production with enough rock edge to prevent sentimentality from overwhelming authenticity. This approach has resonated with audiences beyond their Southern California home base—the band has amassed over 300,000 social media followers and toured with acts including Sublime with Rome and 311 (whose frontman Nick Hexum co-founded SKP, the platform the newly rebranded band has partnered with).

The evolution from Sitting On Stacy to Sitting On Saturn signals ambition beyond name recognition. As drummer Trevor Smith notes, they’re “staying true to our music and aiming at something larger than life.” This cosmic rebranding feels appropriate for a band whose sound combines earthy emotional honesty with expansive pop aspirations.

Following their collaboration with G. Love on “Rose Colored Glasses” (which earned airplay on their hometown’s legendary KROQ), “Ticket To New York” suggests a band that has found its trajectory—exploring relationship dynamics with enough polish for mainstream appeal while maintaining the authenticity that connects with live audiences who, as their bio notes, “like to let loose at live shows.”