There is little doubt that, if vocalist Keaton Pierce hadn’t passed away suddenly in 2022, that Too Close To Touch would be on the road to stardom. In many ways, they had already arrived. The band’s one-two punch of 2015 + 2016 full-lengths Nerve Endings and Haven’t Been Myself put their blend of post-hardcore and alt-rock with a distinct pop flair directly in the spotlight, and despite a couple member changes and a shift in sound, Pierce’s talent certainly never wavered.
Having released the final recordings that Pierce was a part of on the 8-song For Keeps album, the track “Novocaine”, which also features friend and musical compatriot Noah Sebastian of Bad Omens, is now experiencing a rapid rise in popularity. In fact, the song has climbed to #47 on Spotify’s USA Viral 50, which catalogues the 50 songs that are, well, going viral right now in the USA. It’s really not a surprise, though. You don’t need us to rehash the accolades that Bad Omens have racked up in the last 4 years or so, just know they’re extremely popular. With the song itself, it’s hard not to get at least slightly emotional knowing the world was deprived of more time with a talented artist like Keaton Pierce. But rest assured, nobody will ever forget the time he had here, showcasing his talent to the world.
