This week on First Spin, Hayden is joined by Patrick and Andrew of Tennis Courts, an indie rock band born in the house-show scene of Charleston and now based in New York. The conversation traces the band’s roots back to college: chance friendships, practice spaces behind refrigerators, and the kind of chaotic “let’s just try it” energy that ended up defining how Tennis Courts works to this day.

They talk about what it means to grow with a band rather than around it—navigating lineup changes, learning how to write again after a long creative lull, and figuring out how to make music that feels both new and true to themselves. The band opens up about the role collaboration played in their upcoming EPs, and how working with producer Matteo DeBenedetti helped sharpen the songs without losing the heart behind them.

The episode also dives into touring realities: the excitement of returning to the Southeast, the logistics of building a live band on the fly, and the humor in making it all work even when the plan is “we’ll figure it out.” There’s time spent on the new music—its sound, the themes that run through it, and why releasing two EPs made more sense than dropping a full-length record right now.

At its core, this is a conversation about being in a band for the right reasons: friendship, expression, momentum, and making something you’re proud of, regardless of scale. If you’ve ever loved a small band deeply—or been in one yourself—this episode will feel like home.

Songs in this episode:

Keep the Car Running (out 11/11/2025)

Stench 

To Feel Young

Jamie's Party

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Thanks for listening—see you next week.