The Penske File Reflect on Life, Loss, and Peace in the Heartfelt “Rocking Chair” Video from Their New Album, Reprieve
Hamilton, Ontario punk rock lifers The Penske File share the official video for “Rocking Chair,” a standout track from their new album, Reprieve, released October 3rd. The song captures the trio’s reflective side, exploring themes of mortality, memory, and acceptance with a warmth and honesty that’s become their hallmark.
“‘Rocking Chair’ is a special kind of song to us. One that arrived naturally and inspired, seemingly out of thin air, as we sat around the fireplace with a guitar in a rented house in Germany on an off night on tour in the summer of 2024,” says frontman Travis Miles.
“It’s a hopeful, yet bittersweet song about looking back on a full life from the end of the road. I think we all hope that, someday, when death comes for us and our loved ones we’ll be at peace. That’s what this song is about.”
Recorded live in producer Adam Michael’s living room, “Rocking Chair” preserves the raw intimacy and emotional immediacy of the moment it was written. With longtime collaborator Victor Wiercioch capturing the session on film, the video offers an unfiltered look at a band connected by decades of friendship and shared purpose.
“Being so emotionally connected to the way the song originated, we decided to try and capture that initial spark of inspiration on the record,” Miles explains. “We set up a few mics and got the whole thing down in one live take.”
As one of Reprieve’s most poignant moments, “Rocking Chair” distills the spirit of the record: confronting change, loss, and the passage of time without losing sight of the light. The Penske File have long made their name on high-energy punk rock anthems, but here, they lean into restraint – offering a moment of quiet beauty amid the chaos.
Across its 12 tracks, Reprieve dives deep into themes of transition, aging, and resilience, but always circles back to connection.
“This album is about holding on to the light in your life – chasing dreams and holding onto the ones you love, celebrating moments that are worth celebrating; laughing in the face of sadness, hardship and death,” Miles says. “It’s about cutting through the heavy noise of existence in this world and finding moments of reprieve that make life worth living.”