The story of the Submarines has all the makings of an indie rock rom-com: Boy meets girl, they fall in love, move to L.A., break up, then realize they’ve been writing songs about each other, so they form a band, fall in love all over again and get married. But that was several years ago. Their new album, “Love Notes/Letter Bombs,” finds singers and instrumentalists Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti exploring what happens after happily ever after. The songs are jumpy and fun with plinking and blooping instrumentation; but beneath the sunny surface lurks that slighty antagonistic chemistry that can keep a relationship vital.
The opening line of the song “Tigers” is: “The piano makes the sound you play so quietly/these love notes, letter bombs/you send them back to me.” That feels like it’s both your songwriting process and domestic life.
Dragonetti: It definitely is.
Hazard: God, that’s really funny. I hadn’t thought about that. They are sort of like love notes and letter bombs we throw at each other in songs.
You really hadn’t thought of that? I thought it was just autobiographical.
Hazard: Well it is, but with “Tigers,” I had a vision of this rambling old mansion in this Wes Anderson-esque setting, where this couple is sort of running around. And I was imagining tying a love note around a brick and throwing it through a window, this kind of sinister cuteness or something. I was kind of imagining more of that. I guess I didn’t see it as a metaphor for what we were doing.
You’ve been married for a few years now, but this album is still rife with the joys of new love as well as the sorrow of broken hearts.
Dragonetti: Yeah, well, you know, it’s not very black and white, obviously. It’s been — without getting into it too much — it’s been up and down. Even in a relationship or marriage, you still have your struggles. Even stuff that happened long ago still feels present sometimes. We’re trying to figure it out. It gives us stuff to write about.
Hazard: Yeah, I don’t think there’s quite a way for writing about things without pulling any punches.
Dragonetti: It has been a struggle at times, but we do our best.
In your liner notes, you thank “all of the diplomats, referees and collaborators who helped make this record possible.” Do you really need referees when you’re working together?
Hazard: [Laughs] Yes.
So are the members of your touring band all given whistles and shirts with black and white vertical stripes?
Hazard: With all four of us touring, there are more referees, more people to keep us on our better behavior.
The Submarines
Monday, 9 p.m.
Brighton Music Hall
158 Brighton Ave., Boston
$10, 18+, 617-931-2000
www.livenation.com
Other hot tickets
Zola Jesus
Friday
Brighton Music Hall
Nika Roza Danilova is an interesting amalgamation of styles and moods. She calls herself Zola Jesus and dresses like Stevie Nicks. Her music sounds like it will take you down into a dark techno spiral, but if you listen closely to the words, there are actually some uplifting and comforting lyrics. Yes, she is actually singing things like “don’t let it get you down” and “so don’t you worry, just rest your head” — it’s just that the message might get lost in the ice storm of synths and Eastern Euro vocal delivery. Oh yeah, we forgot to mention, she’s from Wisconsin. Go figure.
Duran Duran
Next Wednesday, April 27
Royale Boston
This one is sold out, but you should do what you can to find a ticket on Craigslist, because these guys are still looking and sounding awesome. The Double-D rocked out at Coachella this past weekend. Look up the photos online! You won’t believe how great they look. Then, after that, go to iTunes and download the April edition of the Metro Monthly Music Podcast to hear Simon Le Bon tell us about where the laugh comes from in “Hungry Like the Wolf.”
For more on music, including the Boston music scene, follow Pat Healy on Twitter at @metrousmusic.
