CAKE - Mustache Man (Wasted)

What this video is

Released January 20, 2012, as the third single from CAKE's 'Showroom of Compassion' (2011), the video arrives at a pivotal moment for independent alternative rock. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 as CAKE's first independently released record, demonstrating the viability of the DIY model in the post-major-label era. The video's Portland production roots it firmly in the Pacific Northwest's thriving…

Why it matters

Mustache Man (Wasted) charted at #22 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Its video exemplifies the early-2010s micro-budget indie music video renaissance, wherein Portland and Pacific Northwest directors brought cinematic ambition, theatrical costuming, and pop-feminist subtext to…

The director

Alicia J. Rose is an award-winning Portland, Oregon-based filmmaker, photographer, and musician. She has directed over three dozen music videos for artists including First Aid Kit, Cake, and Bob Mould. She founded her own production company in 2009 and…