[Filmed Locally] by Bradley Towle - Hey, Doreen

MARGARETVILLE — "Hey, Doreen" is a 2014 single by Lucius from their debut album Wildewoman. The then Brooklyn-based group traveled north to Margaretville to film the accompanying video for the song. Directed by creative duo Leblanc + Cudmore, the video opens with two women in matching outfits and hair singing karaoke at Margaretville Bowl to a small crowd of primarily men. It soon becomes clear that the duo is luring local men to their demise by getting them drunk, killing them, and burying the bodies somewhere in the Margaretville woods, capturing the Catskill town at peak foliage. Beware the bowling alley sirens! But one local is suspicious of the duo, and follows them as they mysteriously wander around town. They find yet another victim at the Phoenicia Diner whom they take home and strangle. But hey, at least they say their prayers at night. The local sleuth's curiosity ultimately brings him a little too close to danger, and let's just say his investigation goes up in flames. 

The video plays with the women's identities throughout. At times, they are played by uncredited actresses donning matching wigs and furry pink overcoats. At other times they are played by Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, the founding members of Lucius. The band was on a bit of an ascendancy at the time. Songs from their eponymous 2012 EP had been used as needle drops on popular shows like New Girl and Grey's Anatomy, and a Tiny Desk Concert had caught attention online. Riding that wave, Lucius earned rave reviews with the release of Wildewoman. Reviewing the album for Paste, Hilary Saunders wrote, "The album offers empathy for the heartbroken and sultry fun for partiers, all backed by fuzzy guitars and polyrhythmic percussion," adding, "Wildewoman's true success comes by reintroducing retro girl-group swag to the 21st century at a time when it's most needed." The duo has since been in high demand, collaborating with a laundry list of musical luminaries, including Roger Waters and Brandi Carlisle. In 2024, Wolfe and Laessig re-recorded the entire album, including "Hey, Doreen," and released it as Wildewoman (The New Recordings). 

For a glimpse of the band as it was gaining steam with Margaretville Bowl and the Catskill Mountains as a backdrop, check out Lucius's video for "Hey, Doreen." You'll probably start humming the tune.