Rock – Page 140 – 7th Level Music

Ty Segall’s new album, “First Taste,” is due August 2nd, but you can get a “Taste” of it now

“Our salivating makes it all taste worse,” croons Ty Segall in “Taste,” the lead single / video from his forthcoming album, First Taste, due August 2nd via Drag City. He’s talking about us: how we’re the masters of our own destiny, tellers of our own prophecy, makers of our own sickened choices. It’s a warning, but this time, the finger is pointing back at him too. He’s one with us. First Taste is an introspective set for Segall after the extroversions of 2018’s Freedom’s Goblin. Lines of struggle wind through the songs as Segall reflects on family, re-encountering pasts, anticipating futures. He skates through oneness, self-esteem, the parents – all the joys of a rain-filled childhood – while reaching outward in the here and now, feeling for a shared pulse.

Meanwhile, the production is far out! Segall’s creative juices suggested some radical (in the older sense of the word) new instrumental territories: koto, recorder, bouzouki, harmonizer, mandolin, saxophones and brass, voices, and a sprinkling of keys. Segall occupies the drumset whenever it’s heard on the left speaker, while Charles Moothart plays the kit on the right side. Segall’s vocal prowess sits in fresh relief against his mutant orchestra, spooling tension through some of his most patient songs, his feral scream in complete control. Whatever the mood is, the pedal is pushed cleanly to the metal — and that means to the max of the lightest ballads ever, OR through the most raging rocks yet. Segall’s song designs are all over the place, but unlike the freewheeling feast style of Freedom’s Goblin, these twelve numbers form a tightly revolving cycle of song and sound that focuses thoughts.

Ty Segall and the Freedom Band will bring their electrifying live shows to LA, NYC, and Europe later this year. During these residencies, Segall will play First Taste in full, alongside select albums from his expansive catalogue. All tour dates, including newly-announced support and specifics on which album Segall will be playing each night, are below.

Watch “Taste” Video – https://youtu.be/7tmOr2yWaSs

Pre-order First Taste – https://ffm.to/firsttaste

First Taste tracklist: 1. Taste 2. Whatever 3. Ice Plant 4. The Fall 5. I Worship The Dog 6. The Arms 7. When I Met My Parents (Part 1) 8. I Sing Them 9. When I Met My Parents (Part 3) 10. Radio 11. Self Esteem 12. Lone Cowboys

Ty Segall & Freedom Band tour dates: Fri. July 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) w/ Warm Drag Fri Aug. 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) w/ Richard Rose Fri. Aug. 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) w/ Vice Cooler Fri. Aug. 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Goodbye Bread) w/ The Intelligence Fri. Aug. 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Goodbye Bread) w/ Oog Bogo Fri. Aug. 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Emotional Mugger) w/ Lamps Fri. Sept. 6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Emotional Mugger) w/ King Tuff (solo) Fri. Sept. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Manipulator) w/ Ruth Garber Fri. Sept. 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Manipulator) w/ DMBQ Fri. Sept. 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Manipulator) w/ DMBQ Tues. Oct. 1 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) w/ Lamps Wed. Oct. 2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) w/ White Fence Thurs. Oct. 3 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Goodbye Bread) w/ DMBQ Fri. Oct. 4 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Emotional Mugger) w/ DMBQ Sat. Oct. 5 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Manipulator) w/ DMBQ Wed. Oct. 9 – Paris, FR @ La Cigale (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) Thu. Oct. 10 – Paris, FR @ La Cigale (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Manipulator) Fri. Oct. 11 – London, UK @ Oval Space (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) Sat. Oct. 12 – London, UK @ Oval Space (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Goodbye Bread) Sun. Oct. 13 – London, UK @ Oval Space (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Manipulator) Tue. Oct. 15 – Berlin, DE @ Festsaal Kreuzberg (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) Thu. Oct. 17 – Haarlem, NL @ Patronaat (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Melted) Fri. Oct. 18 – Haarlem, NL @ Patronaat (Ty Segall plays First Taste + Manipulator)

Keep your mind open.

[Get a taste of music news by subscribing.]

Warish release new two-song single to shred your face.

“Remember when indie rock sounded all grimy, corroded and metal-sludgy — the last thing you’d hear in a commercial or being played at an arena show? Warish do. It’s music to the ears of anyone who wants to damage their ears.” — Rolling Stone

“Warish totally rules… An awesome mixture of punk energy, biker rock fuzz, and grunge growl.” — Kerrang!

“Sludgy and punk-y at the same time, with an Iggy and the Stooges meets Misfits vibe, plus a bit of stoner rock and metal mixed in, as well.” — Consequence of Sound

Southern California trio Warish share the lead track from their forthcoming second EP on RidingEasy Records today. Hear and share “Runnin’ Scared” / “Their Demise” HERE.

Rolling Stone recently featured the lead track “Fight” from the band’s self-titled debut EP HERE.

Imagine if Incesticide era Nirvana were crossed with Static Age era garage-punk Misfits. You’d have sinister low budget horror rock with a visceral, twisted weirdness and bludgeoning riffs. Some might call it nightmarish, we call it Warish.

Warish is a very newly minted SoCal trio formed in early 2018 that has wasted no time making its presence known. The band formed when guitarist/vocalist and pro-skater Riley Hawk (son of skating legend Tony Hawk) and drummer Bruce McDonnell decided they wanted to try their hand at something more distinct than they’d done previously. “We wanted to do simpler riffs and a fun live show,” Riley explains. “A little more punk, a little bit of grunge… a little evil-ish.” Their sound takes cues from a variety of cool underground sounds and twists it all into an energetic and exciting fist to the face of dark fury. Hawk’s effect-laden vocals hearken to early Butthole Surfers and David Yow’s tortured caterwaul in Scratch Acid. The guitars are heavy and powerful, though decidedly not straightforward cookie cutter punk; more like Cobain’s and Buzz Osbourne’s wiry contortions. The rhythms bash and pummel right through it all with aggressive force ensuring that nothing gets overly complicated and the horrors keep coming throughout the band’s uh, warlike assault.

“Runnin’ Scared/Their Demise” is now available on 7″ vinyl and download via RidingEasy Records.

WARISH LIVE 2019: 06/21 Los Angeles, CA @ House of Machines L.A. 06/27 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern 07/05 San Diego, CA @ Casbah 07/06 San Diego, CA @ Casbah + 09/20 Portland, OR @ Star Theater – Hesh Fest * 09/21 Seattle, WA @ Highline * 09/23 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater * 09/24 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown * 09/25 Chicago, IL @ Reggies * 09/26 Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle * 09/27 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop * 09/28 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place * 09/29 Boston, MA @ Sonia * 09/30 New York, NY @ Knitting Factory * 10/01 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s * 10/02 Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall * 10/03 Raleigh, NC @ Kings * 10/04 Asheville, NC @ Mothlight * 10/05 Atlanta, GA @ The 529 * 10/06 New Orleans, LA @ One Eye Jack’s * 10/07 Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey * 10/09 Albuquerque, NM @ Sister * 10/10 Mesa, AZ @ Club Red * 10/11 Los Angeles, CA @ Satellite * 10/12 San Francisco, CA @ Chapel * 11/09 Austin, TX @ Levitation Fest * w/ Acid King + w/ Earthless

Keep your mind open.

[Run over to the subscription box and subscribe while you’re here.]

Review: French Vanilla – How Am I Not Myself?

Los Angeles queercore / post-punk quartet French Vanilla’s new album, How Am I Not Myself?, is brash, bold, funny, a dare for all of us to do something terrifying – let our true selves come out of our shells and face the world.

The instantly groovy “Real or Not” starts the album with funky bass and Sally Spitz’s hooping and hollering vocals that dance almost as much as Daniel Trautfield’s saxophone. Spitz more or less asks if we’re are living our truth or succumbing to outside influences and living a lie for someone else’s sake. “Lost Power” is a sharp takedown of Spitz’s former lover. “All the Time” was the first single off the album, and it’s as funky as hell with Greg Shilton putting down chops as slick as the shine on James Brown’s boots.

“Friendly Fire” is a clever track about the stresses of queer folk realizing their nature while in a straight relationship. Guitarist Ali Day unleashes a cool guitar riff on “Protective” that’s somehow jagged and fuzzy at the same time. The whole track brings to mind early B-52’s records with its urgent rhythm and excellent vocals by Spitz.

Trautfield’s sax gets another good workout on “Suddenly” (He seems to be everywhere at once on the song.), which also boasts another fabulous bass line to back it. It builds to a hip-shaking groove and, I can attest, is great for a workout playlist. “Joan of Marc,” the wonderfully titled “Bromosapien,” and “Move Along, Move Ahead” stick a feminist middle finger in the eye of misogyny, “man-splaining,” sexism, and body / sex shaming.

“I saw the future. I held it up to my face. It was absolutely fascinating,” Spitz sings on “Sensitive (Not Too Sensitive).” The album ends with this track encouraging all of us to follow French Vanilla’s path and live true in what could be a fascinating future if we choose to have it.

How Am I Not Myself? is a question we all need to ask ourselves, sometimes daily, and it’s an album we all need to hear.

Keep your mind open.

[And then, suddenly, you subscribed to my blog and all was well.]

Live: Chromatics, Desire, In Mirrors – Park West – Chicago, IL – May 31, 2019

I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see Chromatics. I’d read the stories about how band leader Johnny Jewel had destroyed all physical copies of their next album, Dear Tommy, following a near-death experience in 2015. I thought, “Well, it was good while it lasted.” I later learned, however, that Jewel and company had re-recorded the album with additional songs added onto the original material. So I thought, “Well, maybe there’s hope yet.”

It turns out I was right because Chromatics announced a summer tour last year and I was able to snag tickets to see them at Chicago’s Park West before they sold out. It would be Chromatics’ first show in Chicago in six years and they were bringing their Italians Do It Better label mates Desire and In Mirrors with them.

After going through a four-stage security check more extensive than one conducted by the TSA, we were inside and facing the IDIB merchandise table that was practically set up like a flea market with its large neon sign, tables of LPs, and racks of T-shirts. I snagged a big tour poster for just five bucks.

In Mirrors started the show with a set of goth wave music that combined heavy synths with near-spoken word poetry and excellent fashion. Each band member looked like they just walked out of a cool men’s clothing store. They also revealed it was Johnny Jewel’s birthday that evening and thanked him for his extensive contribution to their music.

Mr. Jewel came out next with his other band, Desire (fronted by his wife, Megan Louise, no less), who put on a nice set of shoegaze / synth wave (“Shoe wave?” “Synth gaze?”) that included a lot of songs about love, nights in the city, and, of course, desire. Megan Louise tossed out red roses to the crowd (particularly anyone on a first date) and led everyone in singing happy birthday to Mr. Jewel.

Everyone was buzzing hard for Chromatics by this point, and they came out to a neat electro start with a wild video show highlighting time moving in different directions. It was indicative of their music – retro and futuristic.

They started with their classic, “Lady,” but stopped the set afterward so Jewel could address a man in the crowd with, “Hey, man, are you okay?” I thought maybe someone was so drunk they could barely stand or perhaps ill or even overcome with emotion from seeing them live, but it quickly became apparent that the guy was drunk AND being a jackass – to put it mildly.

Jewel told him to calm down, not be a dick, and let everyone do their own thing. This is where the security personnel at Park West began to fail. No one showed up to check this guy out or escort him away from the front of the stage. The guy took offense to someone in the crowd during the next song, “Kill for Love,” and slugged somebody. The band called for security, telling them someone had just been punched, and finally one lone bouncer showed up who was at least sixty pounds heavier and thirty years older than the drunk jerk. The drunk struggled with him for a moment, pushing him away and “arm wrestling” with him.

I handed my tour poster to my wife and was three steps away from putting the guy in a rear choke hold and dragging him to the nearest exit. I’m not kidding. I was advancing on this guy and he had no idea I was behind him. I don’t write this to brag. I write this to highlight the lack of Park West security involved in this situation. I, a music blogger who also happens to be a police detective, was going to have to step in and help this lone bouncer because he had no back-up against a young, fit, and angry drunk who was actively resisting him. Luckily, he told the bouncer he’d walk out on his own and then left before I needed to grab him and before he and bouncer had a slugfest in the middle of the crowd.

Park West failed the sold-out crowd and Chromatics for not having security at the front of the stage as soon as Jewel called out the drunk. They should’ve been there before Jewel stopped talking. Instead, they weren’t and someone got hit by this dude. That’s a potential lawsuit, and it would’ve been one if someone had been seriously injured or worse.

Chromatics, and the crowd, sprung back with positive energy once the “one bad apple” (as Jewel called him) was gone. They played “Night Drive / Paradise” and “Back from the Grave” and I was happy to hear one of their newest singles, “Time Rider,” live for the first time. It didn’t disappoint.

They were enjoying their return to Chicago by the time they reached classics like “Cherry” and “I Want Your Love.” They closed the first set with their stunning cover of Neil Young‘s “Hey Hey, My My.”

Lead singer Ruth Radelet (who might be a vampire as she doesn’t appear to have aged in the last ten years) came out for the encore and delivered her beautiful rendition of Springsteen‘s “I’m on Fire,” which is more emotive in a live setting than you can imagine.

Ruth Radelet was on fire at Park West, and in all our hearts.

They ended the night with “Shadow” and their cover of Kate Bush‘s “Running Up that Hill.” Radelet and Jewel thanked everyone for a good night, with Jewel thanking everyone for overcoming the bad energy at the start of the show. It was a good return for them.

Two people behind me were yelling, “Dear Tommy when?” as he walked offstage. I thought, “That’s only for he to know and us to find out.” You can’t always rush art, and the first couple singles we’ve heard this year promise good things to come.

Keep your mind open.

[Hey, hey, my, my…You haven’t subscribed and I don’t know why.]

Ezra Furman’s new single, “Calm Down,” is a punk rock rager.

Ezra Furman is pleased to announce his new album, Twelve Nudes, due August 30th via Bella Union. 2018 was a championing year for Furman – since the release of the “layered, baroque pop melodrama” (Billboard) Transangelic Exodus, Furman has garnered immense praise, both for Transangelic Exodus and the soundtrack he created for Netflix’s Sex Education (he and his band also appeared in an episode). Twelve Nudes, his new and “spiritually queer” punk record, continues this same wavelength, and is an incendiary and inspiring follow-up. Across the album, Furman channels pent-up energy, distinguished by sharp, lacerating observations, confessions and proclamations. Additionally, Furman shares the lead single / video, “Calm Down” (aka “I Should Not Be Alone”) and announces a North American and European tour (all dates below).

Twelve Nudes was recorded quickly in Oakland in Fall 2018 and was mixed by venerated producer John Congleton (Sharon Van Etten, St. Vincent). The result is an album that is less stereotypical punk than raw, raucous rock’n’roll. The album has two spiritual heroes – the late great punk Jay Reatard and Canadian writer and philosopher Anne Carson. The title stems directly from Carson, who used the term “nudes” to describe the meditations she used to deal with intense pain in her life.

Throughout Twelve Nudes, Furman uses both personal and outward experiences to communicate intense frustration. On punk-rock track “Rated R Crusaders” he explores his Jewish identity and the Israel/Palestine conflict, while “Trauma” seethes with the spiritual malaise brought on by watching wealthy bullies accused of sexual assault rise to power. Furman is well-aware that America is balanced on a knife-edge between white male supremacy and the dream of universal opportunity; hence the references to Mexico, slave-owners and US “founding father” Ben Franklin in “In America.” “One of my goals in making music is to make the world seem bigger, and life seem larger,” Furman explains. “I want to be a force that tries to revive the human spirit rather than crush it, to open possibilities rather than close them down. Sometimes a passionate negativity is the best way to do that.”

Immediate proof is offered by “Calm Down.” The track, insanely catchy and bound up in a compact two minutes and 22 seconds, is a cry of panic and despair. “Desperate times make for desperate songs,” says Furman. “I wrote this in the summer of 2018, a terrible time. It’s the sound of me struggling to admit that I’m not okay with the current state of human civilization, in which bad men crush us into submission. Once you admit how bad it feels to live in a broken society, you can start to resist it, and imagine a better one.” The accompanying video, directed by Beth Jeans Houghton, follows the same hand drawn aspect of previous videos, but with vibrant color and a comic book style.

“This is our punk record,” says Ezra Furman. “We made it in Oakland, quickly. We drank and smoked. Then we made the loud parts louder. I hurt my voice screaming. This was back in 2018, when things were bad in the world. The songs are naked with nothing to hide.”

Ezra Furman will shortly embark on a European tour. Then, he will bring his energetic live shows stateside before returning to Europe later this year.

Watch the Video for “Calm Down” –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLecVxlnZG8

Pre-order Twelve Nudes –
http://smarturl.it/ef_twelve

Twelve Nudes Tracklist:
1. Calm Down aka I Should Not Be Alone
2. Evening Prayer aka Justice
3. Transition From Nowhere to Nowhere
4. Rated R Crusaders
5. Trauma
6. Thermometer
7. I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend
8. Blown
9. My Teeth Hurt
10. In America
11. What Can You Do But Rock n Roll

Ezra Furman Tour Dates:

Sun. July 21 – Benicassim, ES @ Benicassim Festival
Tue. July 23 – Cork, IE @ Cyprus Avenue
Wed. July 24 – Dublin, IE @ Button Factory
Thu. July 25 – Galway, IE @ Galway Festival
Sun. July 28 – Topcliffe, UK @ Deer Shed Festival
Thu. Sept. 5 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
Sat. Sept. 7 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall (TICKETS)
Sun. Sept. 8 – Detroit, MI @ El Club (TICKETS)
Mon. Sept. 9 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace (TICKETS)
Tue. Sept. 10 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz P.D.B. (TICKETS)
Wed. Sept. 11 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia (TICKETS)
Thu. Sept. 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (TICKETS)
Sun. Sept. 15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts (TICKETS)
Mon. Sept. 16 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage (TICKETS)

Sleater-Kinney releases new single, “Hurry On Home,” and North American tour dates.

Rock giantesses Sleater-Kinney are back with not only a sharp new, electro-twinged single, “Hurry On Home,” but also a list of tour dates throughout North America starting in October. “Hurry On Home” is a hot cut about hotter love with a blistering guitar solo from Carrie Brownstein. Don’t miss this tour. Many dates, if not all, are sure to sell out.

10/9/19 – Spokane, WA – Fox Theatre

10/11/19 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory Concert House

10/12/19 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot

10/13/19 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre

10/15/19 – Minneapolis, MN – Palace Theatre

10/16/19 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater

10/18/19 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre

10/20/19 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall

10/21/19 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

10/23/19 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle

10/25/19 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

10/26/19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE- Indoor

10/27/19 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore

10/29/19 – Boston, MA – House of Blues

10/30/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre

10/31/19 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom

11/1/19 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall

11/3/19 – Toronto, ON – Rebel Complex

11/4/19 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre

11/5/19 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant

11/7/19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

11/8/19 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues

11/9/19 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater

11/11/19 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren

11/12/19 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park

11/13/19 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory OC

11/14/19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium

11/16/19 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater

11/19/19 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom

11/21/19 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom

11/23/19 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre

Keep your mind open.

[Hurry on to the subscription box.]

Alex Cameron’s new single, “Miami Memory,” is a loving tip of the hat to the town and his girlfriend.

Alex Cameron presents the new single/video, “Miami Memory,” directed by Cameron, and starring himself, his business associate and sax player Roy Molloy and actress Jemima Kirke. A love song to the city, “Miami Memory” embraces the lustful air of Miami and explores both Alex’s personal relationship with both the city and his girlfriend. Throughout, Alex’s sultry and playful delivery embraces themes of sex positivity, love and reflection. Premiered this past Sunday on KCRW’s Henry Rollins’ show, “Miami Memory” is the first new music Cameron has released since 2017’s Forced Witness.

“‘Miami Memory’ is a story about how we audition in the present for our future selves to enjoy in retrospect. In that way, tender memories that we share together are captured in thought and stored with the same electricity that keeps our heart beating,” says Cameron. “It’s a gift for my girlfriend Jemima, and it is dedicated to the artist Greer Lankton and her partner Paul Monroe. I am lucky to have learned that a group of people can be a shining light.”

Cameron has announced a fall European and North American tour, including shows in Chicago, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. North American tickets are on sale now.

Watch “Miami Memory” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0BtytpbJCU

Stream “Miami Memory” – https://alexcameron.ffm.to/miamimemory

Alex Cameron Tour Dates: Wed. Sept. 18 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Thu. Sept. 19 – Brussels, BE @ AB Club Fri. Sept. 20 – Brighton, UK @ The Haunt Sat. Sept. 21 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club Sun. Sept. 22 – Dublin, IE @ Button Factory Tue. Sept. 24 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece Wed. Sept. 25 – London, UK @ Electric Brixton Thu. Sept. 26 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla Fri. Sept. 27 – Glasgow, UK @ Art School Sun. Sept. 29 – Southampton, UK @ Loft Tue. Oct. 1 – Lille, FR @ Aeronef Club Wed. Oct. 2 – Paris, FR @ Trianon Thu. Oct. 3 – Reims, FR @ La Cartonnerie Fri. Oct. 4 – Nantes, FR @ Lieu Unique Sat. Oct. 5 – Orléans, FR @ Astrolabe Mon. Oct. 7 – Zurich, CH @ Mascotte Tue. Oct. 8 – Dudingen, CH @ Bad Bonn Wed. Oct. 9 – Milan, IT @ Ohibo Thu. Oct. 10 – Bologna, IT @ Covo Sat. Oct. 12 – Salzburg, AT @ Rockhouse Birthday Party Sun. Oct. 13 – Vienna, AT @ Flex Cafe Mon. Oct. 14 – Munich, DE @ Strom Tue. Oct. 15 – Prague, CZ @ Meet Factory Wed. Oct. 16 – Berlin, DE @ Festsaal Kreuzberg Fri. Oct. 18 – Stockholm, SE @ Vasateatern Sat. Oct. 19 – Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Sun. Oct. 20 – Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik Mon. Oct. 21 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega Tue. Oct. 22 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefährlich Wed. Oct. 23 – Cologne, DE @ Artheater Fri. Nov. 8 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Fri. Nov. 15 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre Fri. Nov. 22 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall Fri. Dec. 6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

Keep your mind open.

[Remember to subscribe before you split.]

Olden Yolk are currently on tour promoting their new album – “Living Theatre.”

“Through layers of warm harmonies, spirited drum fills and bright guitar riffs, Shane Butler and multi-instrumentalist Caity Shaffer craft a kaleidoscopic world that steadily builds on its own momentum”
– NPR Music

Olden Yolk – the duo of songwriters Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer – shares their single from Living Theatre, their sophomore album, via Trouble In Mind. “Grand Palais” is “about the frivolous search to seek some semblance of spiritual understanding in various places, things, and people outside of ourselves. Much of the song was written through improvisation in the studio alongside percussionist Booker Stardrum, whose frantic drumming is a driving force in the song. Weaving vocals, synthesizers, and tempo switches all encapsulate the dual feelings of desperation and euphoria found within this type of pursuit,” explains the band.

Olden Yolk is on tour in support of Living Theatre. They’re joined by Ryan Jewell (drums), Peter Wagner (bass) and Frank Maston (synths/keys). A full list of dates is below.
Stream “Grand Palais” – https://youtu.be/977uBeouGb4

Watch “Distant Episode” Video – https://youtu.be/hKS-ro9GPiE

Watch “Cotton & Cane” Video – https://youtu.be/cICiAlzVHag

Pre-order Living Theatre – https://bit.ly/2FGtjE4

Olden Yolk Tour Dates:

Wed. May 29 – Detroit, MI @ Outer Limits Lounge
Thu. May 30 – Chicago, IL @ HideoutWed. May 31 – Grand Rapids, MI @ House Show
Thu. June 1 – Columbus, OH @ Dirty Dungarees
Fri. June 2 – Cleveland, OH @ Happy Dog
Fri. June 7 – Sonoma, CA @ Huichica Festival
Wed. June 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon (LA record release show)
Thu. June 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Make Out Room
Fri. June 21 – Portland, OR @ Turn Turn Turn w/ Adam Torres
Sun. June 23 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
Sat. Oct. 12 – Portsmouth, UK @ The Festing
Sat. Oct. 13 – Exeter, UK @ The Cavern
Mon. Oct. 14 – Brighton, UK @ Komedie Studio
Tue. Oct. 15 – London, UK @ Lexington
Wed. Oct. 16 – Bristol, UK @ Louisiana
Thu. Oct. 17 – Birmingham, UK @ Hair & Hounds 2
Fri. Oct. 18 – Manchester, UK @ YES
Sat. Oct. 19 – Oxford, UK @ Ritual Union Festival

Keep your mind open.

[Why not subscribe while you’re here?]

Clutch and Killswitch Engage announce summer U.S. tour.

Clutch, Killswitch Engage, and Cro-Mags are heading on the road together this summer across the United States in what will surely be one of the loudest tours of 2019. Tickets to all dates are on sale now. Some of the dates include festivals like Clutch’s Earth Rocker (July 13), Rock Fest (July 19th), and Impact Festival (July 28th).

Clutch never disappoint live, so don’t miss your chance to see them.

Keep your mind open.

[Subscribe while you’re thinking about it. You’ll forget later.]

Live: Bayonne and Palm Daze – May 12, 2019 – 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ

I happened to be in Tucson, Arizona on the same night of the final show of Bayonne and Palm Daze‘s most recent tour. I’d wanted to see Bayonne since I’d heard his fine album Primitives and missed his set at Levitation Austin a few years ago.

They were playing at a small club in downtown Tucson called 191 Toole (named for the address). It’s a nice small venue with no bad places to stand for a view of the stage. It’s the kind of venue I’d love to own – small bar, good-sized room, ample parking, not far from a college campus. Fewer than forty people showed up for the gig, probably due to that weekend being graduation weekend for the University of Arizona. It’s a shame for those who missed it, because Bayonne and Palm Daze closed their tour with a great show.

Palm Daze, the Austin psychedelic dream-pop three-piece opened the show and played most, if not all, of their 2017 EP Controls (review coming). Eric McClung and Tyler Delaune bounced back and forth with synths, bass, and percussion while drummer Ryan Heath laid down serious chops. I was hooked by the third song.

Palm Daze (L-R: Ryan Heath, Tyler Delaune, Eric McClung)

Mr. Heath joined Bayonne (Roger Sellers) onstage for drum kit smashing while Mr. Sellers sang and played synths, guitar, and / or percussion, looping a lot of it on top of each other for great effect. Many artists would’ve phoned in a performance on the last night of a tour to a crowd of fewer than forty people, but Bayonne went for broke as he wowed the crowd with tracks of not only Primitives, but also his fine new record – Drastic Measures (again, review coming). Empty water bottles, sweaty towels, and broken drum sticks littered the stage by the time they were done.

This small show currently has the top spot on my list of best concerts of 2019, and will probably remain in the top 10 by the end of the year. Bayonne is playing Lollapalooza this year, and I can tell you his set will be a must-see if you are there.

Keep your mind open.

[Subscribing isn’t a drastic measure. It’s pretty easy. Just drop your e-mail address into the box to your left.]