Category: Rock

Caroline Rose releases new single, “Bikini,” off acclaimed album and adds more tour dates for 2018.

CAROLINE ROSE PRESENTS “BIKINI” VIDEO;
https://youtu.be/MZYtOBkICDg

EXPANDS HEADLINE TOUR IN SUPPORT OF LONER
AND ANNOUNCES FALL TOUR SUPPORTING RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE

Caroline Rose has been winning over fans and selling out shows all over the country on her first ever headline tour since releasing LONER this past February via New West. As described by Pitchfork, Rose “uses her mordant wit to confront serious subjects, exorcising trauma with hooks and humor” throughout LONER. It’s an idea masterfully executed with previous singles “Money,” “Soul No. 5,” and “Getting To Me,” recently recognized in the New York Times Magazine’s “New Sentences” column. Today, Rose presents this notion further with the “Bikini” video, which she self-directed along with the “Soul No. 5” video and explains below.
“A lot of my aesthetic tends to be very tongue-in-cheek, so I wanted to take a serious subject, in this case misogyny, and just sort of turn it around to laugh at it. I think satire can be used as an incredible tool to take the power away from the powerful when necessary. It was important to me to make sure the video was body positive. When we think of ‘girls in bikinis,’ the tendency is to see tall white models with perfect bodies. I knew that would be missing the point of the song.

I take a lot of influences from films, and you can see a lot of Almodovar’s influence here. I had a pretty concrete idea to make the video bright and cheerful, kind of like a mix between old TV performances in the ’60s and ’70s and The Price Is Right-esque game shows. Almodovar is a master at using visuals to enhance a serious story. The colors he uses are a lot like the characters–vibrant and flamboyant. Here, I utilize something similar as a creative device to enhance the absurdism of a realistic situation.”

Rose continues on the road in support of LONER. Several more dates have been added to the previously announced June tour and she’ll tour Europe and the UK in July. She has also been added as support on the September Rainbow Kitten Surprise tour. All dates are listed below. Additionally, Rose has been named WXPN’s “Artist to Watch” for May. Her performance at WXPN’s World Café “Live at Noon” airs tonight.

Watch Caroline Rose’s “Bikini” Video –
https://youtu.be/MZYtOBkICDg

Stream Caroline Rose’s LONER –
http://geni.us/crloner?track=pr
                              
Watch/Listen/Share:
“Soul No. 5” video – https://youtu.be/zzIfmtKSLTE
“Money” video – https://youtu.be/NcOPz7Kby1A
“Getting To Me” – https://youtu.be/9JV4wU9Axsk

Caroline Rose Tour Dates:
Fri. May 18 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Music Festival
Sun. May 20 – Birmingham, AL @ The Saturn
Mon. May 21 – Knoxville, TN @ Open Chord Music
Thu. May 24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^
Wed. May 30 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage ^
Fri. June 1 – Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsonville Music Festival
Sat. June 2 – Toledo, OH @ Maple and Main Festival
Mon. June 4 – Davenport, IA @ Redstone Room
Wed. June 6 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Thu. June 7 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
Fri. June 8 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Sat. June 9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Tue. June 12 – Seattle, WA @ The Sunset
Wed. June 13 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Fri. June 15 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Sat. June 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Moroccan Lounge
Thu. June 21 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Jr.
Fri. June 22 – Dallas, TX @ The Rustic
Sat. June 23 – Houston, TX @ The White Oak Music Hall
Mon. June 25 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
Tue. June 26 – St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House
Wed. June 27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
Sat. June 30 – Woodstock, NY @ The Colony $
Thu. July 5 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
Fri. July 6 – Paris, FR @ Espace B
Sat. July 7 – Belfort, FR @ Eurockennees Festival
Mon. July 9 – Brighton, UK @ The Prince Albert
Wed. July 11 – Manchester, UK @ Gullivers
Thu. July 12 – London, UK @ The Victoria
Sat. July 14 – Bern, CH @ Gurtenfestival
Thu. July 19 – Benicássim, ES @ Festival Internacional de Benicassim
Fri. July 20 – San Sebastian, ES @ Dabadaba
Sat. July 21 – Fitero, ES @ Barranco Festival
Thu. Aug. 2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
Fri. Aug. 3 – Portland, ME @ State Theater %
Sat. Sep. 15- Sun. Sep. 16 – Burlington, VT @ Grand Point North Festival
Wed. Sep. 19 – Rochester, NY @ Abilene Bar and Lounge
Thu. Sep. 20 – Lancaster, PA @ Tello 360
Fri. Sep. 21 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
Sat. Sep. 22 – Sun. Sep. 23 – Franklin, TN @ Pilgrimage Festival
Mon. Sep. 24 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson *
Tue. Sep. 25 – Norfolk, VA @ Norva Theater *
Thu. Sep. 27 – Richmond, VA @ The National *
Fri. Sep. 28 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre *
Sat. Sep. 29 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head *
Mon. Oct. 1 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom *
Tue. Oct. 2 – Montreal, QC @ Corona Theatre *
Sat. Oct. 6 – Providence, RI @ The Strand *
Mon. Oct. 8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls *
Thu. Oct. 11 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall *
Fri. Oct. 12 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s *
Sat. Oct. 13 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre *
Mon. Oct. 15 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation at The Intersection *
Wed. Oct. 17 –  Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theater *
Sat. Oct. 20 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge *
Sun. Oct. 21 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom *
Tue. Oct. 23 – Oxford, MS @ Lyric Theatre *

^ = with Maggie Rogers
$ = with Mitski
% = with Guster
* = with Rainbow Kitten Suprise

Praise for LONER:

“[LONER is] a wonderful, rollicking beast.” — MOJO

“LONER is a thrillingly odd take on pop, braiding her sardonic lyrics with
off-kilter songs that groove and groan.” —  Boston Globe

“Rose has a newly loosed imagination and a flair for exaggerating the absurdities we’re living with, and the way she’s put them to use is a timely gift.” — NPR Music

“With its mix of sunny melodies and acerbic wit, the material from her newly released LP,
LONER, was frenetic and freewheeling.” —  Rolling Stone

“In an era of endless, ear-numbing streams, LONER grabs your chin and commands your eyes.”
—  Consequence of Sound

“Rose is a fascinating person, and from DIY production trickery to her multi-role star turns in her videos, LONER represents her at her best.” — Stereogum “Artist to Watch”

“an often wickedly funny and winningly sardonic indie-pop act with lots of
surprising musical moves on her new album, LONER.” — Philadelphia Inquirer

“With her newly honed interest in producing, Caroline Rose has made an unwaveringly entertaining album filled to the brim with songs that are at once contemplative and coax the listener to get out of their seat and dance.” — Rookie

“Rose is a joy to behold . . . LONER whacks the listener swiftly upside the head with our red-clad protagonist’s winning charisma, leaving ya dizzy and begging for more.” — Under The Radar

“…a punchier, studio-powered pop sound, packed with danceable beats, prominent synths, big choruses and plenty of swagger. She remains unafraid of singing about serious subjects (capitalism, sexism, death, etc.) but on LONER, she delivers them through a bold, candy-colored filter that’s always intriguing and often irresistible.” —  Paste

Download hi-res press images and cover art –
www.pitchperfectpr.com/caroline-rose/

Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Keep your mind open.
[No need to put on a bikini for updates.  I’ll send them for free when you subscribe.]

Deeper release peppy new single – “Feels” – ahead of May tour.

Deeper Shares New Single “Feels”
Listen Here

Debut Album Out May 25th On Fire Talk Records

U.S. Headline Tour Begins Next Week

[Photo by Alexa Viscius]
Deeper are sharing the latest single, “Feels,” from their forthcoming self-titled debut album (out May 25th on Fire Talk Records). “‘Feels’ was one of those happy coincidence songs. We just set up one day and it came together after about three runs,” explains the band. “We wanted to make a punk song that was more dynamic than most, so the process for this one was different than most of our songwriting. Typically we flesh out ideas until we exhaust where each part could go, but ‘Feels; came together quickly and very naturally. The beauty of how we wrote ‘Feels’ is we never get sick of playing it live.”
Listen To Deeper’s “Feels”:
https://soundcloud.com/firetalk/deeper-feels
Deeper is Nic Gohl (singer and guitarist), Mike Clawson (guitarist), Shiraz Bhatti (drummer) and Drew McBride (bassist). The band honed their sound over the course of 2015 and 2016 in basements, lofts and anywhere that would have them. Call it post-punk, call it indie rock, Deeper is a record that steps in and out of boxes filtered through an unmistakable midwestern lens. It’s observational, poetic and influenced by nuance.

Deeper has made their mark supporting like-minded acts Omni, Protomartyr, Chris Cohen and fellow Chicago powerhouses Whitney and NE-HI along with their own sold out headlining shows and official after parties at Pitchfork Festival and Lollapalooza. Starting next week they will tour North America in support of Deeper and play a record release show at Union Pool in Brooklyn on May 25th.

Deeper Tour Dates:
5.18 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
5.19 – Indianapolis, IN @ State Street Pub
5.21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Tavern (w/ Smut, Café Racer)
5.21 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge (w/ Iceage)
5.22 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 (w/ Omni)
5.23 – Baltimore, MD @ EMP Collective
5.24 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong
5.25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
5.26 – Boston, MA @ Black Lodge
5.27 – Northampton, MA @ Red Cross
5.28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Everybody Hits
5.29 – Richmond, VA @ Flora
5.31 – Columbus, OH @ Spacebar
6.03 – Chicago, IL @ Do Division Festival

[Deeper artwork]
Keep your mind open.
[I’ll have all the feels if you subscribe.]

Here Lies Man unleash new single, “That Much Closer to Nothing,” from upcoming album.

Here Lies Man share new single from forthcoming album You Will Know Nothing
Antibalas members “if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat”
Hear & share “That Much Closer To Nothing” (YouTube) (Bandcamp)
Los Angeles quintet Here Lies Man share a new single from their forthcoming anticipated sophomore album today via Bandcamp and YouTube. The album, You Will Know Nothing will be released June 15th via RidingEasy Records.
Back in March, the band dropped the first song, “Fighting” via YouTube.
Here Lies Man play the prestigious Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, Spain later this month before hitting the road with Earthless in June. Later in Fall, the band hits the massive Desert Daze festival in Southern California. Please see current dates below.
Here Lies Man took the music world by storm in 2017 with their self-titled debut positing the intriguing hypothesis: What if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat?
Rough Trade named Here Lies Man in their prestigious Top 10 Albums of 2017. BBC 6 & Classic Rock Magazine deemed it among the year’s best, as well as countless other press outlets singing its praises.
This June, the L.A. band comprised of Antibalas members quickly follow their auspicious debut with the even more thoroughly realized album You Will Know Nothing. Its 11 tracks expand upon the band’s exploration of heavy riff-based rock and psych within the ancient rhythmic formula of the clave.
“We’re very conscious of how the rhythms service the riffs,” explains founder and vocalist/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Marcos Garcia (who also plays guitar in Antibalas) of the band’s sound. “Tony Iommi‘s (Black Sabbath) innovation was to make the riff the organizing principle of a song. We are taking that same approach but employing a different organizing principle: For Iommi it was the blues, for us it comes directly from Africa.”
Sonically, on You Will Know Nothing the dynamic range is thicker, crisper and more powerful. It glistens as much as it blasts. The songs are even catchier, more anthemic, and the production reflects that of a band truly come into its own. Lyrically, it’s an equally more conceptualized effort that reflects upon states of being and consciousness – a driving force that carries throughout the words and moods of all of the band’s releases, interconnected to their trancelike music. Here Lies Man have honed their sound and their focus, and soon, you will truly know Nothing.
“We wanted to go deeper with the sonic experience,” says Garcia. “Even though it sounds more hi-fi than the first record, it was important that it didn’t sound too polished.”
While You Will Know Nothing certainly maintains its gritty grooves, there’s an interesting conceptual mathematics to the entire proceedings. “There are interludes between each song that are 2/3 to 3/4 of the tempo of the previous song,” Garcia says. “The reason it breaks down to 2 over 3 or 3 over 4 is that everything in the music rhythmically corresponds to a set of mathematical algorithms known as the clave. The clave is an ancient organizing rhythmic principle developed in Africa.”
“We dove deep into the texture of the music, beyond the groove and the riff,” says HLM cofounder and drummer Geoff Mann (former Antibalas drummer and son of jazz musician Herbie Mann.) “Although something might sound like one instrument, there are subtle layers shifting through. It’s definitely a headphone album.”
Garcia and Mann recorded the album much like they did the debut, at their own L.A. studio on a Tascam 388 8-track tape machine. Congas were later recorded by percussionists Richard Panta and Reinaldo DeJesus. Then, Garcia went to NY to record interludes with former Antibalas keyboardist Victor Axelrod. Mixing took the most time in order to find the proper sonic space for each layer of musical detail, with first album engineer Jeremy Page mixing the drums and the band tackling the remainder while also juggling a hectic touring schedule.
Here Lies Man has already spent much of early 2018 on tour, with dates supporting Antibalas and Fu Manchu as well as a headlining trek through the EU & UK. Many summer festival dates and headline tours await later in the year as Here Lies Man continues its infectious charge onward.
You Will Know Nothing will be available on LP, CD and download on June 15th, 2018 via RidingEasy Records.
HERE LIES MAN LIVE 2018:
05/22 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
05/23 Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door
05/27 Palm Springs, CA @ Ace Hotel
05/31 Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound Festival 
06/05 Asheville, NC @ Mothlight *
06/06 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade *
06/07 Spartansburg, SC @ Ground Zero *
06/08 Orlando, FL @ Wills Pub *
06/09 Tallahassee, FL @ The Wilbury *
06/10 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon *
06/12 Houston, TX @ White Oak Upstairs *
06/13 Austin, TX @ Barracuda *
06/14 Ft Worth, TX @ Ridgela Room *
06/15 Memphis, TN @ Growlers *
06/26 Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge
06/27 Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown
06/28 Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
06/29 Portland, OR @ Star Theater
06/30 Grant’s Pass, OR @ The Haul
07/01 Chico, CA @ Naked Lounge
07/02 San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
07/05 Los Angeles, CA @ Resident DTLA
08/24 Hudson Valley, NY @ Huichica Festival
08/31 Los Angeles, CA @ Levitt Pavillion (MacArthur Park)
10/12-14 Lake Perris, CA @ Desert Daze 2018
* w/ Earthless

Artist: Here Lies Man
Album: You Will Know Nothing
Label: RidingEasy Records
Release Date: June 15th, 2018
01. Animal Noises
02. Summon Fire
03. Blindness
04. That Much Closer
05. Hell (Wooly Tail)
06. Voices At The Window
07. Taking the Blame
08. Fighting
09. Floating On Water
10. Memory Games
11. You Ought To Know

On The Web:

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Blackwater Holylight – self-titled

Portland, Oregon is home to many things – big, foggy forests, dark coffee, gray skies, cliffs pounded by the relentless ocean, and now sludge-psych rockers Blackwater Holylight (Allison Faris – bass and vocals, Cat Hoch – drums, Laura Hopkins – guitar and vocals, Sarah McKenna – synths).

Their self-titled debut starts with the bass heavy “Willow,” which somehow mixes goth, psychedelia, and groove rock.  The burst of drums and synths about thirty seconds in is exhilarating.  You’re grooving with them like a 1960’s super-spy / vampire two-and-a-half minutes later.  Hopkins’ guitar work on “Wave of Conscience” reminds me of early Cream, and McKenna’s synths remind me of some of Frank Zappa‘s work.

Faris’ bass takes front stage on “Babies,” and it sounds like she learned the craft from David J. of Love and Rockets.  Her vocals and McKenna’s circus sideshow synths give the track a demented touch that you can’t shake out of your head.  “Paranoia” starts out with appropriately intimidating reverb on Hopkins’ guitars, and they only get louder and creepier as the tune builds.  Everything bursts forth when Faris’ sings, “Here comes the sunrise.” on “Sunrise.”  It’s a lovely little gem in the middle of the darker previous track and the sludge metal of “Slow Hole” (which almost does sound like a sinkhole forming in the middle of a forgotten road).

Hoch’s beats are downright danceable on “Carry Her,” while Hopkins’ guitar work at first sounds like something off a mellow Cure record and then turns into a crunchy, distorted wallop.  The album ends with the kinky / creepy “Jizz Witch” – a slow burning doom track that seems to be summoning up…something, but ends before whatever “it” is can emerge.  Whew.

Blackwater Holylight’s debut is full of these shadowy moments.  It works into the back of your mind and lingers there.  It intrigues and unsettles in just the right balance, as good art often should.

Keep your mind open.

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Ty Segall announces solo acoustic tour.

Ty Segall Announces Fall Solo Acoustic Tour

Ty Segall’s Goblin Phase One North American tour is just about over. Whoa. EPIC. Now that he and the Freedom Band have knocked the rust off cages all around the country, it must be time to get alone, right? Yeah man! For a couple weeks – then the European tour. So, alone time later in June, then? Sure, for a little minute. But then it’s time for the BEST kind of alone time – a solo acoustic tour. Just Ty, the guitar – and you. Sounds intimate, huh? Well, ol’ kid can work up a storm even with only six semi-unplugged strings at his disposal. Extra excitement will be churned by Ty doing all sorts of songs he doesn’t usually play. It’s gonna be great! Acoustically speaking, we can’t wait. Ty Segall goes acoustic! Coming in October.
Stream/Download/Purchase Ty Segall’s Freedom’s Goblin –
https://lnk.to/freedomsgoblin

Ty Segall Solo Acoustic Tour Dates:
Sat. Oct. 20 – Big Sur, CA @ The Henry Miller Library
Sun. Oct. 21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Mon. Oct. 22 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theater
Wed. Oct. 24 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
Thu. Oct. 25 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Sat. Oct. 27 – Seattle WA @ Neumos
Thu. Oct. 30 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
Fri. Nov. 2 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall (in the round set up) !
Sat. Nov. 3 – Detroit, MI @ Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit !
Tue. Nov. 6 – Winooski, VT @ Higher Ground !
Wed. Nov. 7 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall !
Thu. Nov. 8 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom !
Fri. Nov. 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw !
Mon. Nov. 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Tue. Nov. 13 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 CLUB
Thu. Nov. 15 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
Fri. Nov. 16 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West #
Sat. Nov. 17 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s #

! = with William Tyler
# = with Emmett Kelly

Ty Segall & The Freedom Band Tour Dates:
Thu. May 24 – Frankfurt, DE @ Zoom
Fri. May 25 – Neustrelitz, DE @ Immergut
Sat. May 26 – Antwerpen, BE @ Trix
Sun. May 27 – Winterthur, CH @Salzhaus
Mon. May 28 – Vevey, CH @ Rocking Chair
Tue. May 29 – Clermont Ferrand, FR @ La Cooperative de Mai
Wed. May 30 – Lillie, FR @ Aéronf
Thu. May 31 – La Rochelle, FR @ La Sirene
Sat. June 2 – Nimes, FR @ This is Not a Love Song Festival
Mon. June 4 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
Tue. June 5 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
Wed. June 6 – Dublin, IE @ Tivoli
Fri. June 8 – Newcastle, UK @ Boiler Shop
Sat. June 9 – London, UK @ Forum
Sun. June 10 – Hilvarenbeek, NL @ Best Kept Secret Festival
Tue. June 12 – Bergen, NO @ Landmark
Wed. June 13 – Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret
Thu. June 14 – Paris, FR @ Bataclan
Sat. June 16 – Athens, GD @ Gagarin 205
Fri. Oct. 12-Sun. Oct. 14 – Moreno Beach, Lake Perris, CA @ Desert Daze 2018

Keep your mind open.
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Protomartyr release new single – “Wheel of Fortune” – ahead of June 15th EP.

PROTOMARTYR ANNOUNCE NEW “CONSOLATION E.P.”
WITH KELLEY DEAL OF THE BREEDERS

EP OUT JUNE 15TH ON DOMINO,
WATCH VIDEO FOR “WHEEL OF FORTUNE”

(Illustration by Richard Phoenix)

Today Protomartyr announce a new release called “Consolation E.P.,” which they recorded in part with friend Kelley Deal and will be released June 15th via Domino Recording Co. Two of the four songs feature Deal on vocals alongside singer Joe Casey, including “Wheel of Fortune,” which receives a video today directed by Yoonha Park (who directed the band’s video for “Don’t Go To Anacita”).  The EP was recorded by Deal’s R.Ring bandmate Mike Montgomery. Joe Casey and Kelley Deal had this to say of the collaboration and EP:

Early 2017 proved to be a productive time for the band. We were writing songs right up to recording Relatives In Descent and wanted to keep that momentum going right after. Making 2015’s split single “A Half Of Seven” with R. Ring was one of our favorite recording experiences, so the decision to head down to Dayton, Kentucky and spend a weekend in May recording the four songs that became the “Consolation E.P.” was an easy one. – Joe Casey

For Mike and I, working on this EP with Protomartyr was a re-kindling of the tender spark that was struck upon our first encounter with them years ago in Texas. They were graciously tolerant and receptive to my production ideas on the songs and the project quickly grew beyond our private orb. We have cello from Lori Goldston, viola from Jocelyn Hach and even bass clarinet from Evan Ziporyn, and I do some singing with Joe. There’s a lot of trust involved when an artist places their songs in your hands, and we were very mindful of that while intentionally trying to take the songs in new directions. Candyland in Dayton, KY is home-base for R.Ring recording, and it’s close enough that the Proto-men could make it down to lay the tracks down. This is the second project like this we’ve done with them, so we’re ready to flip the tables and have them produce and record some of our songs! – Kelley Deal

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “WHEEL OF FORTUNE”
http://smarturl.it/WheelOfFortuneYT

(“Consolation E.P. “album art)
“CONSOLATION E.P.” TRACKLISTING
1. Wait
2. Same Face In A Different Mirror
3. Wheel Of Fortune (feat. Kelley Deal)
4. You Win Again (feat. Kelley Deal)
PROTOMARTYR TOUR DATES
Thu. May 3 – Kortrijik, BE @ De Kreun
Fri. May 4 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
Sat. May 5 – Leicester, UK @ Handmade Festival
Sun. May 6 – Glasgow, UK @ Stag & Dagger Festival
Tue. May 8 – Hull, UK @ Fruit
Wed. May 9 – Birmingham, UK @ Mama Roux
Thu. May 10 – London, UK @ Rough Trade East – In Conversation with the Raincoats
Thu. May 10 – London, UK @ Scala
Sun. June 3 – Seattle, WA @ Upstream Music Festival
Sat. June 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere (Brooklyn Vegan Northside Party)
Wed. June 13 – Hong Kong, HK @ MOM Livehouse
Fri. June 15 – Beijing, CN @ Yue Space
Sat. June 16 – Shanghai, CN @ YYT
Sun. June 17 – Seoul, KR @ V-Hall
Wed. June 20 – Kuala Lumpur, MY @ Live Fact
Thu. June 21 – Jakarta, ID @ Rossi Musik
Sat. June 23 – Athens, GR @ Ejekt Festival
Fri. July 6 – Modena, IT @ Arti Vive
Sat. July 7 – Chiusi, IT @ Lars Rock Fest
Sat. July 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
Sat. Aug. 11 – Haldern, DE @ Haldern Pop Festival
Sun. Aug. 12 – Luxembourg, LU @ Rotondes
Mon. Aug. 13 – Dusseldorf, DE @ Zakk
Tue. Aug. 14 – Bremen, DE @ Tower Musikclub
Thu. Aug. 16 – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje
Fri. Aug. 17 – Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands Festival
Sat. Aug 18 – Hasselt, BE @ Pukkelpop Festival
Sun. Aug. 19 – St. Malo, FR @ La Route Du Rock
Tue. Aug. 21 – Dudingen, CH @ Bad Bonn
Wed. Aug. 22 – Zurich, CH @ Mascotte
Fri. Aug. 24 – Schorndorf, DE @ Club Manufaktur
Sat. Aug 25 – Charleville Mezieres, FR @ Cabaret Vert Festival
Sun. Aug. 26 – Ramsgate, UK @ Ramsgate Hall
Tue. Aug. 28 – Sheffield, UK @ Picture House Social
Wed. Aug. 29 – Hebden Bridge, UK @ Trades Club
Thu. Aug. 30 – Liverpool, UK @ O2 Academy 2
Fri. Aug. 31 – Salisbury, UK @ End of the Road Festival
Thu. Aug. 30 – Sun. Sep. 2 – Vlieland, NL @ Into the Great Wide Open
PRAISE FOR RELATIVES IN DESCENT

“Political, environmental, epistemological, social, familial and individual anxieties fuel the latest songs by Protomartyr, a band from Detroit that has been reclaiming the jagged, muscular dissonances of post-punk for 21st-century America.”
– The New York Times (Album of the Week)

“A slow-burn apocalypse of ennui and injustice crackles through the sensational fourth album from these Detroit post-punks.” – The Guardian (5/5 stars)

“Brooding and abrasive, the Detroit post-punk group’s new LP isn’t for the faint of heart – but beauty lies in its 12 knotty, pummeling tunes.” – Entertainment Weekly

“Over the course of four full-length albums, the Detroit-based band has produced a collection of lyrically dense, deeply philosophical (and usually very loud) songs that grapple with some of life’s thorniest questions: What does it mean to be human? What is truth? What is the nature of good and evil?” – NPR Music

“Consolation E.P.” is available to pre-order now on limited pressing yellow/white starburst vinyl via Domino, and limited pressing gold vinyl via your local independent record store.

“Consolation E.P.” Domino pre-order: http://smarturl.it/ConsolationEPMart
“Consolation E.P.” Digital pre-order: http://smarturl.it/ConsolationEPDL

Relatives In Descent Domino Mart: http://smarturl.it/RIDMart
Relatives In Descent iTunes: http://smarturl.it/RIDDownload

Keep your mind open.
[Enjoy good fortune by subscribing.]

BODEGA releases new single / your new favorite earworm – “Jack in Titanic”

BODEGA Shares New Single “Jack In Titanic”
Watch The Video Here

U.S. Headline Tour Announced

Endless Scroll Out June 1st On What’s Your Rupture?

[Photo by Mert Gafuroglu]

Having recently announced their debut album, BODEGA are back with another new single, “Jack In Titanic.” Ben Hozie from the band explains, “’Jack in Titanic’ is about learned male behavior and the nostalgia for it. One day I realized that my unspoken internal values ‘of what it means to be a man’ were inherited from the dubious fantasy of the movies, particularly my childhood models: James Bond, Jackie Chan, and Jack (in Titanic). Jack, of course, is also an archetypal rock and roll hero: road warrior, poor yet able to maneuver class, loyal friend, incredible dancer, fantastic lover (in the back of cars), wonderful with graphic design (could do his own cover art), and weapon against the aristocracy (and all things bureaucratic and mannered).”

The “Jack In Titanic” video, directed by the band’s Nikki Belfiglio and Bodega-ally Corey Eisenberg, is set within the cover art for Endless Scroll (hence the square aspect ratio). The space is a virtual gallery of the endless scroll and Jack’s twenty-first century boyish id – hypersexual rock and pop performance mediated by the screen. The full band only performs together separated by monitors.

Watch BODEGA’s “Jack In Titanic” Video:
https://youtu.be/2PmC3y-ktBM
Endless Scroll will be released June 1st on What’s Your Rupture?. Ahead of that, BODEGA heads to Europe for their first ever shows outside of North America. Upon their return, the band plays a record release show at Sunnyvale in Brooklyn on June 1st before embarking on a U.S. headline tour throughout June. A full list of dates is below with more to be announced soon.
Watch:
“Jack In Titanic” video – https://youtu.be/2PmC3y-ktBM
“Can’t Knock The Hustle” video – https://youtu.be/sm5fWJDJicI
“How Did This Happen ?!” video – https://youtu.be/TKAzK41-YHM
BODEGA Tour Dates:
Tue. May 15 – London, UK @ The Social
Wed. May 16 – London, UK @ Lock Tavern
Thu. May 17 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape (tickets)
Fri. May 18 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape (tickets)
Sat. May 19 – Leeds, UK @ Gold Sounds at Brudenell Social Club (tickets)
Sun. May 20 – Glasglow, UK @ The Poetry Club (tickets)
Tue. May 22 – London UK @ Electric Ballroom w/ Rolling Blackouts C.F. (tickets)
Wed. May 23 – London, UK @ The Lexington w/ Amyl and the Sniffers (SOLD OUT)
Fri. May 25 – Leffinge, BE @ De Zwerver (tickets)
Sat. May 26 – Amsterdam, NL @ London Calling at Paradiso (tickets)
Sun. May 27 – Brussels, BE @ AB Club w/ Moaning (tickets)
Mon. May 28 – Cologne, DE @ Sonic Ballroom
Tue. May 29 – Berlin, DE @ ACUD (tickets)
Fri. June 1 – Brooklyn, NY @ Sunnyvale
Sat. June 16 – Toronto, ON @ The Rivoli
Sun. June 17 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
Mon. June 18 – Detroit, MI @ Marble Bar
Tue. June 19 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Thu. June 21 – Nashville, TN @ The High Watt
Fri. June 22 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
Sat. June 23 – Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
Sun. June 24 – Iowa City, IA @ The Mill
Mon. June 25 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
TUe. June 26 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Cactus Club
Wed. June 27 – Columbus, OH @ Used Kids Records
Thu. June 28 – Athens, OH @ The Union
Fri. June 29 – Washington, DC @ DC9
Sat. June 30 – Phladelphia, PA @ Everybody Hits
Tue. July 10 – Manchester, UK @ Soup Kitchen (tickets)
Wed. July 11 – Birmingham, UK @ The Sunflower Lounge (tickets)
Fri. July 13 – Beccles, UK @ Latitude Festival (tickets)
Mon. July 16 – Nijmegen, NL @ Valkhof Festival (tickets)
Thu. July 19 – Port Grimaud, FR @ Plage de Rock w/ Parquet Courts
Sat. July 21 – Benicassim, ES @ Benicassim Festival (tickets)

[Endless Scroll artwork]

Keep your mind open.
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MIEN – self-titled

Consisting of members of the Black Angels (Alex Maas on guitar, bass, and vocals), the Earlies (John Lapham on synths), Elephant Stone (Rishi Dhir on sitar, bass, and vocals), and the Horrors (Tom Furse on synths), MIEN are a psychedelic supergroup who have been at least discussing their self-titled debut album since 2004.  Now that it’s here, they (and we) can rejoice in a job well done.

Staring with the cosmic “Earth Moon,” Maas’ vocals are drenched in smoky reverb as he sings about how our beliefs can alter our reality.  Where that track is a lovely stroll through a psychedelic meadow, the second cut, “Black Habit,” is downright creepy with Lapham and Furse’s synths providing a dark drone under Maas’ lyrics about addictions.  “(I’m Tired of) Western Shouting” might be my favorite cut on the record.  The drum beats are wicked, as are Maas’ lyrics about 24-hours news cycles, angry Internet rants, and people being proud to be rude or even bigoted.  The whole band clicks on it, and it slays live.

“You Dreamt” layers on the synths and is pretty much a dark wave track (and a good one).  The instrumental “Other” floats on Furse and Lapham’s synths and could’ve easily fit into the score for Blade Runner: 2049.  “I feel so high,” Maas sings on “Hocus Pocus.”  You might feel the same as it warps into distorted madness and heady freak-outs.  Thee deep bass synths on “Ropes” fuel the urgency of Maas’ vocals about fear.

“Echolalia” is defined as mindless repetition of words or sentences as a symptom of a psychiatric disorder or as a repetition of words by a child learning to speak.  Both definitions seem appropriate for the track of the same name, as it churns with an almost frantic energy and then comes to an abrupt start that surprises you.  “Odessey” has brighter synths, and even female backing vocals, but they hide menace within them.  The album ends with a reprise of “Earth Moon.”  It’s a mellower version than the first and it creates a nice, dreamy ending to a mostly spooky record.

It’s a solid debut.  MIEN are currently on their first live tour, so don’t miss them or this record.

Keep your mind open.

[No shouting here, just music updates when you subscribe.]

 

The Flaming Lips to release first greatest hits collection on June 1st.

Just in time for their latest tour, the Flaming Lips are set to release their first greatest hits collection on June 01, 2018.  The vinyl version of this contains 11 tracks from the second half of their catalogue.  The CD version is three discs for a total of 52 tracks and covers a lot of their earlier material as well.  They’re also offering shirts and posters featuring the wild album art.  I haven’t heard a lot of the cuts on the CD version of this, so I’m probably going to snag that.

Keep your mind open.

[I can’t predict the future either, but I can send you updates if you subscribe.]

 

Levitation Music Festival Recap Day Two: Scrambled eggs, scrambled brain

The second day of Levitation Austin was going to be a feast of bands from outside the U.S.  The number of international acts that play the festival every year is one of my favorite things about it.  I’ve discovered many great bands I wouldn’t have heard otherwise at Levitation Austin.

After a great brunch at the South Congress Cafe (which I couldn’t finish), the first of the six bands we’d see that day was Superfonicos – an Austin band of locals and Colombians who play a great mix of Afro / Colombian funk.  They played to a crowd that seemed to grow larger with each track, as more and more people walking by the venue came in to hear who was dropping all that killer groove.

Superfonicos kicking off the party.

Following them were musicians all the way from Algeria – Imarhan.  My wife and I have fallen in love with Tuareg music thanks to the Levitation festival, and this was our second time seeing Imarhan there.  A lot more people were hyped to see them this time than when we saw them in 2016.  It’s not that they were a bad band in 2016 – far from it.  It’s that they’ve been working hard, touring a lot, and have a fine new album (Temet) that’s getting a lot of buzz.  They had everyone moving and people behind me in the crowd were stunned by their bass player and lead guitarist.

Imarhan

Closing the night at Cheer Up Charlie’s were hometown heroes / aliens Golden Dawn Arkestra, who entered the venue through the crowd and billowing sage incense everywhere before they launched into a sun-worshipping funky freakout that had a packed crowd of dancing revelers all communing with other-dimensional beings.  GDA never disappoint, and some people we met that night (one of whom was in a psychedelic band out of Chicago) who hadn’t seen them before thought the set was one of the coolest things they’d ever seen.

We then went over to Barracuda to see Chilean psychedelic rock outfit Vuelveteloca.  Unfortunately, we missed the first half of their set, but what we did here was psych-rock as solid as the Andes.

NYC’s The Men followed, and they came out gunning.  In the first two tracks I thought, “This might be the closest I ever get to an MC5 show.”  They even played some Captain Beefheart-like stuff by the end.  They were loud and brash, which made the next set even weirder.

The final act we saw the second night was another Chilean band – Follakzoid.  I’d only heard a couple tracks by them before coming to Austin, and they were good ones that bordered somewhere between shoegaze and psychedelia.  I didn’t know what to expect from a live show, but I can tell you it about melted my mind.  They played two tracks and an encore.  The two tracks during their main set were about twenty-five minutes each of droning, repetitive (in a good way) space rock that is hard to describe.  Imagine synth bass and riffs combined with drumming from apparently a human metronome (considering how long he kept those beats going) and maybe five different notes played in different ways and with different effects and levels of distortion and reverb.  Sound weird?  It was – wonderfully so.  Sound like it shouldn’t be good?  You couldn’t be more wrong.  It was one of the best sets I saw all weekend, easily in the top three.

Up next, my wife tries to figure out the big deal about Slowdive, we bump into more musicians, and a laptop keeps giving someone fits.

Keep your mind open.