Category: Rock

Clutch announces new U.S. tour dates with Sevendust.

CLUTCH ANNOUNCE BOOK OF BAD DECISIONS TOUR DATES WITH
SEVENDUST AND TYLER BRYAN & THE SHAKEDOWN
June 19th, 2018 – Clutch has just announced US/Canada Fall tour dates for their “Book Of Bad Decisions Tour 2018.”  Clutch is making the following special offer for this tour:  The price of a ticket when purchased in advance online includes a physical CD copy of Clutch‘s new album “Book of Bad Decisions.”   Fans will receive information on how to redeem the album after purchasing the advance ticket online.  Offer valid through 10/29/18, open to US residents only.  Not valid on Resale tickets.  Offer only valid for Clutch headline dates.  Festivals, Canadian headline dates and the October 13th date with System of a Down are exempt from this offer.  Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, June 22nd at 10AM local time and will be available at www.pro-rock.com and www.facebook.com/clutchband.
Supporting the tour will be Sevendust and Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown.
Book of Bad Decisions, CLUTCH’s 12th studio album is scheduled for a worldwide release on September 7th, 2018 via their own Weathermaker Music label.  The album was recorded at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, TN by producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather) and consists of 15 new tracks.
Clutch Book Of Bad Decisions Tour with Sevendust and Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown:
Sun/Sep-16  Chicago IL  Riotfest **
Tue/Sep-18  St Paul, MN  Myth Live
Wed/Sep-19  Kansas City, MO  Uptown Theater
Fri/Sep-21  Houston TX  House of Blues
Sat/Sep-22  San Antonio TX  River City Rock Fest **
Sun/Sep-23  Dallas, TX  Gas Monkey Live
Tue/Sep-25  Orlando, FL  House Of Blues
Thu/Sep-27  Norfolk, VA  The NorVa
Fri/Sep-28  Raleigh, NC  The Ritz
Sat/Sep-29  Atlanta, GA  The Masquerade *
Sun/Sep-30  Louisville, KY  Louder Than Life **
Tue/Oct-02  Denver, CO  Ogden Theater
Wed/Oct-03  Salt Lake City, UT  The Depot
Fri/Oct-05  Boise, ID  Knitting Factory
Sat/Oct-06  Spokane, WA  Knitting Factory
Sun/Oct-07  Seattle, WA  Showbox SODO
Mon/Oct-08  Vancouver, BC  Commodore Ballroom
Tue/Oct-09  Portland, OR  Roseland Theater
Thu/Oct-11  San Francisco, CA  The Regency Ballroom
Fri/Oct-12  Los Angeles, CA  El Rey Theater
Sat/Oct-13  San Bernardino, CA  Glen Helen Amphitheater w/SOAD ***
Sun/Oct-14  San Diego, CA  North Park/Observatory
Mon/Oct-15  Tempe, AZ  The Marquee
Wed/Oct-17  Tulsa, OK  Cain’s Ballroom
Thu/Oct-18  Sauget, IL  Pop’s Nightclub
Fri/Oct-19  Grand Rapids, MI  20 Monroe Live
Sat/Oct-20  Detroit, MI  The Filmore Detroit
Sun/Oct-21  Pittsburgh, PA  Stage AE
Tue/Oct-23  Toronto, ON  Rebel
Thu/Oct-25  Worcester, MA  The Palladium
Fri/Oct-26  New York, NY  Irving Plaza
Sat/Oct-27  New York, NY  Irving Plaza
Sun/Oct-28  Philadelphia, PA  Electric Factory
*= no Sevendust
** = festival date / Clutch and festival bill only
*** = date w/ System of a Down/ no Sevendust
CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion
                                                                                          
For more  information, check out the band’s website:
Keep your mind open.
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Here Lies Man – You Will Know Nothing

Here Lies Man was introduced to me via their label (RidingEasy Records) with the following question – “What if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat?”

I’m not sure I can sum up HLM’s sound better than that.  They’re from Los Angeles (and consist of members of Antibalas), so it’s tempting to say there’s a touch of southern California rock and surf in there.  However, the majority of their sound is a blend of heavy riffs and Afrobeat rhythms.  It works.  Good heavens, does it work.

The heavy organ and crunchy guitar of “Animal Noises” get things off to a great start.  It sounds like a couple wild boars grunting alongside jungle birds.  It also cuts out and then fades back in with delicate psychedelic brush strokes.  “Summon Fire” could probably do exactly that under the right circumstances.  The guitar licks are hot enough, and the drums are perfect for a dance around the fire while spinning a spear overhead.  The lyrics are belted out like something from Parliament Funkadelic.  “Blindness” is a mostly instrumental with great organ / keyboard work throughout it, especially on the gothic fade-out that would make Bauhaus proud.

“That Much Closer to Nothing” is a good, yet bleak, way to describe living.  The title and the sludge-like riffs are nihilistic at first, but then blossom with an infectious energy that let you know that letting go of all your trappings is a good thing.  Those Sabbath influences are front and center on “Hell (Wooly Tail).”  The bass slithers, the guitars chug, the drums bubble, and the keys melt.  The songs ends with a child’s voice telling us to “Look in the mirror.”  It lends a bit of creepiness to the title of the next track – “Voices at the Window.”   The song is like a fog through which you see what may or may not be a deer along the road as you’re driving at 65mph.  In other words, it’s misty and a bit frightening.

The choppy, fuzzy sounds of “Taking the Blame” are heavy and will get your neck moving like a bobble head figure.  “Fighting” was the first single off the record, and choosing it was a no-brainer.  The groove on it is excellent and belongs at the top of your next workout playlist.  “Floating on Water” follows, and its one of the best psychedelic dream-rock songs of the year.  It like concentric ripples in a mountain lake.  “Memory Games” brings Cream to mind with its floor-stomping blues-based groove.  The closer is the lovely “You Ought to Know” – an instrumental that puts together shoegaze, stoner rock, psychedelia, and space rock / lounge.

You Will Know Nothing is the type of album that you can put on a loop and listen to three times in a row without getting bored.  It’s funky, heavy, and a great cure for anything ailing you right now.

Keep your mind open.

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Protomartyr drop new single ahead of “Consolation” EP due tomorrow.

PROTOMARTYR SHARE “YOU ALWAYS WIN” FEAT. KELLEY DEAL

“CONSOLATION E.P.” OUT TOMORROW ON DOMINO

Tomorrow marks the release of the new EP from Protomartyr, “Consolation E.P.,” on Domino Recording Co. Earlier today, Beats 1 premiered the song “You Always Win,” which, like previous shared single “Wheel of Fortune,” features vocals from Kelley Deal.  Protomartyr’s Joe Casey said the following about the final song on the EP:

“You Always Win” is the last song on our EP. That reminds me of three things. First; “good things come to those that wait”. I think that’s what is called an adage. I don’t know if waiting through three other quality songs counts, but I think it might. Second; this quote: “I did not get my Spaghetti-O’s; I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.”

That’s the last words of some murderer, apparently. I think that means this song could have been something out of a can. Sure, murderers would have liked it fine but this is good, musical spaghetti. And the reason it’s spaghetti brings me to my third thought: Kelley Deal made this song great. It could have been flat circles in tomato gravy. Kelley, in her genius, elevated it to the thing you are hearing now. Beautiful sound pasta? I suppose.

Kelley Deal had this to say of “You Always Win”:

I listened to Protomartyr’s demo for “You Always Win” and thought of Sinatra and old Las Vegas. The band were into it, so Mike Montgomery and I worked with Lori Goldston (cello), Jocelyn Hach (viola) and Evan Ziporyn (bass clarinet) to create the sound of candy-coated corruption for Joe’s characters to inhabit. “It’s what I must do.”

LISTEN TO “YOU ALWAYS WIN”
https://youtu.be/VVLp32EjrSo

PRE-ORDER “CONSOLATION E.P.”
http://smarturl.it/ConsolationEP

PROTOMARTYR TOUR DATES
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
Sun. July 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall w/ My Bloody Valentine
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. Sept. 2 – Vlieland, NL @ Into the Great Wide Open
Mon. Sept. 3 – Groningen, NL @ Vera
Fri. Sept. 28 – Detroit, MI @ MOCAD Homestead w/ Deerhunter

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.
[You can console me by subscribing.]

Deap Vally release new surfy single, “Get Gone,” and new UK and Europe tour dates.

Power rock duo Deap Vally have a new road trippy single, “Get Gone,” just in time for summer and their upcoming tour through the UK and Europe.  They’re also working on a new record, which is nothing but great news.  Catch them if you can.

June 22 – Southside Festival @ Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany  TICKETS
June 23 – Hurricane Festival @ Scheessel, Germany  TICKETS
June 24 – Cafe De Zwerver @ Leffinge, Belgium TICKETS
June 27 – The Grand Social @ Dublin, Ireland TICKETS
June 28 – The Limelight @ Belfast, Ireland TICKETS
June 30 – Queens of The Stone Age and Friends @ Finsbury Park, United Kingdom TICKETS
July 1 – The Plug @ Sheffield, United Kingdom TICKETS
July 2 – Castle & Falcon @ Birmingham, United Kingdom TICKETS
July 3 – Muni Arts Centre @ Pontypridd, United Kingdom TICKETS
July 8 – Pointu Festival @ Six-Fours-Les-Plagues, France TICKETS
July 10th – Atles Hallenbad Feldkirch @ Feldkirch, Austria TICKETS
July 11th – Full Hit of Summer @ Vienna, Austria TICKETS

Keep your mind open.

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Howard release new single, “Your Honor,” from album due September 14th.

Howard Announce New Album, Together Alone, Out September 14th on Fashion People; Watch Video For First Single, “Your Honor”
https://youtu.be/JXRHCs5ZZms
(photo credit: Sonya Kitchell)

“The video’s kitschy collage-style animation, as well as the zany, exaggerated expressions of the band’s characters, elevate the classic outsider-falls-for-girl narrative into something refreshing and whimsical.” — NPR Music on “Your Honor” video

“…a stellar introduction…” — Stereogum on Religion

“Slow building electronics swirl forward, urging you to get wrapped up in the call to prayer that is Feibusch’s vocals.” — Consequence of Sound on Religion
Howard, the Brooklyn-based outfit composed of Howard Feibusch (guitar, vocals), Alex Chakour (guitar, synth, backup vocals), Myles Heffernan (bass), and Chris Holdridge (drums), are thrilled to announce their new album, Together Alone, out September 14th on Fashion People.

The video for the album’s first single, “Your Honor,” was directed by Joey Abisso and premiered on NPR Music earlier this morning. He says, “We wanted to strike a unique balance between elegant, zany, and playful, which led to the ‘Life Magazine,’ Monty Python, construction paper visual combo of the final video. The weird little story came about pretty organically alongside the visual style…it was a lot of fun directing everyone to make silly facial expressions at various angles and dropping the results onto their animated bodies.” Watch the video below.

Watch Howard’s “Your Honor” video — 
https://youtu.be/JXRHCs5ZZms
Together Alone follows Howard’s debut album, 2015’s Religion, and it’s companion EP, Please Recycle. It’s the first album from 30-year-old multifaceted bandleader Howard Feibusch’s project to be recorded with the full band that so capably toured behind Religion; it’s also an aching, restless, and altogether lovely document of the paradoxical sensation in which we feel more isolated than ever in the face of increasing togetherness and connectivity—a modern sentiment wrapped in music that’s timeless in its timbre.

Together Alone finds Howard venturing further out of their comfort zone and using their full-band capabilities to their greatest advantage—a full-bodied warmth, aided by horn contributions from the famed Daptone musical family. No sonic stone is left unturned here, from the gently rollicking and subtly psychedelic “Mothers Wedding” (shared last fall) to the brittle, dusty desert rock of “Oh Dear Brother.” You can hear a variety of influences here, from the winsome sounds of Athens’ Elephant 6 collective to Amnesiac-era Radiohead and the distant lullabies of the Everly Brothers—but they all coalesce to form a sound that is truly its own. It’s untethered from the present and applicable to the plight of humanity at large—but it represents Feibusch and his band finding themselves, too, necessary hope for anyone who’s ever dreamed of turning the thoughts in their heads into something tangible and real.

Listen/Share:
“Mother’s Wedding” stream (first single from Together Alone) — https://spoti.fi/2xJ1Wab
“Ooh Baby Baby” stream (Smokey Robinson cover) — https://spoti.fi/2sFVyuK
“Tracks of My Tears” stream (Smokey Robinson cover) — https://spoti.fi/2Jku2dv
Stream Religion (2015) — https://spoti.fi/2xHCulr
Stream Please Recycle EP (2016) — https://spoti.fi/2HkDHyG



Pre-order Together Alone — https://listentohoward.bandcamp.com/

Download hi-res images & album art — http://pitchperfectpr.com/howard/

(Together Alone Cover Art)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud

Flasher – Constant Image

Opening with something that sounds like a song you’d hear on the tape deck of one of those Blade Runner flying cars, Flasher‘s debut full-length album, Constant Image, is strongly self-assured post-punk.  That opening track, “Go,” encourages you to “suck it up” and get ready for a fast ride.

“Pressure” builds with its namesake until the chorus, and even then it doesn’t let up too much.  Daniel Saperstein‘s bass seems like it’s all over the place, but he grounds the tune like metal stakes into circus tent loops.  I like how Saperstein’s vocals blend with those of Emma Baker (drums) and Taylor Mulitz (guitar) on “Sun Come and Golden.”  The whole track has a brightness to it, but it doesn’t ignore the shadows caused.  “Material” raises the attitude of the record, as Mulitz’s vocals border on snotty punk and throw down the right amount of tongue-in-cheek sass.

Mulitz’s guitar buzzes like a green hornet on “XYZ.”  It’s one of the hottest cuts on the record as Flasher sing about self-introspection and the expectations of their generation and the ones before and after them.  As good as it is, “Who’s Got Time?” is even better.  Saperstein unloads on it.  It has a rough urgency and is yet highly danceable.  “Skim Milk” was their first single, and it’s easy to hear why they chose it.  Mulitz’s guitar is precise and fuzzy when it needs to be, Baker keeps time and thrashes when she needs to, and Saperstein keeps up his serial killing of bass grooves.  Their triple vocals weave together well and it’s pretty much everything you want in a post-punk song.

There’s a neat piano riff underlining “Harsh Light” while Mulitz sings, “Every corner that you turn, you never learn.”  Good grief, can’t we all relate to that at times?  “Punching Up” has a bit of a punch-drunk beat to it, with Baker providing co-lead vocals and a Pixies-like rhythm.  The Pixies influence is thick on the entire track with its back-and-forth bouncing between soothing guitars and heavy distortion.  “Business Unusual” would be a great name for a TV show or comic book, but it’s instead about a “man, now a boy in blue, this whole world’s got it out for you.”  It also throws in some saxophone (a welcome addition to any post-punk record) with the quirky guitars and the repeated question from Flasher – “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

It’s the last lyric of the album.  Are they asking us to reflect and perhaps realize it isn’t that bad?  Are they asking us to forgive ourselves?   The name of the album is, after all, Constant Image.  We all constantly project different images of ourselves, and often to cover up what we think are horrible flaws but are usually things about which no one cares.  Most of the things we worry about never happen.  Flasher want us to know this, I think.  We should thank them for the reminder.  You can do it by buying this record.

Keep your mind open.

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new single, “Hunnybee,” is a delightful treat.

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA SHARE VIDEO
FOR NEW SINGLE “HUNNYBEE”

Today, Unknown Mortal Orchestra share a new video for album track and single “Hunnybee.” From the day their new album Sex & Food was released, it was clear “Hunnybee” was really hitting a chord with fans in a special way.  A live show favorite, the song draws lyrical inspiration from UMO mastermind Ruban Nielson‘s daughter, whose middle name gave the song its title. A beautifully understated song, it still moves with propulsion that gives fans reason to dance. The video remains stylistically in tune with previous videos for Sex & Food‘s previous singles “Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays” and “American Guilt.” Watch it below.
WATCH “HUNNYBEE”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrKlSkxRHAYOUTUBE EMBED:
<iframe width=“560” height=“315″ src=”//www.youtube.com/embed/IJrKlSkxRHA” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

LISTEN TO SEX & FOOD
https://unknownmortalorchestra.lnk.to/sexandfood

UMO TOUR DATES:
June 10 – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands @ Best Kept Secret Festival
July 6 – Richmond, VA @ The National w/ Shamir
July 7 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel w/ Shamir
July 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse w/ Shamir
July 9 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre w/ Shamir
July 11 – New Orleans, LA @ Republic w/ Shamir
July 12 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall w/ Shamir
July 13 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs BBQ w/ Shamir
July 14 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater w/ Shamir
July 16 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre w/ Shamir
July 17 – Ogden, UT @ Ogden Amphitheatre w/ Sylvan Esso, Shamir
July 18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Vinyl at Hard Rock w/ Shamir
July 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom w/ Shamir
July 21 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
July 23 – Missoula, MT @ The Top Hat
July 24 – Billings, MT @ The Pub Station
July 26 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
July 27 – Chicago, IL @ House of Vans
August 9 – Budapest, Hungary @ Sziget Festival
August 10 – Basel, Switzerland @ Open Air Basel
August 11 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Haven
August 16 – Hasselt, Belgium @ Pukkelpop Festival
September 5 – Christchurch, New Zealand @ The Foundry Bar
September 6 – Dunedin, New Zealand @ Glenroy Auditorium
September 7 – Wellington, New Zealand @ Hunter Lounge
September 8 – Auckland, New Zealand @ Auckland Town Hall
September 12 – Melbourne, Australia @ Forum Theatre
September 14 – Adelaide, Australia @ Fat Controller
September 15 – South Brisbane, Australia @ Brisbane Festival
September 16 – Newtown, Australia @ Enmore Theatre
September 18 – Perth, Australia @ Badlands
September 23 – Tokyo, Japan @ WWWX
October 4 – Guadalajara, Mexico @ C3 Stage
October 6 – Lomas Atlas, Mexico @ Festival Hipnosis @ Deportivo Lomas Atlas
November 19 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute
November 21 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall
November 22 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
November 23 – Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill
November 25 – Dublin, Ireland @ The Academy
November 26 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 ABC

Watch “Not In Love We’re Just High” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY82vChor2A
Watch “Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays” – https://youtu.be/ad2Iy0DMCWU
Watch “American Guilt” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-JlcmCxIXU
Download hi-res images here: http://pitchperfectpr.com/unknown-mortal-orchestra/
UMO Online:
https://twitter.com/umo
http://unknownmortalorchestra.com/
http://instagram.com/unknownmortalorchestra
http://www.jagjaguwar.com/artist.php?name=umo
https://www.facebook.com/unknownmortalorchestraKeep your mind open.

[Be a honey and subscribe.]

The Beths release catchy new single – “Happy Unhappy”

The Beths Share New Single “Happy Unhappy”
Watch The Video HereU.S. Tour Begins Next Week

Future Me Hates Me Out August 10th On Carpark Records

[Photo by Mason Fairey]

“a young band that knows exactly who they are flexing some impressive versatility” – Stereogum
The Beths are sharing the second single, “Happy Unhappy,” from Future Me Hates Me, their debut album coming out August 10th on Carpark Records. The accompanying video directed by Callum Devlin debuts today via Noisey. Front and center is lead singer and primary songwriter Elizabeth Stokes. Stokes commands a vocal range that spans from the brash confidence of Joan Jett to the disarming vulnerability of Jenny Lewis.The Beths occupy a warm, energetic sonic space between joyful hooks, sun-soaked harmonies, and acerbic lyrics. Future Me Hates Me delivers an astonishment of roadtrip-ready pleasures, each song hitting your ears with an exhilarating endorphin rush like the first time you heard Slanted and Enchanted or “Cannonball.”

All four members of The Beths studied jazz at university, resulting in a toolkit of deft instrumental chops and tricked-out arrangements that operate on a level rarely found in guitar-pop. The Beths’ guitarist and studio guru Jonathan Pearce (whose other acts as producer include recent Captured Tracks’ signing Wax Chattels) brings it all home with an approach that’s equal parts seasoned perfectionist and D.I.Y.

The Beths recently toured Europe and will begin a U.S. run next week at Alphaville in Brooklyn, NY. These early shows in support of Future Me Hates Me mark their first time ever playing outside of New Zealand and Australia. A full list of dates is below.

Watch The Beths’ “Happy Unhappy” Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct8AwQwlbNA

“Future Me Hates Me” Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVImwSb4EYU
The Beths Tour Dates:
June 11th – Brooklyn, NY – Alphaville *
June 13th – Philadelphia, PA – Ortlieb’s
June 14th – Washington, DC – Loves Me Not
June 16th – Chicago, IL – Charm School
June 20th – San Francisco, CA – The Battery
June 22nd – Los Angeles, CA – Make Out Music
* w/ Peach Kelli Pop

[Future Me Hates Me artwork]

Keep your mind open.
[I’ll be happy if you subscribe, unhappy if you don’t.]

The Damned – Evil Spirits

Let’s face it, not all punk rock ages well.  This isn’t the case with the Damned, however (and most classic punk bands, actually.).  Their newest album, Evil Spirits, is a fine return for them with tracks written by multiple members of the band.

Starting with the slightly creepy “Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow,” lead singer David Vanian (whose voice only seems to have improved with age) pleads with “this dystopian generation” to fix things for future generations before it’s too late for them.  Guitarist Captain Sensible‘s riffs blend into the sound of passing fighter jets by the end of it.  “Devil in Disguise” has a bass heavy groove and barely disguised lyrics (again, masterfully sung by Vanian) about current political leaders (i.e., “Don’t understate the state we’re in.  Don’t misconstrue my sideways grin, ‘cos you’re the one that let me in.” / “As you build your walls and empires fall, it seems the truth doesn’t matter anymore.”).  “We’re So Nice,” written by the Captain, is a punk anthem with a slick beat by Pinch and lyrics about being careful not to fall into complacency.

In case you were doubting the Damned have opinions on the current political landscape, look no further than “Look Left.”  It’s almost a gothic ballad as Vanian sings, “Subterfuge and fantasy played only to ignite.  While everybody’s looking left, what the hell is happening right?”  Keyboardist Monty Oxymoron‘s work on the track is subtle but crucial.  “Evil Spirits” is the kind of song Kaiser Chiefs want to write on that crushing rock album in the back of their heads.  Capt. Sensible shreds on it and his lyrics convey a bit of “Meet the old boss, same as the new boss” aesthetic.  Oxymoron also gets to go wonderfully bonkers by the end of it.

It’s easy to forget that the Damned started as a goth-punk band, but “Shadow Evocation” will remind you of their roots.  Vanian sings about ghosts, lurking in the night, and the devil chasing him towards death.  Capt. Sensible dives into the realm of conspiracy theory with “Sonar Deceit” as Vanian sings Sensible’s lyrics about sea fish swimming into fresh water rivers, whales dying on shores, dolphins going mad, and submarines doing nefarious things.  “Procrastination” encourages all of us to achieve our dreams while we still have time (“I’d like to see the pyramids at this time of the year, but never quite get round to it and end up staying here.”).

“The Daily Liar” is a plea for truth in news and for someone, anyone to cut through the “smoke and mirrors” of the 24-hour news cycle.  “I’m drowning in a raging sea of words,” Vanian sings.  Aren’t we all?  The closer, “I Don’t Care,” is a great companion to “The Daily Liar,” as Vanian admits all the white noise of mass media and political mudslinging has left him apathetic about all of it.  It starts with sad piano by Oxymoron and almost fades out before the whole band rushes in to shake you awake.

It’s a good return from these legends, who are still fiery live as well.  It’s a wake-up call, and a welcome one.

Keep your mind open.

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Here Lies Man release new single – “You Will Know Nothing” – from album due June 15th.

Here Lies Man share “Taking The Blame” from forthcoming album You Will Know Nothing
Antibalas members “if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat”
Hear & share “Taking The Blame” (YouTube) (Bandcamp)
“An evolutionary step forward for their sound.” – Metal Hammer
“A woozy wall of Afrobeat inspired fuzzbox riff worship and pounding circular rhythmic power, Here Lies Man connect the stoner rock underground straight to downtown Lagos.” – The Quietus
“This is a band ahead of their time.” — The Obelisk

Los Angeles quintet Here Lies Man share a new single from their forthcoming highly anticipated sophomore album today via The Obelisk. Hear and share “Taking The Blame” HERE and at Bandcamp and YouTube. The album, You Will Know Nothing will be released June 15th via RidingEasy Records.
Earlier in the month, the band released “That Much Closer To Nothing” via YouTube. Back in March, the band dropped the first song, “Fighting” via YouTube.
Here Lies Man play the prestigious Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, Spain tomorrow 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:
05/31 Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound Festival 
06/02 Dudingen, CH @ Bad Bonn Kilbi
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

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