Rock – Page 93 – 7th Level Music

Liam Kazar announces debut album coming August 6th and releases new single, “Frank Bacon,” to boot.

Kansas City-based, Chicago-raised musician, songwriter and chef Liam Kazar announces his debut album, Due North, out August 6th on Woodsist / Mare Records (Kevin Morby’s Woodsist imprint), and today presents a new single/video, “Frank Bacon.” Throughout the last decade, Kazar has been recognized for his adaptability and deftness in the studio and on stage, leading to tours and collaborations with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, amongst others. While Kazar has consistently been a dream bandmate over the past several years, making his own songs presented a chance to finally find his own voice. Due North is a personal revelation, where the more Kazar wrote, the more his songs showed what kind of artist he’s always wanted to be – one whose own joyous rock songs are so irresistible, full of charm, wit and heart, they feel timeless.

Like most musicians, the pandemic threw Kazar for a loop, knocking out both his touring revenue and his part-time gigs as a bartender. With so much spare time in his Kansas City home, he decided to pursue his longtime love of cooking by creating the restaurant Isfahan, which honors his Armenian heritage and his family’s journey to the United States from Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. “In COVID, my mantra was to not have my heart broken about the future and be present,” says Kazar, explaining that ethos is one of the reasons why he named the LP Due North.

Much like carving out his own space in the food world, learning how to find his own musical style was a rewarding challenge. “This record kind of all stemmed from a conversation I had with Jeff [Tweedy],” says Kazar. “I showed him some of my earliest songs I was working on and he told me, ‘It sounds like you’re writing for the people in your bands, you’re not writing for yourself.’ He was completely right.” With that needed insight, Kazar decided to start from scratch and write songs that felt like himself. Along with Spencer Tweedy and Lane Beckstrom, Kazar enlisted keyboardist Dave Curtin (Woongi), co-producer James Elkington on pedal steel, as well as Ohmme and Andrew Sa on backing vocals. Due North was mixed by Sam Evian at his Flying Cloud Recordings Studio in upstate New York.

During the making of the record, Kazar kept coming back to two words: “joyful” and “vulnerable.” Kazar elaborates: “I was trying to talk about things that I’m scared about but acknowledging that I’m not that powerful and you can still be joyful in the face of your own insecurities.” Take album highlight “Frank Bacon,” where Kazar sings, “When you’re running uphill and swimming upstream / Nothing’s ever gonna be the way it seems.” Despite any lyrical uncertainty the track is bursting with life, especially in the monster groove from the rhythm section of Tweedy and Beckstrom. “With time I’ve grown wary of lying to myself,” says Liam. “I don’t know if it’s a defense mechanism we do, or just something we grow out of, hopefully. But ‘Frank Bacon’ has become a personal mantra in recent years to be honest with myself and stick with it, because I’m worth it. We all are.” The accompanying video was directed by Austin Vesely and shot in Kansas City, MO.
Watch Liam Kazar’s Video for “Frank Bacon”
Previously released single “Shoes Too Tight,” an undeniable jam with a swaggering exuberance, was a clarifying moment for Kazar in this journey. Kazar slowly tinkered with a synth sound and happened upon the song’s bouncy chord progression, which was “probably the closest to an aha moment that I had of ‘Oh, this is me and this is what I’m into,’” says Kazar. Soon after, Kazar switched gears for the yearning and delicate “On a Spanish Dune” which showcased his emotional resonance as a writer. Though completely different songs, Kazar used these two earliest offerings as guides for what would come next.

Kazar will play his record release showAugust 7th at Chicago’s Sleeping Village. Tickets are available here. In the meantime, Isfahan pop-up events have been announced in Chicago, North Adams, MA, Kansas City, MO, and New York State. A full list of dates can be found below.
Watch the “Shoes Too Tight” Video

Watch the “On a Spanish Dune” Video

Watch “Holding Plans” (Demo) Lyric Video

Pre-order Due North

Due North Tracklist
1. So Long Tomorrow
2. Old Enough For You
3. Shoes Too Tight
4. Nothing To You
5. On a Spanish Dune
6. Frank Bacon
7. I’ve Been Where You Are
8. No Time For Eternity (Ft. Andrew Sa)
9. Give My World
10. Something Tender

Liam Kazar Tour Dates
Sat. Aug. 7 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village – RECORD RELEASE SHOW

Isfahan Pop-Up Kitchen Events
Thu. June 10 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
Fri. June 11 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
Sat. June 12 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
Thu. June 17 – Kansas City, MO @ Kanbe’s Markets
Mon. June 28 – North Adams, MA @ Tourists
Tue. June 29 – North Adams, MA @ Tourists
Wed. July 7 – Mt. Tremper, NY @ The Pines
Fri. July 9 – Livingston Manor, NY @ Sunshine Colony
Sat. July 10 – Livingston Manor, NY @ Sunshine Colony
Sun. July 11 – Livingston Manor, NY @ Sunshine Colony

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[Thanks to Jim at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Central Heat Exchange release debut single – “Tulips at My Bedside.”

Central Heat Exchange (C.H.E.) is a collaborative project by musicians spread throughout the US & Canada, primarily in the central time zone. Split across Austin, Chicago, & Winnipeg, its core members are Adam Soloway of Living Hour, Santiago RD of Daphne Tunes and Jacob and Paul Stoltz of Varsity and Pool Holograph, though their forthcoming recorded output involves a broad network of collaborators. Today they are announcing their signing to Birthday Cake, Citrus City and Sunroom Records, and sharing their debut single “Tulips At My Bedside,” which features vocals from Living Hour’s Sam Sarty and contributions from members of Lala Lala and The Hecks.

WATCH: Central Heat Exchange’s “Tulips At My Bedside” Video on YouTube

“‘Tulips at my Bedside’ tells of a brief summer fling and the exploration that happens during and afterward, with themes of self-reflection, health and growth,” explains Sam Sarty. “I see the song as almost a collective joy/celebration of silly everyday things that make up living, especially at the end with the group vocals. Everyone chiming in and almost giddy that we get to experience the simple hellos when we meet each other. That warm humid freedom of a summer night bike ride, with huge birch trees swaying way up above, rooted in the ground that has seen more than you ever will, a deep smile within yourself of knowing rolling around and your legs are alive and the person behind you on a bike is too.“

“Tulips At My Bedside” is available to purchase on Bandcamp and on all streaming services. It will appear on the forthcoming debut LP from Central Heat Exchange, which is expected in the fall of 2021.

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Motörhead release previously unheard sound check version of “Stay Clean.”

Life on the road isn’t all glamour and rock’n’roll excess and MOTÖRHEAD’s punishing tour schedule in 1981 took them all over the globe as they rode high on the success of Ace Of Spades. One integral part of the daily grind on the road is the sound check, although very little of it is ever seen or documented in the public domain. Fortunately during the Short Sharp Pain In The Neck tour of March 1981,

MOTÖRHEAD had a mobile recording studio in tow as they recorded their thunderous, number 1 live album, No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith now celebrating its 40^th year. This rare recording of them performing “Stay Clean” as they warmed up for the night at Newcastle on March 30 is accompanied by a video containing behind the scenes montages of the backbone of the MOTÖRHEAD live show; the legendary road crew!

Watch the video at https://youtu.be/nTEGnEgUrY4.

The deluxe CD Box-Set and Special 40^th Anniversary Editions of No Sleep‘ Til Hammersmith will be released on June 25, 2021.

Preorders and exclusive merch bundles can be found here – https://motorhead.lnk.to/nosleep40PR

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[Thanks to Maria at Adrenaline PR.]

A Place to Bury Strangers unleash raucous new single, “I Might Have,” from upcoming EP.

A Place To Bury Strangers share new single/video “I Might Have” from their forthcoming Hologram EP out July 16th on founding member Oliver Ackermann’s label Dedstrange. Following lead single “End Of The Night,” “I Might Have” is a fuzz-soaked sonic disaster in the best possible way. Past reflections collide with the brutality of a disintegrating world, stories of personal trauma, acceptance, and human failings emerge from the rubble of noise and destitute motorik rhythms. This is A Place To Bury Strangers at its most honest and unfiltered. Hologram serves as an abstract mirror to the moment we live in and “I Might Have” smashes that mirror into a thousand pieces.

“‘I Might Have’ is about the insecurities of life and growing up and when you just have to turn around and say ‘F*ck it,’” says Ackermann. “Life sucks so we may as well have a good time.” The accompanying video visualizes this mentality as it shows the band raucously hanging out together in New York City.
Watch “I Might Have” Video

In 2003, A Place To Bury Strangers emerged on the scene out of Ackermann’s psychotropic vision. The band is known for their vicious live performances overloaded with all-consuming visuals, experimental sonic warfare, and treacherous stage antics. 2021 welcomes a lineup change; Ackermann is joined by new members John Fedowitz (bass) and Sandra Fedowitz (drums) of Ceremony East Coast, cementing the most sensational version of the band to date. John and Oliver were childhood friends who had played in the legendary underground shoegaze band Skywave, crafting futuristic punk music together. This next phase is a sonic return to the band’s most raw and unhinged endeavors, pushed even further into a new chaotically apocalyptic incarnation.

Watch “End Of The Night” VideoPre-order Hologram EP

A Place To Bury Strangers 2022 Tour Dates:
Wed. March 9 – Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang
Thu. March 10 – Dresden, DE @ Beatpol
Fri. March 11 – Warsaw, PL @ Klub Poglos
Sat. March 12 – Prague, CZ @ Futurum
Sun. March 13 – Bratislava, SK @ Randal Club
Mon. March 14 – Budapest, HU @ Durer Kert
Wed. March 16 – Bucharest, RO @ Control Club
Thu. March 17 – Sofia, BG @ Mixtape5
Fri. March 18 – Thessaloniki, GR @ Eightball
Sat. March 19 – Athens, GR @ Temple
Mon. March 21 – Skopje, MK @ 25th of May Hall
Tue. March 22 – Belgrade, RS @ Club Drugstore
Thu. March 24 – Zagreb, HR @ MochvaraFri. March 25 – Bologna, IT @ Freakout Club
Sat. March 26 – Rome, IT @ Largo
Sun. March 27 – Milan, IT @ Legend Club
Tue. March 29 – Zurich, CH @ Bogen F
Wed. March 30 – Munich, DE @ BackstageThu. March 31 – Martigny, CH @ Caves Du Memoir
Fri. April 1 – Paris, FR @ La Trabendo
Sat. April 2 – London, UK @ Lafayette
Mon. April 4 – Antwerp, BE @ Kavka
Tue. April 5 – Munster, DE @ Gleis 22
Wed. April 6 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
Thu. April 7 – Groningen, NL @ Vera
Sat. April 9 – Stockholm, SE @ Hus 7
Sun. April 10 – Oslo, NO @ John Dee
Mon. April 11 – Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset
Tue. April 12 – Berlin, DE @ Hole 44
Wed. April 13 – Cologne, DE @ MTC

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[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR.]

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard move North American tour to 2022.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard announce that their North American tour is now rescheduled for Fall 2022. In October 2022, the band will play shows across the country, including marathon sets at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre and two performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, during which the band will play material from their vast discography across three hours. The tour will follow the release of their new album, Butterfly 3000, out now via the band’s own label KGLW.

Butterfly 3000 is King Gizzard’s 18th studio album. The band decided to play this one close to the vest, and refrained from sharing any advance singles, or the album artwork, which will be a cross-eyed autostereogram created by long-time collaborator Jason Galea. Butterfly 3000 might be their most fearless leap into the unknown yet; a suite of ten songs that all began life as arpeggiated loops composed on modular synthesisers, before being fashioned into addictive, optimistic and utterly seductive dream-pop by the six-piece. The album sounds simultaneously like nothing they’ve ever done before, and thoroughly, unmistakeably Gizz, down to its climactic neon psych-a-tronic flourish. This is undoubtedly the most accessible and jubilant album of their career.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Tour Dates
Sun. Oct. 2 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
Tue. Oct. 4 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Wed. Oct. 5 – Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
Thu. Oct. 6 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Mon. Oct. 10 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Tue. Oct. 11 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Fri. Oct. 14 – St Paul, MN @ The Palace Theatre
Sat. Oct. 15 – Chicago, IL @ RADIUS
Sun. Oct. 16 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple
Tue. Oct. 18 – Toronto, ON @ TBA
Wed. Oct. 19 – Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia
Sat. Oct. 22 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
Sun. Oct. 23 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem at The Wharf
Mon. Oct. 24 – Asheville, NC @ Rabbit Rabbit
Wed. Oct. 26 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern
Mon. Oct 31 – Oklahoma City, OK @ The Criterion

*all dates supported by Leah Senior

King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard Online:
https://kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kinggizzard/
https://www.facebook.com/kinggizzardandthelizardwizard/
https://twitter.com/kinggizzard
https://kinggizzard.bandcamp.com/
https://gizzverse.com/

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[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: Evolfo – Site Out of Mind

Recorded in an attic in a house where an exorcism took place and inspired by science fiction and mind expansion via psychedelic drug trip, Evolfo‘s Site Out of Mind is a pretty groovy record. I mean, how could it not be with an origin story like that?

Opening with Cure-like guitar chords that mix with thick electro-bass and reverbed vocals on “Give Me Time,” the album instantly feels far more expansive than an attic. The crunchy guitars and humming of the first single, “Strange Lights,” will make you stomp the pedal to the metal. Evolfo goes from Temples influences to Osees within two songs, which is nothing but cool to me. The warped, wobbly beats of “Zuma Loop” are disorienting at first and then hypnotic.

“Towers rise, towers fall,” they sing on “Blossom in Void” – a song that seems to be about staying present in order to emerge from sorrow and end up in a place of joy. Jangly acoustic guitars and vintage psych-synths start the funky “Drying Out Your Eyes” – a top-notch groovy cut. “In Time” parts 1 and 2 are a nice psychedelic combo – like pretzels and curry. “Let Go” is a dreamy float down a hazy river.

“Broken Hills” has this neat, weird beat that I love, and the change to a trippy Yes-like sound for the end (complete with string section) is gorgeous. “Orion’s Belt” is appropriately spacey, with guitars sounding like buzzing UFOs. The closer, “White Foam,” reminds me of Psychedelic Furs by the end if the Furs were even more psychedelic.

It’s a nice record, and I’m curious to see and hear where these chaps go next.

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[Thanks to Cody at Clandestine PR.]

Dry Cleaning announce massive tour.

Last month, London-based band Dry Cleaning released New Long Leg, their 4AD debut and one of 2021’s most praised albums thus far. The album was immediately met with much fanfare and glowing reviews from Pitchfork(Best New Music), The New York Times, NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Bandcamp, and more. Today, they announce a fall tour in support of New Long Leg. Dry Cleaning will play select shows across the states, performing for the first time ever in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Chicago, plus return appearances in Los Angeles and Brooklyn. Following in early 2022, the band will tour Europe and the UK. Their live energy was previewed during their television debut on Later…with Jools Holland earlier this year, plus their 2021 KEXP session.

Dry Cleaning is Nick Buxton (drums), Tom Dowse (guitar), Lewis Maynard(bass) and Florence Shaw (vocals). Buoyed by the universal acclaim they received for 2019 EPs “Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks” and “Sweet Princess,” New Long Leg “arrives fully formed, ready to evacuate the contents of your brain and replace them with the odd images, bizarre obsessions, vivid sense memories, and banal judgements that live rent-free in the mind of another” (Pitchfork).

Stream/Purchase New Long Leg

Watch the “Strong Feelings” Video

Watch the “Scratchcard Lanyard” Video

Watch the “Unsmart Lady” Video

DRY CLEANING TOUR DATES
Wed. Nov. 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram
Thu. Nov. 11 – San Francisco, CA @ Chapel
Sat. Nov. 13 – Portland, OR @ Vitalidad
Sun. Nov. 14 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
Wed. Nov. 17 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Sat. Nov. 20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel
Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie *
Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 – Lyron, FR @ Le Périscope *
Fri. Jan. 21, 2022 – Milan, IT @ Circolo Magnolia *
Sat. Jan. 22, 2022 – Bologna, IT @ Covo Club *
Mon. Jan. 24, 2022 – Vienna, AT @ Chelsea *
Tue. Jan. 25, 2022 – Prague, CZ @ Futurum *
Wed. Jan. 26, 2022 Berlin, DE @ Zukunft am Ostkreuz *
Fri. Jan. 28, 2022 – Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen *
Sat. Jan. 29, 2022 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow *
Mon. Jan. 31, 2022 – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje *
Tue. Feb. 1, 2022 – Brussels, BE @ Orangerie, Botanique *
Wed. Feb. 2, 2022 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord *
Fri. Feb. 4, 2022 – Rotterdam, NL @ Rotown *
Sat. Feb. 5, 2022 – Tourcoing (Lille), FR @ Le Grand Mix *
Mon. Feb. 14, 2022 – Liverpool, UK @ Arts Club Theatre %
Tue. Feb. 15, 2022 – Dublin, IE @ The Button Factory – SOLD OUT %
Wed. Feb. 16, 2022 – Belfast, IE @ Empire Music Hall %
Fri. Feb. 18, 2022 – Edinburgh, UK @ Summerhall (Venue upgrade) – SOLD OUT %
Sat. Feb. 19, 2022 – Glasgow, UK @, Queen Margaret Union (Venue upgrade) %
Sub. Feb. 20, 2022 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club – SOLD OUT %
Tue. Feb. 22, 2022 – Birmingham, UK @ The Mill %
Wed. Feb. 23, 2022 – Bristol, UK @ SWX %
Fri. Feb. 25, 2022 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 2 %
Sat. Feb. 26, 2022 – Sheffield, UK @ Leadmill %
Sun. Feb. 27, 2022 – Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms %
Tue. March 1, 2022 – Portsmouth, UK @ Wedgewood Rooms %
Wed. March 2, 2022 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 %
Thu. March 3, 2022 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town %

*= w/ Maria Somerville
%= w/ PVA

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[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

TORRES puts a sweet song in our heads with “Don’t Go Puttin’ Wishes in My Head.”

TORRES (moniker of Mackenzie Scott) announces her new album, Thirstier, out July 30th on Merge Records, and a North American and European tour. In conjunction, she unveils the album’s first single/video, “Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head.” Thirstier, the follow-up to 2020’s Silver Tongue, is Scott’s most exuberant and daring record to date, showcasing her in thrilling freefall. “I’ve been conjuring this deep, deep joy that I honestly didn’t feel for most of my life,” says Scott. “I feel like a rock within myself. And I’ve started to feel that I have what it takes to help other people conjure their joy, too.” The album revolts against the gray drag of time, a searing and life-affirming eruption of an album that wonders what could happen if we found a way to make our fantasies inexhaustible. Thirstier explodes the borders of imaginative possibility.

Recorded in the fall of 2020 at Middle Farm Studios in the UK, Thirstier marks a turn towards a bigger, more bombastic sound for TORRES. The anxious hush that fell over much of Scott’s previous music gets turned inside-out in songs tailored for post-plague celebration. Scott co-produced the album with Rob Ellis and Peter Miles, drawing on her experience self-producing Silver Tongue to push her music onto an even broader scale. Guitar-driven walls of sound, reminiscent of producer Butch Vig’s work with Garbage and Nirvana, surge and dissipate like surf in high winds, carrying Scott’s commanding voice to the fore.

“I wanted to channel my intensity into something that felt positive and constructive, as opposed to being intense in a destructive or eviscerating way,” Scott notes. “I love the idea that intensity can actually be something life-saving or something joyous.”

This massive sound and celebratory mood is evident in lead single “Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head,” a sparkling country romp. Bolstered by glistening synth, it’s a defiant yet disarming number that sees Scott singing of a love that knows no bounds, while sharing her vulnerabilities with remarkable candor. Its charming video was shot in Scott’s apartment with her partner. In her own words, it’s “my relentless arena country star moment—my shameless Tim McGraw cheeseball hit.”
Watch TORRES’ “Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head” Video
Thirstier clasps together love songs from all angles. Romantic love, platonic love, familial love, self-love, and freeing spiritual love all commingle, all feeding one another and vaulting toward the horizon. Scott sings of love that never knows scarcity. With Thirstier, TORRES clears the way to that wellspring and invites others to follow her there.
Pre-order Thirstier

Thirstier Tracklist
1. Are You Sleepwalking?
2. Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head
3. Constant Tomorrowland
4. Drive Me
5. Big Leap
6. Hug From a Dinosaur
7. Thirstier
8. Kiss the Corners
9. Hand in the Air
10. Keep the Devil Out

TORRES Tour Dates
(tickets on sale May 12 @ 10am Eastern)
Sun. Aug. 29 – Fairfield, CT @ StageOne
Mon. Aug. 30 – Portsmouth, NH @ Press Room
Tue. Aug. 31 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia
Fri. Sept. 3 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
Mon. Sept. 13 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
Tue. Sept. 14 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
Wed. Sept. 15 – Detroit, MI @ Marble Bar
Thu. Sept. 16 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Fri. Sept. 17 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Sat. Sept. 18 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
Sun. Sept. 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Tue. Sept. 21 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Wed. Sept. 22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Sat. Sept. 25 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
Mon. Sept. 27 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
Tue. Sept. 28 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Thu. Sept. 30 – San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall
Fri. Oct. 1 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Atrium @ Catalyst
Sat. Oct. 2 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
Sun. Oct. 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
Mon. Oct. 4 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
Wed. Oct. 6 – Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co.
Thu. Oct. 7 – Houston, TX @ Bronze Peacock
Fri. Oct. 8 – Austin, TX @ 3TEN @ ACL Live
Mon. Oct. 11 – Chattanooga, TN @ House Show
Tue. Oct. 12 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Wed. Oct. 13 – Asheville, NC @ ISIS Asheville
Thu. Oct. 14 – Nashville, TN @ EXIT/IN
Fri. Oct. 15 – Knoxville, TN @ Open Chord
Sat. Oct. 16 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
Sun. Oct. 17 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage
Mon. Oct. 18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
Thu. Oct. 21 – New York, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom
Fri. March 11, 2022 – Glasgow, UK @ Mono
Sat. March 12, 2022 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Sun. March 13, 2022 – Manchester, UK @ Night & Day
Mon. March 14, 2022 – Bristol, UK @ Exchange
Tue. March 15, 2022 – London, UK @ Bush Hall
Thu. March 17, 2022 – Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire
Fri. March 18, 2022 – Gent, BE @ Charlatan
Sat. March 19, 2022 – Utrecht, NL @ Ekko
Mon. March 21, 2022 – Berlin, DE @ Frannz Club
Tue. March 22, 2022 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefährlich (Turmzimmer)
Wed. March 23, 2022 – Cologne, DE @ Bumann & SOHN
Thu. March 24, 2022 – Heidelberg, DE @ Karlstorbahnhof
Fri. March 25, 2022 – Zürich, CH @ Rote Fabrik
Sat. March 26, 2022 – Bologna, IT @ Locomotiv

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[Thanks to Jessica at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Max Bloom’s “Palindromes” is a delightful love song.

Today Max Bloom (previously of Yuck) has shared a second single from his forthcoming solo record ‘Pedestrian’, which is set for release on June 18 through Bloom’s own new label, Ultimate Blends. He will also be playing a socially-distanced show at London’s Oslo on July 2nd.

“Palindromes“ is a wistful, understated love song. Bloom explains: “This song is about how I got together with my girlfriend Anna, who also plays bass in my live band (and co-wrote two songs on the album). We were best friends for years, then she broke up with her boyfriend and we got together quite suddenly. It was completely unplanned, but when it happened it felt like a lucid dream. I wanted to write something to commemorate it (Anna has also written a few songs about it too), and after the darkness and grief of Perfume, it felt cathartic for me to write this song.”

“Palindromes” video:https://youtu.be/Uv7y47iMoNM

The album ‘Pedestrian’ takes its listener into the outside world. And it was here, wandering the city streets and parks against the surreal backdrop of the last twelve months, that Bloom discovered his inspiration for this latest collection of songs. He found himself observing his surroundings and people’s behaviour in a new light.

Over the months, a regular cast of companions (namely Spoon, Beck, and Yellow Magic Orchestra) accompanied Bloom on his increasingly lengthy runs. These references, alongside core influences like Wilco, George Harrison, and Grandaddy, helped bring a fresh pallet of sonic colours and textures to ‘Pedestrian’.

‘Pedestrian’ is the first release on Bloom’s new label, Ultimate Blends, which will be a home to all of his future projects and productions. Bloom has also designed individual artworks for every song on this album, and animations for its forthcoming singles. He also hosts podcast JEW-ISH, a series of one-to-one interviews with Jews from a range of different cultures and backgrounds, aiming to show the nuance that exists within the Jewish world. Listen here.

‘Pedestrian’ will be released on June 18th via Ultimate Blends.
Max Bloom will play Oslo in London on July 2nd. Ticket info here.

‘Pedestrian’ track list:
1. Pedestrian – Official video
2. Palindromes – Official video
3. All The Same
4. America
5. The Weatherman
6. Imposter Syndrome
7. Under Green Skies
8. How Can I Love You
9. Twenty-Two
10. Cat On Your Lap

Links:
JEW-ISH podcast
https://maxbloom.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MaxBloomMusic/

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[Thanks to Kate at Stereo Sanctity.]

Bnny take us for a “Time Walk” on their new single.

Chicago-based band Bnny, led by Jess Viscius alongside her twin sister Alexa Viscius, plus best friends Tim Makowski and Matt Pelkey, is Fire Talk’s newest signing. In conjunction with their signing announcement, they present their new single, “Time Walk.” The song is featured in the finale of the new season of Shrill, which drops in its entirety tomorrow.

Jess Viscius started Bnny in the moment, after someone’s guitar had been left at her apartment. After teaching herself a few chords, she quickly found songwriting to be therapeutic in ways visual art couldn’t touch. Eventually, her sister Alexa and former Bnny drummer Drew Ryan persuaded Jess to start a band, and it ultimately stuck, along with a newfound community and friendships.

Their new song, “Time Walk,” is a taste of Bnny’s crackling energy, clocking in at just over a minute and a half. It layers in quick succession with plucky bass, uncomplicated drums, and jumpy guitar lines. Throughout, Viscius’ half-whispered vocals are cool to the touch. It was produced by fellow Chicago musician and Fire Talk artist, Dehd’s Jason Balla. The video, which features Jess, was partly shot on the Lake Michigan coastline. It offers a glimpse of Bnny’s strong visual aesthetics.

“‘Time Walk’ is about the clarity you find when in motion—walking, driving, running,” says Jess. “It’s about a friendship ending, but still feeling connected to the person. It’s about looking back while moving forward in slow motion. Time walk is a wake-up call.”

Watch Bnny’s Video for “Time Walk”

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[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]