Category: Post-punk

Pitchfork Music Festival Artist Spotlight: Melkbelly

Chicago noise-punk outfit Melkbelly are playing one of the earliest sets (1:45pm on Friday) at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival in their hometown, and it would be well worth leaving work early to see them.  Their fierce rock has an edge to it that will slap you out of your doldrums and fire you up for the rest of the festival.  Their 2017 album Nothing Valley was one of the best of the year, and I’ve heard their live performances are game-changing.  Don’t miss them.

Keep your mind open.

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Bodega – Endless Scroll

BODEGA‘s Endless Scroll is probably my favorite post-punk record of 2018 so far.  Consisting of Nikki Belfiglio (vocals), Heather Elle (bass), Ben Hozie (guitar and vocals), Montana Simone (drums), and Madison Velding-Vandam (guitar), the quintet offering a sharp commentary on hipsters, the digital age, sex, masculinity, femininity, and politics.

No track better sums up their thoughts on the world of 2018 than the opener – “How Did This Happen!?”  Aren’t we all asking that every day here in the U.S.?  “It’s the world now, don’t discriminate.  Everyone is equally a master and a slave,” Hozie sings.  Preach it, brother.  He name checks failing bookstores, people curating their playlists more than their relationships, and people angry for no damn reason.  “Bodega Birth” shows off more of Elle’s slick bass lines as Hozie and Belfiglio sing about how the internet, which should be the greatest educational tool of all time, is now a colossally boring shopping mall.

Elle’s bass takes the lead on “Name Escape” as Hozie sings about how he can’t remember names of people he sees all the time, even though he can notice things like someone wearing different pants than the last time he saw him.  Also, he doesn’t often care (“Have I heard the latest something ’bout so-and-so? / No, I have not, my son.  Now I don’t want to know.”).  Again, preach it, brother.  “Boxes for the Move” is a story of heartbreak following a break-up as Hozie leaves his lover’s place with “fifteen soggy boxes” of stuff and wishing he had the booze that used to be in the boxes he got from the liquor store.  “I Am Not a Cinephile” is a collective middle finger to movie snobs and other ultra-hipsters.

Hozie and Velding-Vandam’s squeaky guitars on “Can’t Knock the Hustle” sound like alarm klaxons or steel being hammered by a blacksmith.  Belfiglio invites us all to love ourselves (if you get the drift) on “Gyrate” – even if you want to do it “in the middle of a party, in the middle of the floor.”  “Jack in Titanic” is Hozie’s commentary about modern expectations of masculinity.  It’s wonderfully catchy, and is currently tearing up airwaves in England.  I’ve heard it on BBC 6 Music every time I listened to the station for the last three weeks.  “Margot” is a tale of internet lust (ending with a computerized voice saying, “I touch myself while staring at your chat text box.”).

Elle and Simone are in perfect synch on “Bookmarks” while Hozie and Belfiglio sing about how easy it is to get distracted from work when the endless internet is in front of you.  “Warhol” has the band proclaiming “Form against everything” and making fun of people thinking their fifteen minutes of fame is still in effect.  “Charlie” is their latest single and a touching tribute to a friend of Hozie’s who drowned on New Year’s Eve 2007.  “Williamsburg Bridge” sounds like a Velvet Underground track with Elle’s bass groove, Simone’s tribal drumming, and Hozie and Velding-Vandam’s guitars squawk in the background.  “Truth Is Not Punishment” has Hozie singing about worrying about his mother and trying to convince a friend that honesty is the best policy (even when he’s not sure he believes that).  The guitars in it build to near-manic levels, reflecting Hozie’s angst.

This is one of the best and catchiest albums of 2018 so far.  I’m glad that post-punk is having a great revival, and bands like BODEGA are leading the charge.

Keep your mind open.

[Jack in Titanic subscribed.  Why haven’t you?]

Japanese post-punkers CHAI to reissue debut album on Burger Records.

INTRODUCING: CHAI

JAPANESE SENSATIONS TO PHYSICALLY REISSUE
DEBUT ALBUM PINK VIA BURGER RECORDS

NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES SHOWS IN SEPTEMBER;
WATCH VIDEOS FOR “N.E.O.” AND MORE

Today marks a very special day. It is the day that a larger American audience is introduced to Japanese sensations CHAI. Fusing sonic elements of artists like Basement Jaxx, Gorillaz, CSS, and Tom Tom Club, with lyrics focused on self-empowerment and re-defining the definition of “kawaii,” or cute in Japanese, CHAI have amassed a devoted following in their home country. Those lucky enough to catch them on their all-too-brief visits to the US around SXSW understand what those on the other side of the globe already know: CHAI are incredibly special and should probably be the biggest band in the world.

On September 7th, Burger Records is pleased to physically reissue CHAI’s debut album, PINK, appearing in the US on vinyl, CD, and cassette for the first time. Additionally CHAI (identical twins Mana and Kana and former school classmate Yuna and Yuuki) will come to the US for their first-ever headlining show in New York and will return to Los Angeles later this year. Dates and venues are listed below; tickets go on sale Friday, June 22nd, at 10AM EST.

To give you an idea of what is in store, check out the amazing video for “N.E.O.” (which is well on its way to 2 million views), as well as an incredible live performance for a YouTube Music Session. Additionally, watch the videos for “Boyz Seco Men” and “I’m Me,” but be warned, this might spur a CHAI Youtube hole from which you may never extricate yourself.

WATCH “N.E.O.” OFFICIAL VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMGf3zyhG94

WATCH “N.E.O.” YOUTUBE MUSIC SESSION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFSspQc2Tzw

WATCH “BOYZ SECO MEN” VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psHh6OsA-mU

WATCH “I’M ME” VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-aKOc5nN2c

STREAM PINK
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2t3dNKV | Apple Music: https://apple.co/2t0s0YV
CHAI TOUR DATES (US dates in bold)
Mon. Sept. 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo [tickets]
Wed. Sept. 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade [tickets]
Mon. Oct. 15 – Bristol, UK @ SWX w/ Superorganism
Tue. Oct. 16 – Liverpool, UK @ Arts Club w/ Superorganism
Wed. Oct. 17 – Belfast, NIR @ Limelight 1 w/ Superorganism
Thu. Oct. 18 – Dublin, IE @ The Academy w/ Superorganism
Sat. Oct. 20 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 w/ Superorganism
Sun. Oct. 21 – Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill w/ Superorganism
Mon. Oct. 22 – Leeds, UK @ Stylus w/ Superorganism
Wed. Oct. 24 – London, UK @ 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire w/ Superorganism
Thu. Oct. 25 – Manchester, UK @ 02 Ritz w/ Superorganism
Fri. Oct. 26 – Cambridge, UK @ Cambridge Junction w/ Superorganism
Sat. Oct. 27 – Portsmouth, UK @ Pyramids Centre w/ Superorganism
Sun. Oct. 28 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 w/ Superorganism
Tue. Oct. 30 – Oxford, UK @ 02 Academy w/ Superorganism

PINK Album Art

PINK TRACKLISTING
1. Hi Hi Baby
2. N.E.O.
3. Boyz Seco Men
4. Horechatta
5. Fried
6. She Is Kitty
7. Gyaranboo
8. Kawaii Hito
9. Walking Star
10. Sayonara Complex
11. Flat Girl

PRE-ORDER PINK ON VINYL: http://burgerrecords.11spot.com/chai-pink.html

CHAI Online:
http://chai-band.com/
https://www.instagram.com/chai_official/
https://twitter.com/2525_chai
https://www.facebook.com/CHAIJAPAN/

Keep your mind open.

[Stay hip by subscribing.]

Flasher releases new video and single – “Who’s Got Time?”

FLASHER SHARE VIDEO FOR “WHO’S GOT TIME?”; ON TOUR NOW

CONSTANT IMAGE OUT NOW ON DOMINO RECORDING CO.
(Photo: Amy Breesman)
Washington, DC trio Flasher released their debut album, Constant Image (Domino), less than 2 weeks ago to stunning praise across the board. Today, the band shares a new video for their single “Who’s Got Time?,” a song about the souring of a relationship. The surreal video, directed by Adinah Dancyger, sees the three band members bound through the woods in hazmat suits, ultimately finding themselves. They’re currently on tour in support of Constant Image with Chicago friends Dehd.
WATCH VIDEO FOR “WHO’S GOT TIME?”
http://smarturl.it/WhosGotTimeYT
LISTEN TO CONSTANT IMAGE
FLASHER TOUR DATES

Fri. June 22 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook w/ Dehd
Sat. June 23 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Dehd
Thu. July 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Mon. July 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Tue. July 17 – San Francisco, CA @Rickshaw Stop
Thu. July 19 – Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
Fri. July 20 – Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party
Sat. July 21 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
Mon. July 23 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Tue. July 24 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Wed. July 25 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Fri. Aug. 10 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre (Athens Popfest)
Mon. Oct. 29 – Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia
Tue. Oct. 30 – Tue. Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang
Thu. Nov. 1 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique Witloofbar
Fri. Nov. 2 – Rotterdam, NL @ V11
Sun. Nov. 4 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso (upstairs)
Tue. Nov. 6 – Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach
Wed. Nov. 7 – Sheffield, UK @ Picture House Social
Thu. Nov. 8 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Fri. Nov. 9 – Glasgow, UK @ The Glad Cafe
Sat. Nov. 10 – Manchester, UK @ Now Wave Venue
Sun. Nov. 11 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope & Ruin
Tue. Nov. 13 – London, UK @ The Lexington
Wed. Nov. 14 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympic Café
Fri. Nov. 16 – Madrid, ES @ La Castanya X at Teatro Barceló
Sat. Nov. 17 – Barcelona, ES @ La Castanya X at Sala Apolo

PRAISE FOR CONSTANT IMAGE

“Only one of this week’s albums feels like it alters my entire brain chemistry every time the next chorus hits, and that’s Constant Image.” – Stereogum, Album of the Week

“What’s surprising—and thrilling—about their debut full-length, Constant Image, is that its social commentary would have felt just as timely at any point in the past 30 years.”
– Pitchfork (7.9)

“This D.C.-based trio’s debut has the muscle and melodicism of modern rock’s brainy, brooding pre-grunge era” – Rolling Stone

“The thrill is in the call-and-response, heard on past songs, but here weaponized like an ecstatic hall of mirrors in the final minute of ‘Skim Milk.'” – NPR Music

“The band masterfully produce politically charged tracks situated in tales of the everyday struggle of people living in America’s political seat.” – Exclaim! (8/10)

“They play hook-filled rock songs, influenced by everything from post-punk to new wave via shoegaze and indie dream pop that’ll inspire the kind of exhilaration and joy that only comes from a group of people who fully understand what your day was like.”
– PopMatters (8/10)

“The band’s gentle, impressionistic lyrics contain careful considerations of
how one might survive as an individual enmeshed in late capitalism, but the stakes of
the songs don’t reveal themselves until you’re already immersed in their bright, optimistic energy.” – Bandcamp

Head here to pre-order the deluxe edition LP available exclusively through the Domino Mart. The deluxe features the album on 150g starburst pink and yellow vinyl. Constant Image is also available as a standard LP, CD, and digitally. 

PRE-ORDER PHYSICAL || PRE-ORDER THE DIGITAL

Download hi-res images and bio here: http://pitchperfectpr.com/flasher/

Flasher Online:
https://flasherdc.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/flasherdc/
http://www.dominorecordco.us/artists/flasher/

Keep your mind open.

[Who’s got time to subscribe?  You do.]

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.

[Who’s got time to subscribe.  You do.]

BODEGA release sexy new single – “Gyrate” – and announce more summer tour dates.

BODEGA Shares New Single “Gyrate”
Watch The Video

July/August North American Tour Announced

Endless Scroll Out July 6th On What’s Your Rupture?

BODEGA have unveiled another new single, “Gyrate,” from their forthcoming debut album, Endless Scroll, coming out July 6th on What’s Your Rupture?. Nikki Belfiglio from the band said of the song, “When I was a little girl I used to masturbate in public (once at a JC Penny perfume counter). My parents, not wishing to shame me told me I shouldn’t ‘gyrate’ in front of other people. My song uses the language of Top 40 pop to celebrate self-sustainability and female pleasure.” Note the lyrics, “In the middle of a party. In the middle of the floor. You can get it all out right now. Wiggle your ass around. Feel the vibes coming up through your toes. Let it all go. You must have to gyrate it,” sings Nikki who also directed the accompanying video.
Watch BODEGA”s “Gyrate” Video”
https://youtu.be/Pyr-gS3LCCA
Limited physical copies of Endless Scroll will be available at BODEGA’s Sunnyvale show in Brooklyn this Friday, June 1st, and throughout their June U.S. dates while supplies last. Following another European run in July, BODEGA will tour North America throughout July and August. This summer marks the first time BODEGA will play many of these cities. A full list of dates is below.
Watch:
“Gyrate” video – https://youtu.be/Pyr-gS3LCCA
“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 (new dates in bold):
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 – Philadelphia, 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)
Sun. July 29 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Mon. July 30 – Durham, NC @ Pinhook
Tue. July 31 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Wed. Aug. 1 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
Fri. Aug. 3 – Fort Worth, TX @ MASS
Sat. Aug. 4 – Austin, TX @ Austin
Tue. Aug. 7 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Wed. Aug. 8 – Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
Fri. Aug. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
Sun. Aug. 12 – Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
Mon. Aug. 13 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Tue. Aug. 14 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret

[Endless Scroll artwork]
Keep your mind open.
[Wiggle over to the subscription box and drop me your e-mail address.]

Flasher release new single, “Who’s Got Time?,” ahead of summer tour dates.

FLASHER SHARE NEW SONG “WHO’S GOT TIME?”
OFF DEBUT ALBUM, ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES

CONSTANT IMAGE OUT JUNE 8TH VIA DOMINO RECORDING CO.

(photo by Jen Dessinger)
Today, Flasher share “Who’s Got Time?,” a new song off their forthcoming debut album Constant Image, which will be released June 8th via Domino Recording Co. “’Who’s Got Time?’ is about the twilight of a relationship,” say the band. “When things have soured but you’re not quite ready to jump ship despite your better judgment. It’s a celebration of disappointment and failure.”
LISTEN TO “WHO’S GOT TIME?”
STREAM – http://smarturl.it/WhosGotTimeStrm
VIDEO – http://smarturl.it/WhosGotTimeYT

WATCH “PRESSURE” VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUR5pg3NFQ

WATCH “SKIM MILK”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAKqc5inXg

They’ve also announced a big tour in support of the new record.
All new dates are on sale now.

FLASHER TOUR DATES (new dates in bold):
Wed. June 6 – Philadelphia, PA @ Everybody Hits w/ Dehd
Fri. June 8 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere w/ Dehd, Public Practice
Sat. June 9 – Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre w/ Dehd
Sun. June 10 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott w/ Dehd
Mon. June 11 – Winooski, VT @ The Monkey House w/ Dehd
Tue. June 12 – Montreal, QC @ Brasserie Beaubien w/ Dehd
Wed. June 13 – Toronto, ON @ The Baby G w/ Dehd
Thu. June 14 – Detroit, MI @ El Club w/ Dehd
Fri. June 15 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas w/ Dehd
Sat. June 16 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry w/ Dehd
Mon. June 18 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon w/ Dehd
Tue. June 19 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop w/ Dehd
Thu. June 21 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl w/ Dehd
Fri. June 22 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook w/ Dehd
Sat. June 23 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Dehd
Thu. July 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar  
Mon. July 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Tue. July 17 – San Francisco, CA @Rickshaw Stop
Thu. July 19 – Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
Fri. July 20 – Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party
Sat. July 21 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
Mon. July 23 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Tue. July 24 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Wed. July 25 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Fri. Aug. 10 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre (Athens Popfest)

PRAISE FOR FLASHER

“The Washington D.C. post-punk trio Flasher make music that is both chaotic and philosophical. Their songs overlay musings about love, the body, and desire on top of boisterous guitar solos, droning synths, and aggressive drums. Along with the feminist punk band Priests, they are part of an underground D.C. scene of bold,
politically-charged music.” – Pitchfork

“The album hinges on the idea of escape which, without explanation, could be interpreted as a way out. Flasher is not looking for a way out, but rather a way forward.”
– i-D

“The thrill is in the call-and-response, heard on past songs, but here weaponized like an ecstatic hall of mirrors in the final minute of ‘Skim Milk.'” – NPR Music on “Skim Milk”

“’Pressure’ unfolds like an anxiety attack, with the band members’ vocals twisting around each other as they relate snapshots of discomfort and alienation in breathless stop-and-start fragments.” – Stereogum on “Pressure,” #1 Song of the Week

Head here to pre-order the deluxe edition LP available exclusively through the Domino Mart. The deluxe features the album on 150g starburst pink and yellow vinyl. Constant Image is also available as a standard LP, CD, and digitally. 

PRE-ORDER PHYSICAL || PRE-ORDER THE DIGITAL

Download hi-res images and bio here: http://pitchperfectpr.com/flasher/

Flasher Online:
https://flasherdc.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/flasherdc/
http://www.dominorecordco.us/artists/flasher/

 

Keep your mind open.

[Who’s got time?  You do, to subscribe that is.]

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.]

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.
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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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