Category: News

Here Lies Man get scrappy on their new single – “Fighting”

Here Lies Man announce new album
You Will Know Nothing
Antibalas members “if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat”
Hear & share “Fighting” (YouTube) (Bandcamp)
Los Angeles quintet Here Lies Man announce their forthcoming sophomore album today, sharing the first single “Fighting” via Bandcamp and YouTube. The album, You Will Know Nothing will be released June 15th via RidingEasy Records.
Here Lies Man play the prestigious Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, Spain in May 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 
06/05 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 *
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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BODEGA release new single, “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” from upcoming debut album.

BODEGA Announce Debut Album, Endless Scroll, Out June 1st On What’s Your Rupture?

Watch The Video For New Single “Can’t Knock The Hustle”
https://youtu.be/sm5fWJDJicI

European Tour Announced


[Endless Scroll artwork]
BODEGA have announced their debut album, Endless Scroll, due out June 1st on What’s Your Rupture?. The Brooklyn art rock unit is comprised of Ben Hozie (guitar, vocals), Nikki Belfiglio(vocals), Montana Simone (drums), Madison Velding-Vandam (guitar) and Heather Elle (bass). With wild minimalism and sharp wit, BODEGA revitalizes the rock and roll vocabulary under the influence of post punk, contemporary pop, hip-hop, kraut rock, and folk-derived narrative songwriting. Endless Scroll was recorded and produced by Austin Brown (Parquet Courts) on the same Tascam 388 tape machine used for their LP Light Up Gold. It was mixed and mastered by Jonathan Schenke at Dr. Wu’s.

Along with today’s announcement, BODEGA are sharing a video for new single “Can’t Knock The Hustle.” On the track, Ben Hozie comments, “A few years ago I found myself working at an obnoxious soft serve shoppe in Union Square with this great Jamaican guy named Steven, who was an aspiring rapper. We used to engage in strange late-night Socratic discussions and the day Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail came out he led me into a whirlpool of a syllogism that lead to the disastrous results heard on the track. Lesson learned: logic means nothing without context (in this case, Jay-Z’s). Unfortunately, the premise that ’capital=beyond critique’ is mostly considered sound in our artificially sweetened augmented-reality world.” He continues, “Care for a sample? For the advertisement of the song we wanted to make a proper pop clip, one I hope Steven appreciates. Nikki (Belfiglio) directed it and Taylor Christoffelphotographed it.”

Over next month, BODEGA will play hometown shows at Alphaville this Saturday, April 7th and Brooklyn Bazaar with No Age on Wednesday, May 2nd. Following that, they’ll head to Europe in support of Endless Scroll including a stop at The Great Escape. A full list of dates is below.

Watch BODEGA’s “Can’t Knock The Hustle” Video:
https://youtu.be/sm5fWJDJicI

Watch “How Did This Happen ?!” Video:
https://youtu.be/TKAzK41-YHM

BODEGA Tour Dates:
Sat. April 7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville (tickets)
Wed. May 2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bazaar w/ No Age (tickets)
Tue. May 15 – London, UK @ The Social (tickets)
Wed. May 16 – London, UK @ Lock Tavern (tickets)
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)
Tue. May 29 – Berlin, DE @ ACUD (tickets)

[Photo by Mert Gafuroglu]
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The Damned unveil secrets of each track on upcoming album – “Evil Spirits”

THE DAMNED SHARE TRACK BY TRACK INFO FOR NEW ‘EVIL SPIRITS’ ALBUM
OUT FRIDAY APRIL 13TH ON SEARCH AND DESTROY / SPINEFARM RECORDS
PRE-ORDER ALBUM HERE
ANNOUNCE SELECT NORTHWEST DATES IN JULY AFTER BURGER BOOGALOO
US TOUR THIS FALL (DETAILS FORTHCOMING)
Following a hugely successful UK tour which saw British punk legends The Damned rev up 2018 by playing to thousands of rabid fans, including two back-to-back sold-out London shows, the band returned last month with a double A-side single culled from their forthcoming ‘Evil Spirits’ album, released April 13th via Search And Destroy/Spinefarm Records. The single featured the tracks ‘Look Left’ and ‘Devil In Disguise’,, two songs that perfectly represent the album’s many shifting moods and styles.
Recorded by legendary producer Tony Visconti, ‘Evil Spirits’ is the result of a frantic, high-energy burst of creativity at Atomic Sound studios in Brooklyn in October of 2017, with ‘Black Album’ and ‘Strawberries’-era bassist Paul Gray back in the fold.
Select shows in the Northwest have just been added, following their headline slot at Burger Boogaloo in Oakland July 1st.  A US tour will be announced at a later date (details forthcoming).
‘EVIL SPIRITS’- TRACK BY TRACK:
‘Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow’ (watch video)
Up-to-the-minute garage psychedelia that gallops like Scott Walker’s ‘The Seventh Seal’, amid ominous ‘dies irae’ chorale and mucho post-millennial frustration. Vanian: “An optimistic song even though it is about a dark subject. In a world obsessed by ‘self’, this is a cry for humanity to recognize its humanity, before it’s too late. There is a strong influence of Joe Meek here: ‘Telstar’ was a glorious song about the opportunities of the future. I’d like to think that ‘SOTEOT’ reflects a similar sentiment.”
‘The Devil In Disguise’ (listen)
Another energetic garage-punk monster, replete with Monty Oxy Moron’s era-specific Farfisa organ. Pinch: “People gravitate towards blaming individuals rather than the systems they are part of. Figureheads are only puppets. It’s the puppet masters we should be concerned about. The enemy of our enemy is our friend, apparently.”
‘We’re So Nice’
“Where there’s dispute you’ll find us there…” Sensible’s broadside against Anglo-American imperialist meddling around the world bops along gleefully on a Motown beat amid a deluge of melodic excellence. Sensible: “With all that we know about the Iraq war, and its consequences, does anyone still think we were the ‘heroes’?”
‘Look Left’ (listen)
Sugar coated mind grenade, addressing post-millennial society’s “media-induced coma” Vanian: “The weird thing about Pinch is, he listens to the most obnoxious music a lot of the time – all the real hardcore punk stuff – and he a very loud drummer, too, but then he goes and writes this great big show tune – like a massive ensemble cast coming on to sing at the end of the play!” Pinch: “While everybody’s looking left, what the hell is happening right? Tough subject matter is easier to digest when coated in honey rather than vinegar and the message in this song is so important, I couldn’t risk it being a throw away aggro punk tune that was immediately overlooked. I see it more as a love song to the human race. The future is here, and until you awaken your mind, I’ll wait for you.”
‘Evil Spirits’
Fantastically searching, in the best sense ‘progressive’, rocker, with vague echoes of The Who’s ‘Magic Bus’ and The Rolling Stones’ ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’, and some commensurately exploratory soloing from Sensible. An urgently free-spirited riposte to today’s political stasis. Sensible: “Whoever you vote for, nothing changes. Labour or Tory, two cheeks of same bum.” Vanian: “The Who are never far away from The Damned’s sound. We’ve had some big noses in this band, too. I suppose there are some parallels between us, because they were a high-energy band, too, but then Pete started writing his rock-opera stuff, stretching out, looking for different ways of writing. Queen did the same sort of thing as well – we’re one of those bands whose music can cover different genres of music, within one song.”
‘Shadow Evocation’
Quintessential Vanianism, about espousing the night and finding a better way forward than “chasing ghosts of the past”. Features acrobatic backing vocals from American singer-songwriter Kristeen Young. Vanian: ”Kristeen has a remarkable vocal range reminiscent of Yma Sumac [1950’s Peruvian-American soprano]. Her singing at the end of the song was originally played on a Theramin but once Kristeen sang the part, there was no need for the instrument anymore.”
‘Sonar Deceit’
Another garage-psych belter, propelled by a jaunty His Latest Flame-style bassline. “What makes a fish desert the sea?” ponders the Captain in this hard-hitting critique of whales and dolphins being driven insane by bombardment by deafening sonar.
Sensible: “What could it possibly be that drives whales and dolphins to prostrate themselves on beaches around the world?”
‘Procrastination’
Noel Coward-esque study of creative deferral, with more mid-’60s Farfisa from Mr Oxy Moron. Sensible: “One of Monty’s, this one. A bit of self-analysis here: what could be the reason that this band’s last album was recorded back in 2008? It’s good to be able to laugh at yourself – well, at least I think he’s talking about himself there… Isn’t he? Or is it me? Blimey!”
‘Daily Liar’
Co-written by Sensible (tune) and Vanian (lyric), another anger-fuelled barnstormer, with a Kinksian introductory fanfare, a driving beat, and a stirring melodic ascent. All together now: say “no, no, no…no-no” to media misinformation! Sensible: “For his own selfish reasons, Trump started a discussion about ‘fake news’, but it’s one that some might say has been long overdue. Not a pinch of salt required – you need a whole cellar of the stuff these days.”
‘I Don’t Care’
Punk heedlessness rebooted as a triptych of political disaffection, spanning moody piano balladry, Who-y explosiveness, and nocturnal jazz
Vanian: “This should have been a short song, perhaps only a minute long, written on a rainy afternoon in my study. Demoing the song, I almost forgot that there were two more sections, turning it into a three-part epic in about the same amount of minutes, which seems longer because of the differing moods.”
Evil Spirits is available on digital download via Spotify and i-Tunes, on CD and 180g vinyl available to pre-order HERE
        
Photos: Dod Morrison
LIVE SHOWS:
EUROPE:
May 17 – Frankfurt – Batschkapp
May 19 – Lausanne – Les Docks
May 20 – Milan – Magnolia
May 22 – Munich – Strom
May 23 – Berlin – SO36
May 25 – Hamburg – Fabrik
May 26 – Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
May 27 – Amsterdam – Melkweg Oude Zaal
May 29 – Paris – Petit Bain
UK:
June 16 – Birmingham – Genting Arena *
June 17 – Manchester – Arena *
June 19 – Glasgow – The SSE Hydro *
June 20 – London – The SSE Arena, Wembley *

US:
July 1 – Oakland – Burger Boogaloo Festival

July 5 – Vancouver –  Commodore Ballroom (on sale 4/6 10am PST)
July 6 – Portland – Crystal Ballroom (on sale 4/6 10am PST)
July 7 – Seattle – Showbox at the Market (on sale 4/6 10am PST)
UK:
August 22 – Southampton – 02 Guildhall
August 23 – Holmfirth – Holmfirth Picture House
August 24 – Warrington – Warrington Parr Hall
August 25  – Belfast – Belsonic Festival (main support to Stiff Little Fingers)
* supporting the Hollywood Vampires
“…hard-charging ethos accented by smooth hi-fi production and a stylistic debt to pop’s pre-rock era.”Stereogum
The Damned have become, if possible, more eccentric and outrageous as they grow older.”  – The Independent
“The King’s people have drunk from the Fountain of Youth. This truly is a band at the top of its game. Long Live The Damned”
– Louder Than War
The Damned are:
David Vanian – Vocals
Captain Sensible – Guitar
Monty Oxy Moron – Keyboard
Pinch – Drums
Paul Gray – Bass
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The Coathangers to release first live album this summer.

The Coathangers Announce 1st Live Album

Preorder The Coathangers LIVE on limited-edition tri-color vinyl. 

Watch “Gettin’ Mad and Pumpin’ Iron” (Official Live Video) premiere via
i-D. 

In their thirteen years of existence, Atlanta’s tireless garage punks The Coathangers have cranked out five full-lengths and well over a dozen singles, splits, and EPs. Considering the band’s initial aspirations to merely hang out and play a few house parties, their relentless touring schedule is perhaps the greatest testament to the lasting power of their scrappy hook-laden records and the infectious energy radiating from their live shows. And while every Coathangers record has captured their buoyant turbulence and jagged euphoria, there is always some degree of magic that inevitably gets lost when bands go into the studio. Perhaps it’s the energy transference from the audience that’s missing or maybe it’s the push-and-pull of the musicians playing together in a volatile environment. Whatever the source of that inexplicable magic, The Coathangers have always wrangled a rowdy replication of that sweaty and sticky live feeling, but the time had come to properly document it.

Their quest for enchantment prompted The Coathangers: 2 Nights of Magic, a free two-night stand at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach, California replete with magicians, tarot card readings, burlesque dancers, palm readers, and a giant paper mache rabbit for photo-ops. And out of those shows came LIVE, the first Coathangers release to document the band in their natural habitat. “It’s kinda trippy, this record,” says guitarist/vocalist Julia Kugel. “It’s like our anthology… our entire career in 38 minutes.” Sure enough, LIVE spans everything from the slow-burn pop of “Captain’s Dead” off last year’s Parasite EP to the rabblerousing rocker “Tonya Harding” off their self-titled debut. The boisterous magic was captured by Dylan Ely and front-of-house engineer Eric Huff, with Kugel’s husband Scott Montoya handling the mixing in their new home studio. “I love the way it sounds,” Kugel says of the record. “It’s pumped me up for the next record! It sounds how we’ve never been able to sound on our studio albums… LIVE! Our live shows are who we really are so this is kind of our first record.”

Sure enough, LIVE captures the playful fervor of The Coathangers at their finest. “Gettin’ Mad and Pumpin’ Iron” sounds even more gloriously unhinged here than when it first appeared on Scramble back in 2009. Fan favorites like “Adderall” sound increasingly ragged and desperate as drummer Stephanie Luke belts out the verses and choruses on an adrenaline rush. Recent songs like bassist Meredith Franco’s Nosebleed Weekend highlight “Burn Me” feel injected with a manic urgency that pushes the tightly wound post-punk number into an unruly anthem. The Coathangers successfully captured the magic of their concerts, and now Suicide Squeeze is proud to offer LIVE to the world on June 1st 2018 via digital formats, cassette, and a limited first-edition pressing of 1500 copies on tri-color vinyl.
PREORDER LP/CAS/DIGITAL
Gettin’ Mad and Pumpin’ Iron LIVE at Alex’s Bar

The Coathangers On Tour
FRI APR 20 – Orlando FL, The Beacham Theatre* (TICKETS)
SAT APR 21 – Atlanta GA, Center Stage* (TICKETS)
SUN APR 22 – Charlotte NC, Neighborhood Theatre* (TICKETS)
TUE APR 24 – Boston MA, Royale NightClub* (TICKETS)
WED APR 25 – Asbury Park NJ, The Stone Pony*  (TICKETS)
THU APR 26 – Brooklyn NY, Warsaw* (TICKETS)
FRI APR 27 – New York NY, Irving Plaza* (TICKETS)
SAT APR 28 – Philadelphia PA, Electric Factory * (TICKETS)
SUN APR 29 – Washington DC, Black Cat* (TICKETS)
TUE MAY 1 – Buffalo NY, Town Ballroom* (TICKETS)
WED MAY 2 – Cincinnati OH, Bogart’s* (TICKETS)
THU MAY 3 – Pontiac MI, The Crofoot* (TICKETS)
FRI MAY 4 – Chicago IL, House of Blues* (TICKETS)
SAT MAY 5 – St. Louis MO, Ready Room* (TICKETS)
TUE MAY 29 – New Brunswick GA, Tipsy McSway’s (TICKETS)
WED MAY 30 – Jacksonville FL, Jack Rabbits (TICKETS)FRI JUN 1 – Tampa FL, Crowbar (TICKETS)
SAT JUN 2 – Gainesville FL, High Dive (TICKETS)
SUN JUN 3 – Pensacola FL, Vinyl Music Hall (TICKETS)
TUE JUN 5 – New Orleans LA, Santos (TICKETS)
WED JUN 6 – Houston TX, White Oak Music Hall (TICKETS)
THU JUN 7 – Austin TX, Barracuda (TICKETS)
FRI JUN 8 – San Antonio TX, Jack Rabbit
SAT JUN 9 – Dallas TX, Club Dada (TICKETS)
SUN JUN 10 – Oklahoma City OK, 89th Street (TICKETS)
TUE JUN 12 – Kansas City MO, Record Bar (TICKETS)
WED JUN 13 – Davenport IA, Raccoon Motel (TICKETS)
THU JUN 14 – DeKalb IL, The House Cafe (TICKETS)
FRI JUN 15 – Indianapolis IN, The Hi-Fi (TICKETS)
SAT JUN 16 – Nashville TN, The Basement (TICKETS)
* with Minus the Bear

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Makeness shares new single from upcoming album – “Loud Patterns”

Makeness Shares New Single “Who Am I To Follow Love”
https://youtu.be/4Utof_SCsW8

Loud Patterns Out April 6th On Secretly Canadian
https://makeness.lnk.to/loudpatterns

North American Tour With Unknown Mortal Orchestra Starts This Month


[Loud Patterns artwork]
Scottish producer Makeness has shared another new single from his debut album, Loud Patterns, coming out this Friday, April 6th via Secretly Canadian. Crafting tracks which make a virtue of disparate influences, the sparkling “Who Am I To Follow Love” sees Kyle Molleson team up with Babeheaven vocalist Nancy Andersen to create a reflective mood and showcase another side to his versatile songwriting talents. The track is accompanied by a new webpage designed by Kyle, featuring a collection of images documenting the making of Loud Patterns.

Loud Patterns is an album that’s noticeably indebted to house and techno; there are 4/4 rhythms, and a no-nonsense directness that harks back to the Detroit pioneers. Channeling avant-garde experimentalism and an outsider’s interest in pop, Kyle embraces the distance between those two poles. The album arrives after a series of releases that have established his particular, in-between approach to dance-minded music. He put out two EPs on Manchester-based imprint Handsome Dad, a one-off single with Adult Jazz and the self-released Temple Works EP; Whities also released a limited-edition white label of a Minor Science dub of one of his tracks.

Following the release of Loud Patterns, Makeness will tour with label kin Unknown Mortal Orchestraacross North America and parts of Europe.

Listen To Makeness’ “Who Am I To Follow Love”:
https://youtu.be/4Utof_SCsW8
Watch & Listen:
“Stepping Out Of Sync” video – https://youtu.be/_SaXuy2isS0
“Day Old Death” video – https://youtu.be/m6n5q58560M
“Day Old Death” stream – https://makeness.lnk.to/dayolddeath
“Loud Patterns” stream – https://youtu.be/RZF0rp1Ujbc
Makeness Tour Dates:
April 12 – @ London, UK @ Corsica Studios
April 22 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
April 23 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
April 25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
April 26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
April 27 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
April 28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
April 30 – Boston, MA @ Royale w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 1 – Montreal, QC @ Corona Theatre w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 2 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 3 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 4 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 7 – Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 8 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 9 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 10 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 12 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriet’s w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 18 – Hamburg, Germany @ Uebel & Gefährlich w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 19 – Berlin, Germany @ Kesselhaus w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 20 – Heidelberg, Germany @ Karlstorbahnhof w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 21 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ zakk w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 22 – Paris, France @ La Gaîté Lyrique w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 24 – London, United Kingdom @ Roundhouse w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 25 – Bristol, United Kingdom @ SWX w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
May 31 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom @ Hidden Door
September 1 – Dumfries & Galloway, United Kingdom @ Drumlanrig Castle (Electric Fields Festival)

[Photo by Dexter Lander]
Pre-order Loud Patterns – https://makeness.lnk.to/loudpatterns
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Flasher are on tour. Check out their new single.

FLASHER SIGN TO DOMINO, SHARE NEW SONG AND VIDEO
“SKIM MILK“

DEBUT FULL-LENGTH FORTHCOMING SOON
(photo by Jen Dessinger)

Since they appeared with their self-titled, self-released EP back in 2016, Washington, DC trio Flasher has exuded both clarity of intent and radiant self-confidence. Critically applauded from the start, that initial release offered a clear blueprint. By turns razor sharp and woozy, skipping from shoegaze to punk and back again, it offered confirmation of a band whose wiry energy and melodic ease made them instantly arresting.

Today, Flasher announce their signing to Domino Recording Co., which will release their debut full-length later this year. They’ve also shared a new video and song today, the exhilarating “Skim Milk.” The band describes the song and video below:

The themes in “Skim Milk” and its video might be described as being haunted by your own desire for belonging. We’re not bemoaning “no future, no fate”, we’re advocating for it. From getting a mortgage, to going to college, to crafting public policy, folks are always telling you to think of your future, to make choices in the name of some future. But most folks don’t have the privilege to live outside the present. This kind of future tense, aspirational bullshit means being held hostage by a future that’s already abandoned you. We’d rather escape to something new and unknown than hold out for a good life that hates us and expects us to make lemonade out of miserableness. Instead of holding out and hanging on, we’re here to tell you (and ourselves) – “go.” 

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

“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” – NPR Music

FLASHER TOUR DATES
Thu. Mar. 29 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Good Will Social Club w/ Ought
Fri. Mar. 30 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry w/ Ought
Sat. Mar. 31 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon w/ Ought
Mon. Apr. 2 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups w/ Ought
Tue. Apr. 3 – Milvale, PA @ The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls w/ Ought
Sun. Apr. 15 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory w/ The Breeders
Mon. Apr. 16 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Grand at The Complex w/ The Breeders
Wed. Apr. 18 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre w/ The Breeders
Thu. Apr. 19 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater w/ The Breeders
Wed. Apr. 25 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City w/ The Breeders
Mon. Apr. 30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel w/ The Breeders
Fri. July 20 – Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party

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/

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Clutch announces second Earth Rocker festival lineup.

March 26th, 2018 – Clutch has now confirmed their second annual Earth Rocker Festival.  The festival will take place on August 4th at Shiley Acres located in Inwood West Virginia.  Joining Clutch on stage this year will be Black Label Society, Corrosion Of Conformity, EYEHATEGOD, and the Let There Be Rock School band.  Tickets for the festival are $35 in advance and $45 at the gate the day of the show and are on sale now at this location: http://shileyacres.ticketleap.com
All “Earth Rocker Festival 18” ticket and general information is available at: http://earthrockerfest.com
Like last year’s inaugural offering, Shiley Acres and Clutch have worked together to make Earth Rocker Festival18 a fan and band-friendly event.  Earth Rocker Festival is a day time event.  The gates open at noon and music runs all day, ending right before the sun sets.  The festival has a designated camping location and will offer free camping on site the day and night of the show.  Other fan-friendly elements include free parking starting at 9 am the day of the event, free admission for accompanied children under 12, and allows lawn chairs and pop up tents in designated areas.  As Greg Shiley, owner of Shiley Acres puts it “There will be plenty of good food, beer choices and all at reasonable prices, so come spend a summer afternoon enjoying the great bands and open air.  We’ll make that real easy for ya”.
For more information on the directions, camping, on-site food and beverages available, hotel accommodations and all “Things You Should Know,” visit http://www.shileyacres.net
For more  information, check out Earth Rocker Festival:
@earthrockerfest
Official: www.pro-rock.com
Keep your mind open.
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Unknown Mortal Orchestra agrees “Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays” on upcoming album.

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA SHARES
“EVERYONE ACTS CRAZY NOWADAYS“

SEX & FOOD OUT APRIL 6 ON JAGJAGUWAR

Today, Unknown Mortal Orchestra says through music what we all know to be true. “Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays” is perhaps the first straight-forward dance song off the forthcoming album, Sex & Food (out 4/6 on Jagjaguwar).  The track was leaked early to fans who pre-ordered Sex & Food via a mysterious package that arrived on Thursday. It contained a pamphlet simply titled “Age of Paranoia.” The pamphlet included comics and lyrics by Ruban, as well as a link to everyoneactscrazynowadays.com. The song appeared there Friday morning.

LISTEN TO “EVERYONE ACTS CRAZY NOWADAYS”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxQ_E8YbLw0

WATCH “NOT IN LOVE WE’RE JUST HIGH”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY82vChor2A

WATCH “AMERICAN GUILT” VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-JlcmCxIXU

LINKFIRE:
https://unknownmortalorchestra.lnk.to/sexandfood

(“Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays” single artwork)

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA TOUR DATES:
April 22 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street w/ Makeness
April 23 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall w/ Makeness
April 25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel w/ Makeness
April 26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel w/ Makeness
April 27 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/ Makeness
April 28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer w/ Makeness
April 30 – Boston, MA @ Royale w/ Makeness
May 1 – Montreal, QC @ Corona Theatre w/ Makeness
May 2 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall w/ Makeness
May 3 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre w/ Makeness
May 4 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue w/ Makeness
May 7 – Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre w/ Makeness
May 8 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom w/ Makeness
May 9 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater w/ Makeness
May 10 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater w/ Makeness
May 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern w/ Makeness
May 12 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriet’s w/ Makeness
May 18 – Hamburg, Germany @ Uebel & Gefährlich w/ Makeness
May 19 – Berlin, Germany @ Kesselhaus w/ Makeness
May 20 – Heidelberg, Germany @ Karlstorbahnhof w/ Makeness
May 21 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ zakk w/ Makeness
May 22 – Paris, France @ La Gaîté Lyrique w/ Makeness
May 24 – London, United Kingdom @ Roundhouse w/ Makeness
May 25 – Bristol, United Kingdom @ SWX w/ Makeness
May 26 – Manchester, United Kingdom @ Strange Waves
May 27 – Leeds, United Kingdom @ World Island
May 28 – Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique w/ Makeness
May 30 – Bordeaux, France @ Rock School Barbey
May 31 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound
June 3 – Nantes, France @ Indigènes Festival
June 4 – Dublin, Ireland @ Forbidden Fruit Festival
June 7-9 – Porto, Portugal @ NOS Primavera Sound
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 23 – Missoula, MT @ The Top Hat
July 24 – Billings, MT @ The Pub Station
July 26 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
Aug 9 – Budapest, Hungary @ Sziget Festival
August 9-11 – Basel, Switzerland @ Open Air Basel
August 10-11 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Haven
November 21 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall
Download hi-res images here: http://jagjaguwar.com/press/umo/

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/unknownmortalorchestra

BlackWater HolyLight releases “Willow” from upcoming self-titled debut.

BlackWater HolyLight premiere new track via Paste Magazine from forthcoming RidingEasy debut
 Rewiring “heavy music” w/ hints of Sonic Youth, Chelsea Wolfe, Raincoats, Stooges, Beefheart, et al.
Hear & share “Willow” (YouTube) (Paste Magazine)
“Flat out it’s one of the best heavy psych debut albums you’ll hear in 2018.” — The Obelisk
“This quartet has been burning up stages all around their hometown, fueled by their abrasive blend of doom metal, psych rock, goth and a tangy soupçon of pop music… They landed a spot on the 2018 Best New Bandpoll in alt-weekly Willamette Week, but could quickly take over the world.” — Paste Magazine
“They mesh elements of doom, Krautrock and atmospheric indie into one bewitching rock whole.” –Classic Rock Magazine
Portland, OR quartet BlackWater HolyLight share a new track from their forthcoming self-titled debut album today via Paste Magazine. Hear and share “Willow” HERE. (Direct YouTube.)
 
The Obelisk recently launched “Wave of Conscience” HERE. (Direct YouTube.) The album’s first single, “Sunrise” launched this winter, is available to hear and share via YouTube HERE.
The notion of “heavy music” is continuing to expand of late, with many intrepid artists finding new ways to incorporate the power of traditional metal into new music, but without all of its trappings. Enter Portland, OR quartet BlackWater HolyLight to further swirl musical elements into a captivating hybrid of emotional intensity. Heavy psych riffs, gothic drama, folk-rock vibes, garage-sludge and soaring melodies all collide into a satisfying whole with as much contrast as the band’s name itself.
“I wanted to experiment with my own version of what felt ‘heavy’ both sonically and emotionally,” says founder and vocalist/bassist Allison (Sunny) Faris. “I also wanted a band in which vulnerability of any form could be celebrated.” BlackWater HolyLight — Faris, guitarist/vocalist Laura Hopkins, drummer Cat Hoch and synth player Sarah Mckenna — formed upon the breakup of Faris’ longtime band and she sought a fresh start. “In my last band I was the only female in a group of 6, so I wanted to see how my song writing and vulnerability could glow taking the drivers seat and working with women.”
The band’s self-titled debut begins with a simple, almost grunge-like riff as a chorus of voices introduce a melodic line in call-and-response until the band kicks in, slowly building into crescendo like a lost outtake from Led Zeppelin‘s Houses of the Holy. Elsewhere, “Sunrise” begins with a chorus-drenched post-punk groove until a sonic boom of heavily distorted guitar skree erupts out of nowhere. Nearly as suddenly, the song returns to its lulling core, subtly building the tension until it ruptures completely in a blast of noise. Likewise, “Carry Her” establishes a dark, sparse melody and distinctly thin sounding drums not far removed from early work of The Cure. However, BlackWater HolyLight’s penchant for surprise attack finds a sudden shift into a doom-like dirge, colored with eerie synth notes and pounding shards of fuzz. Throughout the album, their songs shirk traditional verse-chorus-verse structure in favor of fluid, serpentine compositions that move with commanding grace. The band expertly, yet subconsciously, incorporates hints of Chelsea Wolfe, Celebration, Captain Beefheart, The Raincoats, The Stooges, Pink Floyd, Jane’s Addiction and more to form their unique brand of dark’n’heavy transcendence..
BlackWater HolyLight was recorded by Cameron Spies at Gold Brick Studios and The Greenhouse, and with Eric Crespo at Touch Tourcher Recording in Portland. The album will be available on LP, CD and download April 6th, 2018 via RidingEasy Records. Preorders are available for LP & CD at www.ridingeasyrecs.com and digital at blackwaterholylight.bandcamp.com.
BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT LIVE:
03/24 Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
04/12 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Artist: BlackWater HolyLight
Album: BlackWater HolyLight
Label: RidingEasy Records
Release Date: April 6th, 2018
01. Willow
02. Wave of Conscience
03. Babies
04. Paranoia
05. Sunrise
06. Slow Hole
07. Carry Her
08. Jizz Witch

On The Web:

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Lollapalooza Chicago announces its 2018 lineup.

The annual Chicago lineup for Lollapalooza has been announced.  It features some heavyweights and, as usual, a lot of upcoming bands.  Bruno Mars is definitely a big score for the festival, as are Jack White, the Arctic Monkeys, the National, Portugal, the Man, Franz Ferdinand, and Chvrches.

Tickets are on sale and will go much faster now that the lineup has been released.  A four-day general admission pass will cost you $335.00 plus taxes and fees, and VIP and Platinum packages will run you thousands of dollars.

Keep your mind open.

[Subscribe before you go to stay updated on music festivals across the U.S. and in other countries, too.]