Category: News

Rest in peace, Chris Cornell.

I’m not sure what I can add to the thousands of words already written on the death of Soundgarden and Audioslave lead singer Chris Cornell.  He was one of the best rock singers of my generation, and even sang the Bond theme for the modern version of Casino Royale – “You Know My Name.”

I’ll always remember him for his work on Soundgarden’s masterpiece album Superunknown.  The whole record is a stunning piece of work, and Cornell’s voice ranges from screaming metal work to psychedelic wanderings to doom metal growls.

He was open about his drug addictions, and there is already talk that his death might be the result of suicide.  I wish him peace and his bandmates and fans strength.

Keep your mind open.

 

Kelly Lee Owens adds North America dates to her world tour.

KELLY LEE OWENS ANNOUNCES FIRST NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
AND PRESENTS VIDEO FOR “THROWING LINES”
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

DEBUT ALBUM OUT NOW ON SMALLTOWN SUPERSOUND
(above image by Kim Hiorthøy)

“Kelly Lee Owens sounds ethereal and jittery at the same time — not an easy thing . . . Her sounds are the rounded, rubbery boops and pings of techno, ricocheting all around; a steady but understated beat carries [‘Anxi’] into a complete transformation halfway through.” – The New York Times

“[Kelly Lee Owens] mixes dream pop and ambient techno on her immensely varied and fully-formed debut.” – Pitchfork

“The stunning debut album from [Kelly Lee Owens] is the aural equivalent of a hot-stone massage: It’s 45 minutes of gently pulsing electronic beats, sumptuous keyboard hooks, and Owens’ heavenly vocals.” – Entertainment Weekly “Must List”

“an album of contradictions, subverting dance music and pop structures at once.” – W Magazine
London-based producer Kelly Lee Owens is announcing her first ever North American tour in support of her self-titled, debut album, released this past March via Smalltown Supersound. On stage as on record, Kelly blurs the line between throbbing techno and pop vocal performances. For her first trip stateside, she’ll bring her meditative and immersive live show to FYF Fest, plus other major cities across the country.

Additionally, Kelly now presents the video for “Throwing Lines.” As Kelly describes it, “This is one of the poppiest tracks on my record and it could have had a showy video to match, but it feels good to take the piss instead – out of myself and that world.”

Kelly Lee Owens bridges the gaps between cavernous techno, spectral pop, and Krautrock’s mechanical pulse. It brims with exploratory wonder and delves into a variety of moods – sadness, anxiety, and darkly shaded ecstasy – with a trippy-eyed clarity and confidence. Since announcing her debut album, Kelly has quickly become regarded as one of the most exciting new artists to watch from the likes of Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and way beyond.
Watch Kelly Lee Owens’ “Throwing Lines” Video –
https://youtu.be/oyx-lpJYGCg

Watch/Listen/Share:
Kelly Lee Owens album stream – https://open.spotify.com/album/3Zx14dyUjtZcEas89nZZfn
“Anxi” ft. Jenny Hval video – https://youtu.be/FdDf2Ib4B64
“Anxi” ft. Jenny Hval stream – http://bit.ly/2qZpJuq

Kelly Lee Owens’ Tour Dates:
(new dates in bold)
Wed. May 10 – London, UK @ Pickle Factory
Thu. May 11 – Amsterdam, NL @ De School
Sat. May 13 – Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Botanique
Wed. May 17 – Toulouse, FR @ Art Gallery (DJ Set)
Sat. June 3 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
Sun. June 11 – Paris, FR @ We Love Green Festival
Sat. July 8 – Cheshire, UK @ Jodrell Bank Observatory, Bluedot Festival
Wed. July 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Good Room
Thu. July 13 – Montreal, QC @ Ritz PDB
Fri. July 14 – Toronto, ON @ Coda w/ John Talabot
Sat. July 15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Thu. July 20 – Seattle, WA @ Q Nightclub w/ John Talabot
Fri. July 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
Sat. July 22 – San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Music Hall
Fri. Aug 11 – Göteborg, SE @ Way Out West Festival
Sat. Aug. 12 – Oslo, NO @ Øya Festival
Fri. Sep. 1 – Dorset, UK @ End of the Road
Sun. Sep 3 – Stradbally, IE @ Electric Picnic Festival
Thu. Oct 19 – London, UK @ Oslo Hackney
Wed. Nov. 1 – Sun. Nov. 5 – Reykjavik, IS @ Air Waves Festival

Purchase Kelly Lee Owens –
http://smarturl.it/KellyLeeOwens

Download hi-res press images –
www.pitchperfectpr.com/kelly-lee-owens/
Kelly Lee Owens online:
https://kellyleeowens.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kellyleeowens/
https://twitter.com/kellyleeowenshttps://www.instagram.com/kellyleeowens/
https://soundcloud.com/kellyleeowens
http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/
http://pitchperfectpr.com/kelly-lee-owens

Slow Magic releases new single and summer tour dates.

Slow Magic Shares New Single, “Mind” (Feat. Kate Boy)
Listen Here
Out Now On Downtown Records/Interscope Records

Announces Summer Headline Tour Dates +
Spring Tour Dates With ODESZA And RÜFÜS DU SOL

Mind artwork
Slow Magic returns with his first new single since 2014’s How To Run Away in the form of “Mind” featuring Sweden’s Kate Boy. This marks the first time Slow Magic has featured vocals on one of his tracks. It’s also a fresh take on the sound Slow Magic has been developing since How To Run Away. There’s a driving beat and pitched up backing vocals, both ever-present elements on any Slow Magic creation, but here he’s pulled out the organic elements of his live percussion which sets him apart from so many of his peers and emphasizes the live element of his production.

The genesis for “Mind” began when Slow Magic and Kate Boy met a couple of years ago at a German festival that took place in an abandoned car factory. Slow Magic recalls, “I remember sneaking through the backstage area and onto the roof to watch their set. I had wanted to work with them ever since I heard their song ‘In Your Eyes.’ I recorded the live drums for ‘Mind’ in Stockholm, Sweden in a studio that metal bands usually record at.”

Starting next week, Slow Magic will tour in support of “Mind” with RÜFÜS DU SOL before meeting up with ODESZA including a performance at the legendary Red Rocks. Following that he’ll play a series of special, intimate headline shows throughout the summer in between a couple festival stops. A full list of dates is below.

Listen To Slow Magic’s “Mind” (feat. Kate Boy):
https://soundcloud.com/slowmagic/mind-1

Slow Magic Tour Dates:

Special Intimate Headline Shows
Sat 06.03.17 – San Francisco, CA @ Gray Area
Wed 07.19.17 – Brooklyn, NY @ House of Yes
Fri 07.28.17 – West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour

With RÜFÜS DU SOL
Wed 05.17.17 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
Thu 05.18.17 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
Fri 05.19.17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle

With ODESZA
Sat 05.20.17 – Boise, ID @ Summerfield/Memorial Stadium
Sat 05.27.17 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks

Festivals
Sat 06.17.17 – Chicago, IL @ Taste of Randolph
Fri 06.23.17 – Heber City, UT @ Bonanza Campout & Music Festival

Photo and Costume by Dream Angel
Mask by Jonas McCluggage and Levi Wall
Shot in Reykjavik, Iceland

Dave Depper releases 3rd single from upcoming solo album.

LISTEN TO DAVE DEPPER’S “YOUR VOICE ON THE RADIO” (FEAT. LAURA GIBSON)
https://soundcloud.com/tenderlovingempire/your-voice-on-the-radio-feat-laura-gibson/

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE OUT JUNE 9TH ON TENDER LOVING EMPIRE
(photo credit: Jaclyn Campanaro)

“…a cloud of weightless synths anchored by a danceably funky bass groove.”
— Stereogum on “Do You Want Love?”

“Dave Depper must be one of the hardest working men in indie-rock, one of those indispensably reliable gears turning in the background that supports the machinery of the whole edifice.”
— Flaunt
Dave Depper is set to release his debut solo album, Emotional Freedom Technique, on June 9th via Portland’s Tender Loving Empire. Following the album’s first two singles, “Do You Want Love?” and “Communication,” Depper is excited to present the album’s next single, “Your Voice On The Radio,” which premiered earlier today via Brooklyn Vegan and features longtime friend and collaborator, Laura Gibson. The track sees Depper indulging his pop instincts, showcasing his knack for layering propulsive, melodic bass and drum beats over a wash of vintage synthesizers. Gibson’s vocals warmly compliment Depper as he sings about unrealized and unsatisfied love. Stream the song here.

About the song, Depper says:

“Your Voice on the Radio” is the only track on the record I wrote with a specific thematic goal in mind, which was to pay tribute to those classic, slightly cheesy boy/girl duets of yesteryear (e.g. “Don’t You Want Me”, “Islands in the Stream”, “Young Folks”).

The song finds our protagonist daydreaming that the girl he hears on the radio is secretly dreaming right back at him, so I figured it appropriate to draft my favorite female singer, Laura Gibson, as my duet partner.

Sonically, I attempted to answer the question, “what if David Bowie’s backing band on ‘Sound and Vision’ cut a straight-up disco track while the boss was out on a smoke break?”
If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, Depper will perform two special shows to celebrate the release of Emotional Freedom Technique: Wed. June 21st at Barboza in Seattle and Thu. June 22nd at Mississippi Studios in Portland. Tickets for both are on-sale now. Depper will also play Seattle’s famed Bumbershoot festival this fall, marking his first ever major festival performance to his own name.
Listen To Dave Depper’s “Your Voice On The Radio” (feat. Laura Gibson) — 
https://soundcloud.com/tenderlovingempire/your-voice-on-the-radio-feat-laura-gibson/

Listen/Share:
“Communication” stream — http://bit.ly/2o1ZP7w
“Do You Want Love?” stream — http://bit.ly/2psFYzB

Dave Depper Tour Dates:
Wed. June 21 — Seattle, WA @ Barboza (Record Release Show) [tix]
Thu. June 22 — Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios (Record Release Show) [tix]
Fri. Sep. 1 – Sun. Sep. 3 — Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot [tix]

Pre-order Emotional Freedom Technique — http://bit.ly/2mD1S4H

Download hi-res images & album art — http://pitchperfectpr.com/dave-depper/
Dave Depper online:
davedepper.com
twitter.com/davedepper
instagram.com/davedepper
tenderlovingempire.com
pitchperfectpr.com/dave-depper 

Columbus Psych Fest reveals 2017 lineup…and it’s all free.

I don’t know if you’ll be in or near Columbus, Ohio on May 19th, but it would be worth your while to check out the Columbus Psych Fest if you are.  It’s a free show featuring at least ten bands at the Park Street Saloon.

Many of the bands are from the central Ohio area, and I can highly recommend Brujas Del Sol.  I also recently learned that Austin, Texas’ Ancient River will be playing there, and they are guaranteed to warp your minds.

Get there if you can.

Keep your mind open.

[Don’t forget to subscribe before you go.]

Beach Fossils deliver new single from upcoming album.

Beach Fossils Share New Single, “Down The Line”
Watch The Video Here
Somersault Out June 2nd on Bayonet Records

Photo by Rebekah Campbell
Beach Fossils have shared their latest single from Somersault titled, “Down The Line.” The song features many hallmarks of Somersault – a buoyant bassline, a propulsive, wayward guitar. Beach Fossils have charted into new musical territory with a refined songwriting style. On “Down The Line,” Dustin Payseur sings, “I don’t want your Wall Street / Don’t got no degree / Written on the concrete / A.C.A.B.” They’ve expanded their range both musically and lyrically. This is a band in bloom.

The song is paired with a video directed by Payseur and features the members of Beach Fossils exploring New York City after hours. Shots of McGolrick Park, the Williamsburg Bridge, the JMZ line and the sunrise loom large. The “Down The Line” video mirrors the band’s previous video for “Saint Ivy,” which pays homage to New York City artists. Somersault captures flashes of life in New York grounded in personal experience.

Later this month, Beach Fossils will play some of their first shows in support of Somersault with a weekend in South America including a festival playing alongside Slowdive. Come July, the band will tour the west coast with support from She-Devils and Ablebody capping it off at FYF before making their way to the UK in August. A full list of dates is below.

Somersault is out June 2nd on Bayonet Records.

Watch Beach Fossils’ “Down The Line” Video:
https://youtu.be/zdfjCivNxGY

Watch The “Saint Ivy” Video:
http://hyperurl.co/SaintIvyYT

Listen To “This Year”:
http://hyperurl.co/BFThisYearYT

Beach Fossils Tour Dates:
Fri. May 12 – Buenos Aires, AR @ Niceto Club
Sat. May 13 – Huechuraba, CL @ Espacio Riesco
Fri. July 7 – Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s
Sat. July 8 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Mon. July 10 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Tue. July 11 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
Wed. July 12 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
Fri. July 14 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Sat. July 15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Sun. July 16 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
Tue. July 18 – Santa FE, NM @ Meow Wolf
Wed. July 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Thu. July 20 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah (early & late shows)
Fri. July 21 – Sun. July 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF
Sat. Aug. 26 – Leeds, UK @ This Must Be The Place
Wed. Aug. 30 – London, UK @ Oslo Hackney

Somersault artwork

*Pre-order regular black LP / limited white+red splatter LP + goodies / CD / Cassette tape: http://hyperurl.co/BFsomersault
*Pre-order limited edition white+red splatter LP + goodie bag + signed poster: http://hyperurl.co/BFsomersaultextraLTD
*iTunes pre-order: http://hyperurl.co/BFsomersaultitunes

Beach Fossils online:
http://www.beachfossils.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beachfossils/
https://twitter.com/beachfossils
https://www.instagram.com/beachfossilsnyc
https://bayonetrecords.com/

Levitation France announces dates and first lineup.

While Levitation Austin didn’t happen this year, Levitation France is a go on September 15-16th!  This bodes well for the Levitation shows (a small one is being held in Austin the first weekend of May) making a full return next year.

The first wave of band announcements includes the Black Angels, Slowdive, Acid Mothers Temple, and Kikagu Moyo.  As usual, the Levitation festivals always have a great lineup, and this will be no exception.  Get to Angers, France if you can.

Keep your mind open.

 

Thee Oh Sees announce new summer U.S. tour dates.

THEE OH SEES ANNOUNCE AUGUST & SEPTEMBER TOUR DATES

Today, Los Angeles-based force of nature Thee Oh Sees announce a new batch of tour dates for the late summer that spans both the USA and the European continent. Could the new dates be an indicator of a busy 2017 from the John Dwyer-led outfit? Could these dates point to the possibility of a new record(s)? One can only hope…
THEE OH SEES TOUR DATES (new tour dates in bold):
Sat. Apr. 29 – Norman, OK @ Norman Music Festival
Fri. May 5 – Winterthur, CH @ Salzhaus
Sat. May 6 – Frankfort, GE @ Zoom
Sun. May 7– Rotterdam, NL @ Rotown
Mon. May 8 – Berlin, GE @ Columbia Theater
Wed. May 10 – Clermont-Ferrand, FR @ La Coopérative de Mai
Thu. May 11 – La Rochelle, FR @ La Sirène
Fri. May 12 – Rouen, FR @ Le 106
Sat. May 13 – Lyon, FR @ L’épicerie Moderne
Sun. May 14 – Paris, FR @ Trabendo
Tue. May 16 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
Wed. May 17 – Brighton, UK @ Clarendon Centre
Thu. May 18 – Nantes, FR @ Stereolux
Fri. May 19 – Rennes, FR @ Antipode
Sat. May 20 – Reims, FR @ La Magnifique Society
Sun. May 21 – Brussels, BE @ L’Ancienne Belgique
Fri. May 26 – George, WA @ Sasquatch Festival
Sat. June 3 – London, UK @ Field Day Festival
Mon. June 4 – Bristol, UK @ SWX
Wed. June 6 – Metz, FR @ La BAM
Thu. June 7 – Milano, IT @ Magnolia
Fri. June 8 – Ravenna, IT @ Beaches Brew
Sat. June 9 – Dudingen, CH @ Bad Bonn
Sun. June 10 – Nimes, FR @ This Is Not A Love Song
Mon. June 11 – Bordeaux, FR @ le block
Tue. June 12 – Tours, FR @ le temps machine
Thu. June 14 – Manchester University, UK @ Transformers
Sat. June 17 – San Francisco, CA @ Phono Del Sol Festival
Sat. July 22 – Sun. July 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF
Sun. Aug. 6 – Katowice, PL @ OFF Festival
Tue. Aug. 8 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow
Thu. Aug. 10 – Oslo, NO @ Oya Festival
Fri. Aug. 11 – Gothenburg, DW @ Way Out West Festival
Sat. Aug. 12 – Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset
Fri. Aug. 18 – Saint Malo, FR @ La Route du Rock
Sat. Aug. 19 – Brecon Beacons, UK @ Green Man Festival 
Fri. Sept. 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
Sat. Sept. 2 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
Mon. Sept. 4 – Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas Outside
Tue. Sept. 5 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s
Wed. Sept. 6 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Fri. Sept. 8 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theater
Sun. Sept. 10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
Wed. Sept. 13 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Thu. Sept. 14 – Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe I Le National
Fri. Sept. 15 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Theater
Sat. Sept. 16 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
Sun. Sept. 17 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Tue. Sept. 19 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
Fri. Sept. 22 – Missoula, MT @ Monk’s
Sun. Sept. 24 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Mon. Sept. 25 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

Kane Strang’s new album due June 30th.

Kane Strang Announces New Album, Two Hearts and No Brain,
Out June 30th On Dead Oceans

Listen To New Single, “My Smile Is Extinct”
https://youtu.be/Q1fVG1IctmA
https://soundcloud.com/deadoceans/kane-strang-my-smile-is-extinct-3
Kane Strang has announced his new album, Two Hearts and No Brain, out June 30th on Dead Oceans. Along with the announcement he’s sharing the new single, “My Smile Is Extinct.” It’s the follow up to lead single, “Oh So You’re Off I See,” his first taste of new music since 2016’s Blue Cheese, which was shared ahead of Kane’s first ever North American tour last month.

Recorded in his hometown of Dunedin at the notoriously haunted Chick’s Hotel studio, Kane teamed up with producer Stephen Marr from trip hop group Doprah for Two Hearts and No Brain. The collaborative result is a razor sharp blend of intelligent alt-rock, bearing the signatures of grunge/alt rock swiftly executed with careful, meticulous precision over 11 tracks. Marr’s influence brings a pristine, retro-futuristic sheen which complements Strang’s perfectionist recording style, sharp melody, and verbose lyrical neuroticism. Taking to well-worn subject matter (heartbreak, loneliness, family) with a disarmingly frank scalpel, Strang’s wryly deadpan lines never miss a beat – the results often sardonic, and always captivating.

Two Hearts and No Brain is pure pop genius from start to finish. It’s hard to imagine who else could convincingly fuse fuzzy synths with slide guitar; crunchy chords with chiming vocals in such a kaleidoscopic pop vision. The album’s cover art, featuring a refracted analogue photograph taken of Kane atop of a rocky precipice; echoes the spirit of lean guitar-pop shining through a truly contemporary, innovative lens. His attention to detail shows up the fat slack present in the work of many of Kane’s contemporaries; yet his sound remains emotive and playfully laced with a tongue-in-cheek nostalgia – timelessly old and new in the same breath.

What sets Kane apart from the rafts of DIY indie songwriters is a willingness to push further. Having mastered the lo-fi aesthetic, he’s stretched his already limber songwriting legs and production chops to new unexpected spaces on Two Hearts and No Brain. Kane’s vision of extending his sound far beyond the bedroom promises international touring and releases the world over. With a live show that exhibits his unpredictable and exhilarating command on stage, Kane’s amassed a band of cohorts to execute his vision with arresting impact, sure to charm crowds with his sideways slant of guitar pop.

Listen To Kane Strang’s “My Smile Is Extinct”:
https://youtu.be/Q1fVG1IctmA
https://soundcloud.com/deadoceans/kane-strang-my-smile-is-extinct-3

Watch & Listen:
“Oh So You’re Off I See” video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0mAC5NldNg
“Oh So You’re Off I See” audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1VLO17X3Is&feature=youtu.be

Two Hearts and No Brain tracklist:
1. Lagoons
2. Silence Overgrown
3. Not Quite
4. Oh So You’re Off I See
5. See Thru
6. Summertime In Your Lounge
7. My Smile Is Extinct
8. Two Hearts and No Brain
9. It’s Not That Bad
10. Don’t Follow Me (I’m Lost)
11. Good Guy

Kane Strang UK/EU Tour Dates:
Sat. May 13 – Zurich, CH @ Stall 6 (Lauter Festival) (tickets)
Mon. May 15 – Manchester, UK @ Gullivers (tickets)
Tue. May 16 – Leeds, UK @ Headrow House (tickets)
Wed. May 17 – London, UK @ The Lexington (tickets)
Thu. May 18 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape (tickets)
Fri. May 19 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape (tickets)
Fri. May 19 – Brighton, UK @ The Mucky Duck (The Great Escape) (tickets)
Sat. May 20 – Antwerp, BE @ Trix
Mon. May 22 – Berlin, DE @ Privatclub (tickets)
Tue. May 23 – Paris, FR @ La Mecanique Ondulatoire
Wed. May 24 – Kortrijk, BE @ De Kreun (tickets)
Thu. May 25 – London, UK @ Greenman Presents Courtyard at Kings X (tickets)
Sat. May 27 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Upstairs (London Calling) (tickets)

North Coast Fest announces (almost) entire 2017 lineup.

Chicago’s annual North Coast Music Festival has announced its (almost) full lineup.  They’re still keeping some acts secret for now.

North Coast is a mostly electronic music festival that’s promoted as the last fling of summer (It’s the first weekend of September.) before another depressing Chicago winter and Bears season wallops the city.

Some of the biggest names on the bill are Deadmau5, Damian Marley, Big Boi, Gucci Mane, and Ween.  They’re already offering tickets and layaway plans, so get your tickets while they’re cheap and still available.

Keep your mind open.