Having just completed shows in the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America playing select dates and as main support to The Lemonheads, Bass Drum Of Death (John and JIm Barrett, Ian Kirkpatrick) announce a US headline tour beginning February 8th, in support of their forthcoming album, Say I Won’t, released January 27th via Fat Possum Records.
The band have revealed three tracks/videos from the album so far; the Zeppelin-esque ‘Head Change’, the midtempo bruiser ‘Say Your Prayers‘ (a collaboration with Mike Kerr of Royal Blood) and the hi-octane ‘Find It‘ (the video features live footage from the band’s sold out New York show in June of this year). Today, to accompany the tour announcement, they share a blistering live version of ‘Head Change’, to give a taste of what to expect on the road.
Say I Won’t is the first Bass Drum of Death album written, demoed, and recorded with the touring band, instead of bandleader John Barrett doing everything on his own. He found a freedom in working with collaborators that wasn’t available to him before, opening different aspects of the songwriting. It was a process of live recording, layering on different parts and overdubs, and then stripping it all back to the bones of the song, keeping the raw wild heart of the music intact. “My first two records were made entirely by me alone with my gear, my laptop, and a Snowball USB mic,” says Barrett. “They were just made quickly, cheaply, as an excuse to tour. I wanted to take my time with this record. Make something good that I was proud of in itself.”
The band recorded the new record with Patrick Carney of The Black Keys at Audio Eagle Studios in Nashville and the result is a groove-oriented, 1970’s-indebted collection of rock songs, with tempos set for cruising and scuzzy guitars galore. There’s an energy and vitality to the music that feels in line with the best of the Bass Drum songs, but with an added boost that comes from new bandmates and a new perspective.
The albumfinds a reinvigorated Barrett firing at all cylinders, backed by his best band yet. It’s Bass Drum of Death at their loosest and scuzziest and most tuneful, a true rock record in all the right ways. It’s a throwback by way of moving forward, sporting a maturity and swagger that comes from a decade of playing music on the road and surviving to tell about it. More than anything, Say I Won’t is a blast to listen to, music built for driving with your stereo cranked.
2023 dates are below – tickets can be found on the band’s website.
Feb 08 New Orleans LA House of Blues Parish
Feb 09 Houston TX House of Blues Bronze Peacock
Feb 11 Austin TX Empire Garage & Control Room
Feb 12 Dallas TX House of Blues Cambridge Room
Feb 14 Tucson AZ 191 Toole
Feb 15 Phoenix AZ Rebel Lounge
Feb 16 San Diego CA Casbah
Feb 17 Las Vegas NV The Usual Place
Feb 18 Los Angeles CA Zebulon
Feb 19 Santa Ana CA Constellation Room
Feb 21 Santa Cruz CA Moe’s Alley
Feb 22 Sacramento CA Goldfield Trading Post
Feb 24 Portland OR Mississippi Studios
Feb 25 Seattle WA Tractor Tavern
Feb 26 Spokane WA Lucky You
Feb 28 Boise ID Neurolux
Mar 03 Denver CO HQ
Mar 24 Oxford MS Proud Larry’s *
Mar 25 Birmingham AL Saturn *
Mar 26 Asheville NC The Grey Eagle *
Mar 28 Raleigh NC The Pour House *
Mar 29 Washington DC Union Stage *
Mar 30 Philadelphia PA Concourse *
Mar 31 Brooklyn NY Music Hall of Williamsburg *
Apr 01 Jersey City NJ White Eagle Hall *
Apr 03 Boston MA Brighton Music Hall *
Apr 05 Buffalo NY Buffalo Iron Works *
Apr 06 Cleveland OH Beachland Ballroom *
Apr 07 Ferndale MI Magic Bag *
Apr 08 Indianapolis IN HI-Fi *
Apr 10 Grand Rapids MI The Pyramid Scheme *
Apr 14 Chicago IL Riot Fest Presents at Cobra Lounge *
Apr 15 Chicago IL Riot Fest Presents at Cobra Lounge *
Apr 16 Louisville KY Headliners Music Hall *
* w/ Dead Tooth
Keep your mind open.
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[Thanks to Jo Murray.]
