File this under: Best News You’ve Heard Today. Austin, Texas’ annual Levitation Festival returns April 26-29, 2018.
The flagship Levitation festival (the others are in Chicago, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Angers, France) was cancelled this year after the organizers, the Reverb Appreciation Society, took a heavy loss due to the 2016 Austin festival being cancelled due to storms and flooding. Make up shows were quickly scheduled, but many attendees got shut out of those thanks to ruthless ticket scalpers. The RAS bounced back a bit this year with their Angers festival, but fans hoped the Chicago, Austin, and Vancouver shows would return soon.
There’s no word on the Chicago festival (which is usually the first of the four and held in early spring), but the announcement of the Austin festival’s return is great news and a good omen for the other Levitation shows.
Tickets for Austin aren’t on sale yet, but don’t wait too long to score them. The demand will be greater than normal. See you there.
Toronto garage / psych-rockers Goodbye Honolulu (Max Bornstein – drums, Fox Martindale – guitar and vocals, Jacob Switzer – guitar, bass, and vocals, Emmett Webb – guitar, bass, and vocals) bring infectious energy on their debut EP No Honey.
The EP is five fast tunes starting with the catchy, bass heavy hit “Back to Me” – a clever song about the lead singer realizing everyone he knows hates him. He’s on a quest for the good ole days when he wasn’t such a hipster elitist, even if that means he’ll just be “drinking beer and smoking lots of weed.”
“Mother to a Brother” hits hard like a long lost Weezer B-side. The guitars on “Where You Wanna Go” somehow blend garage rock with a bit of reggae chops during the verses.
The title of “Bloody Hands” seems appropriate for how hard the entire band plays on it. It reminds me of early Wavves tracks with its slight surf-vibe. “Typical” closes the EP with jangly psychedelia as the singer laments his routine of loser behaviors such as drinking too much and then calling a former lover.
No Honey is too short, but so are all good EPs. They leave you wanting more. Say hello to Goodbye Honolulu (Am I the first to make that bad joke?).
Keep your mind open.
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Montreal’s Elephant Stone have a remix album of their Ship of Fools record, entitled Remix of Fools, now available for pre-order. Two of the tracks are instant downloads once you pre-order the full album.
9/23 Liverpool, UK @ Baltic TriangleTICKETS | FB EVENT (ES + Acid House Ragas)
9/25 Leicester, UK @ The Soundhouse
9/26 London, UK @ The Social FREE | FB EVENT (Acid House Ragas only)
9/27 Theossaliniki, GR @ Rover Bar
9/28 Arta, GR @ Miles Bar
The next single from Kauf’s Regrowth LP, Limestone, has been premiered by Insomniac as their track of the day and by KCRW on Morning Becomes Eclectic!
“The chorus comes from something my boyfriend and I have proudly said to other people—that ‘we never fight,’ which is true. We don’t yell or get into big, heated arguments, but that’s definitely not the only sign of problems in a relationship….and the line ‘tongues tied in the limestone’ specifically refers to how your whole romantic history, and even before that with your family and friends etc, can all contribute to an inability to be fully honest sometimes” – Kauf. Read more over at Insomniac Listen Here – Spotify has supported the release by adding it to their massive Chill Vibes playlist. If you’re a Spotify user, please save the track to a playlist to help boost its rank.
The album is finally all set for release on Oct. 13th! We are happy to announce that Kauf’s own label, One Half, has partnered with INgrooves for distribution and is looking forward to releasing other artists in the near future.
You can pre-order Regrowth and pre-save it on Spotify HERE!
500 limited copies of deluxe double vinyl with bonus remixes from Fort Romeau, Ambassadeurs and Thomaas Banks, 1000 limited CDs, and tees are available on Bandcamp – cover art by Kauf through a process of hand painting a sculpture he created. All merch includes a digital copy of the album.
Remixes of Limestone to come from Baile and Thomaas Banks of Psychemagik as a follow up to his otherworldly remix of Relocate. Thank you all for your patience and support as we finalized everything for this release. We are very excited to share so much new material!
‘A Man In The Sand’ single released today
New album ‘Naturality‘, released October 6th, 2017
Performing intimate shows this week
Announced on national ‘Gizzfest’ tour Nov-Dec
Photo by Jamie Wdziekonski
Geelong’s finest proto-metal band ORB have released the latest single and video clipfrom their upcoming record ‘Naturality’ out October 6th, 2017 on Flightless Records.
‘A Man In The Sand’ is accompanied by an absolutely stunning clip created by Alex McLaren and starring ORB lead singer Zak Olsen with various stop-motion paper cut outs. WATCH NOW.
ORB are playing some very special intimate shows over the next few weeks to road test new material before they perform on the national Gizzfest run in November-December.
Old Bar, Melbourne: Saturday September 9th
With School Damage & Living Eyes
Freda’s, Sydney: Wednesday September 13th
With Natalie de Silver
Freda’s, Sydney: Thursday September 14th
With GodK
Bar Open, Melbourne: Friday September 15
With Planet Slayer & Girlatones
All shows are $10 on the door only.
PRESS RELEASE #1
ORB have respawned from last year’s Birth with a further mutated slab of paranoid heavy metal, ‘Naturality’, out 6 October, 2017 on Flightless Records (AUS) & Castle Face Records (USA). They bring the dread with a kinetic muscularity and a pleasantly evolving synthetic strangeness, as if having eaten the wrong part of the garden, familiar things start to seem less so. The effects of these spores on your modern brain, already clogged with a steady drip of zips and zooms, are freshly heard and confusing. ORB are young and fleet-fingered, and certainly know their way around a riff, but they bring everything into an almost alien clarity both blunted and futuristic. ORB, you see, have ripened quite radically, and Naturality finds them sprouting new appendages and clawing at their enclosures. This is potent stuff, be careful. Listen to the first single, “You Are Right” now. Pre-order Naturalityhere.
The Moonlandingz started as a bit of a joke between Sean Lennon and members of Fat White Family when then created a fictional band. That band got so much hype that art turned into reality and the Moonlandingz released Expanded in 2015.
The EP starts with the instrumental “Exorcise Your Mammary Eyes,” which I think is code for “Stop staring at my tits.” A Sean Lennon “de-mix” of “Sweet Saturn Mine” (one of the Moonlandingz biggest hits so far) is next, and the slowing of what is normally a fast, brash tune only highlights the creepiness of the lyrics (which are mostly about having sex while you’re high). “Lay Yer Head Down on the Road” is almost a carnival midway song about getting high to escape reality, even though such an action might be a bad idea.
“Blow Football with J. Carpenter” sounds like something John Carpenter would brew up on his home synthesizers. It’s creepy and futuristic at the same time. “Psych Ersatz” is equally strange, mixing images of spooky things in the shadows with psychedelic loops, beats, and echoed vocals.
The EP ends with “The Man in the Lyfe Suite – Parts 1, 2, and 3.” It’s a wild trip full of fuzzed out guitars, frantic vocals, and rollercoaster beats and loops.
Expanded was a nice appetizer for their full-length follow-up, Interplanetary Class Classics (one of my favorite albums of 2017 so far). Both are well worth your time.
As the story goes, Dion Lunadon, known to many as the bass player and co-mastermind of A Place to Bury Strangers, was feeling restless during a break in APTBS’ tour schedule. So, he poured that restless energy into his first solo album and gave the world a frantic, wild piece of noise-punk that has some fun surprises in it.
The album’s opener is a raging piece against something we all have to deal with – “Insurance, Rent, and Taxes.” The song flattens you with squelching sound and Robi Gonzalez (who used to play for APTBS). Lundaon sings, “Much too young to get any older.” on the swinging “Reduction Agent.” Lunadon reveals his love of dirty juke joint blues in the track in both the rhythm and lyrics (“I’ve got the mark of death. It won’t leave me alone.”). The organ and bass on “Fire” burns as hot as its namesake, building to a crazy blender-like frenzy. “Com / Broke” is your new favorite song for trying to beat rush hour traffic. Just be careful, as Lunadon’s lyrics do involve car crashes, fires, and self-destruction.
“Hanging By a Thread” is a post-punk (and nearly instrumental) surprise with guitars that sound like industrial saws. The industrial grind continues on “Move,” and Lunadon’s vocals sounds like the Borg has assimilated him. The drums blast the doors off the song around the 1:30 mark and you’re holding on for dear life by that point.
“Eliminator” is fierce noise-punk, and “Howl” is about Lunadon’s joy in expressing himself in the spotlight. It’s like something Lou Reed blasted out of his speakers when getting ideas for Metal Machine Music.
Believe it or not, “Ripper” is a psychobilly cut and Lunadon and crew have a blast on it. I couldn’t help but grin through the whole track. “White Fence,” on the other hand, is more fine post-punk with weirdly angled guitars and desperate vocal stylings. The closer, “No Control,” brings Lunadon’s album back into weird psychedelia before a quick, distorted fade out leaves you gasping for breath.
This debut solo record is quite a statement. It’s powerful, brash, and even fun. More debuts need to be this self-assured.
Keep your mind open.
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The second page of liner notes for Neko Case’s brilliant album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood have her name above the words “DANGEROUS TO MAN: WILD ANIMALS – A Definitive Study of Their Reputed Dangers to Man.” Ms. Case’s lyrics are often brutal in their honesty and her voice can both soothe and cut to the bone. She’s like a panther – lounging in the sun one moment, and then tearing out the throat of an antelope the other.
The album begins with “Margaret Vs. Pauline,” a tale of two girls. One, Pauline, has it made. “Everything is easy for Pauline,” Case sings. Margaret, however, has to scrap for all she can. Case has written an anthem for girls everywhere to never forget their strength. “Star Witness,” with its simple yet slick drumbeats by John Convertino, is a stunning display of Case’s vocal prowess.
“Hold On Hold On,” with the Sadies on backing vocals, is another plea from Case to stay strong in tough times, especially in matters of love. “I leave the party at three a.m., alone, thank God,” she sings at one point. It’s a haunting lyric, especially when the echoing song “A Widow’s Toast” follows it. It’s nothing but Case’s vocals and guitar, Paul Rigby’s guitar effects, and reverbed beauty.
The liner note art for “That Teenage Feeling” is a jackknifing semi-trailer with a transmission shaft shattering from the force. That, and the shuffling guitar (by Dexter Romweber, no less) backing Case’s voice, is a perfect expression of teenage emotions. The title track is about the beauty of things all around us that we don’t notice until they are gone. “John Saw That Number” is a great floor stomper spiritual with sizzling guitar by Dallas Good.
“Dirty Knife” is an ode to a murdered man and the type of song that Case does so well – a tale of death, love, violence, and rural landscapes. “Lion’s Jaws” belongs in David Lynch’s next Twin Peaks reboot. Dallas and Travis Good team up for lovely guitar work, and Kelly Hogan is listed as contributing “lovely backing vocal” to the track (which is true). “Maybe Sparrow” is one of Case’s greatest hits, and it’s easy to hear why as her voice peaks multiple times during the second verse. “At Last” is nothing but Case’s voice and three guitars, and “The Needle Has Landed” is beautiful power pop tinged with outlaw country.
Case is dangerous because her vocals and lyrics are like a hardwood staff. You can lean on them to get you through a rough patch or they can hit you in the ribs like a ball bat and bring you to your knees. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood is no exception.
Keep your mind open.
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Toronto, Ontario’s Paramusic(68 Dundas Street East) is a nice wrecka stow gem just down the street from a huge shopping center and wroth the stroll from the tourist trap mall to score some fine vinyl, DVDs, and CDs. They pack a lot of stuff into a small space. I mean, you walk in and see this.
The number of Blu-Ray DVDs there is impressive for the size of the place. The CDs are stacked seeming in every corner, and there is vinyl everywhere else. Hardcore record collectors came and went while I was there. One of them was such a frequent customer that he showed up to invite the store’s owner to his wedding.
The loft section had even more sweet vinyl and CDs in it.
A word of warning – The stairs are narrower than you think. I nearly down them coming back to the main floor. I walked out with CDs by the Besnard Lakes and Friendly Fires. I had grabbed a mix CD by Dmitri from Paris, but unfortunately someone had removed the bin label number sticker from it. The owner couldn’t find the disc because he had no idea where to begin looking for it.
Again, don’t miss this store if you’re in the neighborhood. The sight of so many regulars showing up is a good sign for rare finds and good deals.
MELKBELLY ANNOUNCE MORE TOUR DATES, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR THE BREEDERS & BULLY, IN SUPPORT OF DEBUT ALBUM, NOTHING VALLEY, OUT OCTOBER 13TH ON CARPARK’S WAX NINE
(photo credit – Lenny Gilmore )
Chicago’s Melkbelly are set to release their debut full-length album, Nothing Valley, on Oct. 13thon Carpark Records’ imprint Wax Nine. Next week, the four-piece — Miranda Winters (vocals/guitar), brothersBart (guitar) and Liam Winters (bass), and James Wetzel (drums) — hit the road for a run of pre-release shows supporting Protomartyr. Today, they are announcing more headline shows, plus support tours with The Breeders and Bully. All dates are below.
Emerging from Chicago’s DIY spaces, Melkbelly recorded Nothing Valley fresh off a west coast tour. The resulting debut album is organized noise and thoughtful freneticism. Throughout, they fuse dreamy vocal lines and cantankerous guitar racket as their songs clang and bang in stripped-down production that highlights the band’s sharp edges. Multi-faceted slabs of sound serve harmonious, immediate songs.
Watch Melkbelly’s “Middle Of” Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdLUXUsBoQY “Kid Kreative” Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJoRmdYTo0Pre-order Nothing Valley:
Via Wax Nine – smarturl.it/nothingvalley_wax9
iTunes – smarturl.it/nothingvalley_itunes
Apple Music – smarturl.it/nothingvalley_appleMelkbelly Tour Dates: (new shows in bold) Wed. Sep 6 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo # Thu. Sep. 7 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery # Fri. Sep 8 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Festival Sat. Sep. 9 – Asheville, NC @ Mothlight # Sun. Sep. 10 – Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Yacht Club # Fri. Oct. 13 – Chicago, IL @ The Hideout (Record Release Show) Mon. Oct. 16 – Bloomington, IN @ Bishop Bar + Tue. Oct. 17 – Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness Wed. Oct. 18 – Washington DC @ Comet Ping Pong Fri. Oct. 20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville Tue. Oct 24 – Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class Wed. Nov. 08 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom ^ — SOLD OUT Thu. Nov. 09 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox ^ Sun. Nov. 12 – San Francisco, CA @ the Independent ^ — SOLD OUT Mon. Nov. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater ^ — SOLD OUT Tue. Nov. 14 – Phoenix, AZ @ LBX Thu. Nov. 16 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge Fri. Feb. 16 – Norman, OK @ Opolis * Sat. Feb. 17 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf * Sat. Feb. 24 – Eugene, OR @ Hi Fi Music Hall * Mon. Feb. 26 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret * Thu. March 1 – Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett * Fri. March 2 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux * Sat. March 3 – Salt Lake City @ Kilby Court * Tue. March 6 – Kansas City @ The Record Bar *
# = with Protomartyr
+ = with Snail Mail
^ = with the Breeders
* = with Bully
File this under: Best News You’ve Heard Today. Austin, Texas’ annual Levitation Festival returns April 26-29, 2018.
