Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 125
April 2, 2025
Joe Boyd Releases Paperback Edition Of New Book And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music (ZE Books)
Remaining US Tour Dates Include Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, NYC, and Toronto
Audiobook, Narrated by Boyd, Now Available
April 1, 2025 - Today, ZE Books and legendary producer, author, and raconteur Joe Boyd celebrate the release of the first paperback edition of Boyd’s celebrated new book And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music. A staggering literary achievement that has been praised by critics and fans alike, the paperback edition follows two sold-out hardcover printings since the book’s September release.
Boyd is currently on a North American tour, with notable events including in-person presentations in the Hudson Valley, Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Toronto, and NYC. Last week, Boyd appeared as a guest resident at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN, where he presented a specially created audio-visual event celebrating the music and artists in his new book and also introduced an exciting selection of films including his own productions (Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace and Jimi Hendrix) and films linked to the book. Boyd was also joined by journalist and author Ann Powers for an on-stage Q+A.
This past fall, Boyd held book events across the U.S., including sold-out conversations with David Byrne and Joshua Jelly-Shapiro in NYC, Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads/Modern Lovers) in San Francisco, author Joe Nick Patoski in San Marcos, and Buddy Miller at Americanafest in Nashville. Boyd also celebrated the book’s UK release on stage with Brian Eno at Foyle’s in London.
A sweeping history celebrating the impact of the world’s musical traditions on Western popular culture, And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain has been internationally praised, and featured on numerous ‘Best of 2024’ lists. MOJO Magazine acclaimed it as “The War and Peace of World Music” in a 5/5 star review, while the Wall St Journal lauded Boyd’s “appreciation of…deep truths and telling ironies” in a positive review, and The Guardian found Boyd’s “epic account of global music’s cross-pollination … an inspiring tale of seduction, expression and freedom from oppression”. In addition, PBS NewsHour aired a primetime interview on the book and Boyd’s long career. Boyd also shared a special excerpt from the book with Vanity Fair in advance of publication and has recently discussed the book on WTF w/ Marc Maron, NPR’s Here & Now, The Bob Lefsetz Podcast, Conversations With Tyler, and PRX’s The World, with additional interviews in the Washington Post, Aquarium Drunkard, the Record Store Day podcast, and many more.
Known to many as the legendary producer behind notable recordings from Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, R.E.M., Maria Muldaur, Toots and the Maytals, Fairport Convention, and many more, as well as the founder of London’s iconic UFO Club, Joe Boyd’s acclaimed memoir White Bicycles: Making Music In The 1960s was praised by the New York Times as “an irresistible tale” and chosen by Elton Johnas his favorite book about music.
April 1, 2025
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Announce New Single Out April 25th / Extensive North American Tour This Fall
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ‘MAKES ME GREAT / OUT OF BODY’ ON 10” VINYL OUT APRIL 25TH ON A RECORDINGS
RETURNING TO NORTH AMERICA THIS FALL FOR EXTENSIVE RUN OF LIVE SHOWS
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Photo: Joe Eley
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE announce a new single, 'Makes Me Great / Out Of Body', on red transparent 10” vinyl, released April 25th via Anton Newcombe’s record label A Recordings. Pre-save here. Following a hugely successful UK and Europe tour earlier this year, the band will return to North America this fall for an extensive run of live shows, including two dates with special guests, Cast, making their first US appearance in nearly 30 years. Tickets on sale now.
It is over 30 years since Anton Newcombe – frontman, songwriter, composer, studio owner, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, father, force of nature – and his band The Brian Jonestown Massacre released their first single She Made Me / Evergreen. Released in 1992, as the British music press descended on the US to anoint the next US guitar band as flavour of the month and major labels were on the hunt for the compliant hopefuls to be their latest quick fix, Anton Newcombe had an idea: say no. As leader of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Newcombe had already established himself as a visionary songwriter, a man to whom making music wasn’t a lifestyle choice or a hipster haircut but the very fabric of existence itself, and he had observed in silent horror as his peers meekly acquiesced to everything – yes to contracts, yes to management, yes to suggestions, yes to this, yes to that, yes, yes, yes. But he was different. Anton Newcombe was going to say no to everything. “I just knew I would be more successful in a certain way by saying no, just being contrary because I figured that if people liked me they were gonna like me anyway,” he says. “Or dislike me. It doesn’t matter.”
Much of this was documented on the controversial documentary ‘Dig!’, which is still hailed as one of the best rock documentaries ever made, and celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year with the remastered, expanded version “Dig! XX.”
Brian Jonestown Massacre’s shoegazing-tinged debut album Methodrone was released in 1995 and since then numerous band members have joined Newcombe on his sonic escapades, but he has remained the sole constant, the creative mastermind at the centre of one of music’s most fascinating bands. There have been a further 20 albums under the Brian Jonestown Massacre moniker since then, each embarking on their own mind-expanding adventure and exploring the outer realms of rock’n’roll; psychedelic rock, country-blues, snarling rock’n’roll, blissed-out noise-pop and more.
Along the way, Newcombe has established himself as a once-in-a-lifetime talent who saw the direction in which mainstream indie-rock was heading and opted to take the long way round. He’s emerged as a revolutionary force in modern music, an underground hero. There was no other way, this was how it had to be. “My only option with everything in life has always been that you just jump into the fire,” he declared. “It doesn’t matter what it is.”
It's with that spirit that he’s hopped around the globe, from the West Coast to New York, from Manhattan to Iceland, and then to Berlin, where he’s lived for 15 years and has two flats, one to live in and one that’s been converted into his studio.
After a hugely prolific 2010s that saw the release of eight long-players and one mini-album, Newcombe had been going through a period of writer’s block when one day he picked up his 12-string guitar and The Real (the opening track on previous album Fire Doesn’t Grow on Trees) came out of him. Like the kraken, it was as if he’d summoned it. “All of a sudden, I just heard something,” he says. “And then it just didn’t stop. We tracked a whole song every single day for 70 days in a row.” By the end of it they had 2 albums ready to go. Joining Newcombe in the studio for The Future Is Your Past were Hakon Adalsteinsson (guitar) and Uri Rennert (drums).
Brian Jonestown Massacre released their 20th full-length studio album The Future Is Your Past, in February 2023 on Anton’s record label, A Recordings. In 2022 / 2023, they completed a massive world tour that saw them play 34 dates in North America, 25 dates across Europe and 16 dates in the UK. Towards the end of 2024, they released ‘Don’t Look At Me’ ft. Aimee Nash. It is a delicious slice of hypnotic shoegaze with Nash lyrically casting a spell with the mantra “Do No Harm.”
There is no such thing as a defining statement in Anton Newcombe’s world anymore, just more chapters that contribute to the tale. “Nobody can stop me, I’m not asking somebody, I’m not making the rounds at Warners, saying ‘please put out my record!’. It’s just for me,” he says. He hopes he can be an inspiration to others. “I would love to see more groups, people playing music in the UK and everywhere else because I really enjoy it. That’s the only reason I need. It’s the only reason to do stuff.” That hits to the core of what makes Anton Newcombe and Brian Jonestown Massacre tick. He’ll keep jumping in that fire. That’s how he rolls. Savor it.
LIVE SHOWS:
Sept. 3 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Sept. 4 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
Sept. 5 – Basement East – Nashville, TN
Sept. 6 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
Sept. 8 – 9:30 Club – Washington, D.C.
Sept. 9 – Webster Hall – New York, NY - with special guests, Cast
Sept. 10 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA - with special guests, Cast
Sept. 12 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA
Sept. 13 – Beanfield Theatre – Montreal, QC
Sept. 14 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
Sept. 16 – Globe Iron – Cleveland, OH
Sept. 17 – Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI
Sept. 18 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY
Sept. 19 – Hi-Fi Annex – Indianapolis, IN
Sept. 20 – Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI
Sept. 22 – Metro – Chicago, IL
Sept. 23 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE
Sept. 24 – recordBar – Kansas City, MO
Sept. 26 – Studio at The Factory – Dallas, TX
Sept. 28 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
Oct. 31 – Music Box – San Diego, CA
Nov. 1 – Pappy and Harriet’s – Pioneertown, CA
Nov. 2 – Observatory OC – Santa Ana, CA
Nov. 4 – SLO Brew – San Luis Obispo, CA
Nov. 6 – Swan Dive – Las Vegas, NV
Nov. 7 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 8 – Tumbleroot – Santa Fe, NM
Nov. 10 – Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO
Nov. 11 – Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO
Nov. 13 – Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
Nov. 14 – Shrine Social Club – Boise, ID
Nov. 15 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
Nov. 16 – The Pearl – Vancouver, B.C
Nov. 18 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
Nov. 20 – Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 21 – Rio Theatre – Santa Cruz, CA
Nov. 22 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 23 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA
TICKETS
Single artwork by Francis Delacroix
PRESS FROM THE BJM’S JAN / FEB UK TOUR
"Brian Jonestown Massacre have a cult following big enough to warrant the publication of an acclaimed memoir by percussionist Joel Gion and big enough that this large UK tour includes a date at Brixton Academy… Newcombe is really adept at coming up with melodies and guitar figures that sound immediately familiar, as if you know them already from a song you can’t quite place – a genuine skill." - Guardian
"The San Francisco band’s story is one of defiance, survival and surprise…surprise that they’re not only still here, but are seemingly bigger than ever… There’s something gloriously anachronistic about their look and sound, but also something timeless. Newcombe wears his influences on his sleeve, and the melange of The Byrds’ metallic jangle, the shoegaze of Ride and a Stones-esque swagger has given the band the feeling of always being out of time, but never out of fashion." - Louder Than War
“The Brian Jonestown’s ability to create an immersive live experience remains unparalleled and this Brixton gig was a masterclass in psychedelia, intensity, and raw musical craftsmanship.” - Music News
"A night of hypnotic grooves, kaleidoscopic guitars, and the kind of immersive psychedelia that only they can provide… The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s live show is not just a performance - it’s an experience. At the O2 Institute Birmingham, they proved once again why they remain one of the most compelling acts in modern psychedelic rock. Newcombe’s vision, combined with the band’s tight musicianship, created a night of sonic transcendence that few in attendance will soon forget." - RockShot
"I’ve never seen this band so tight before, so hyper focused on one goal, to take this crowd away from the world and into the galaxy." - Northern Exposure
“A spiritual experience.” - Essentially Pop
"One of the most unpredictable and brilliant bands of our time. Despite their underground status, the band’s influence on music is undeniable, they defy expectations and remain a vital and uncompromising force in modern music. It’s also been a reminder that, for all their psychedelic flourishes, The Brian Jonestown Massacre are a damn fine rock and roll band at heart." - All Music
"For longtime fans, this was a revelation. For newcomers, it was an entry point into one of the most enigmatic live bands in modern psychedelia. Either way, it was a night that will linger in the minds of those who witnessed it—a reminder that when the Brian Jonestown Massacre are locked in, there are few who can match their magic." - 5/5 - The Modern Record
“This is a band who are enjoying their craft and is truly authentic in their approach to rock ‘n’ roll. In a world filled with wannabees and try hards, The Brian Jonestown Massacre still prove to be one of the main driving forces in rock and psychedelic culture, forever etched into the history books as rock ‘n’ roll legends…” - Rockwell Unscene
"The Brian Jonestown Massacre delivered a night of immersive psychedelia that reminded us why they remain such a compelling force in live music.” - Glasgow Music
"Anton Newcombe lounges in his own brilliant, startling, divine genius and at the point where you want to shout something at him just to snap yourself out of his spell, in another masterful stroke he beats you to it and says, “look at this!” and blows your mind." - The Gryphon, Leeds Student
“The night ends to an exhilarating high. The final chords chime out, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre has shown that they can still create an immersive musical experience!” - Backseat Mafia
FOLLOW BJM:
Website / Instagram / Facebook
Anika Releases New Single/Video “Oxygen” & Announces Fall North American Tour
AnikaReleases New Single/Video “ Oxygen ”
&Announces Fall North American Tour
NewAlbum, Abyss ,Out Friday On Sacred Bones
Photoby Nastya Platinova
"AnnikaHenderson’s music has always exhibited a raw edge that placed herwithin the upper echelons of her post-punk peers.” — UPROXX
“Anika’svoice is as icy as ever..." —TheFADER
“Righteouslyhypnotic.” — Paste
Anika— the British-born, Berlin-based musician AnnikaHenderson —releases “Oxygen,”the final single/video from her new album, Abyss,out Fridayon SacredBones,and announces a North Americantourthis fall.
Followingthe 90s alt-rock-tinged “WalkAway,”“Oxygen” gasps for air as we experience increased limits imposedon our bodies, be it reproductive freedoms or restrictions on transrights. In Anika’s words, “Oxygen” “is about feeling trappedin your own body, in your own narrative, in your own society, withinthe norms and expected behaviours of this claustrophobic sociallyconstructed world. It wants to break out of this cage, it wants tobreathe, it wants to be in tune with its true self, its truefeelings, sensations and desires - without restriction.”
Sonically,the track was “inspired by Breeders and Pixies, the way it creepsin slowly and then crashes with this weird chorus/part that onlycomes in once,” Anika explains. “I didn’t want to write thingstoo rigidly, or by the book, more let them flow as they wished.”The accompanying video was directed by LauraMartinova.
Pulsingwith a heavy guitar and rhythm section,Abyssis notably heavier than Anika’s previous releases. Born out of thefrustration,anger, and confusion she feels from existing in our contemporaryworld, thealbum is raw, urgent, and fueled by strong emotions. Abysswas recorded live to tape at the legendary HansaStudios inBerlin (where the likes of Depeche Mode and David Bowie alsorecorded) in just a few days. Recording live and with minimaloverdubs was an important decision, Anika stresses, in order tocapture the raw immediacy of the album. As before, she wrote thesongs herself, before fleshing them out with MartinThulin of Exploded View,and then assembled a live band to join the pair in the studio –comprising of AndreaBelfion drums, TomasNochteff onbass (Mueran Humanos) and LawrenceGoodwin(The Pleasure Majenta) on guitar, with studio engineering done byNanniJohanssonand FridaClaeson Johansson.
Watch:
EU& UK Tour Dates:
Sun.Apr. 20 - Berlin, DE @ Volksbühne
Thu.Apr. 24 - Cologne, DE @ C/O Pop
Fri.Apr. 25 - Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix
Sun.Apr. 27 - Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
Mon.Apr. 28 - London, UK @ Omeara
Tue.Apr. 29 - Bristol, UK @ Strange Brew
Wed.Apr. 30 - Manchester, UK @ YES (Pink Room)
Thu.May 1 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Fri.May 2 - Belfast, UK @ Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
Sat.May 3 - Dublin, IE @ Whelans
Mon.May 5 - Brighton, UK @ DUST
Tue.May 6 - Paris, FR @ Gonzai Night @ Petit Bain
Wed.May 7 - Strasbourg, FR @ La Grenze
Thu.May 8 - Düdingen, CH @ Bad Bonn
Fri.May 9 - Zürich, CH @ Bogen F
Sat.May 10 - Frankfurt, DE @ Mousonturm
Thu.Aug. 7 - Hamburg, DE @ KampnagelSommerfest
Fri.Aug. 8 - Rees-Haldern, DE @ Haldern Pop Festival
Sat.Aug. 9 - Fahrenwalde, DE @ Detect Classic Festival
Sun.Aug. 31 - Salisbury, UK @ End of the Road Festival
U.S.& Canada Tour Dates:
Thu.Sept. 18 - San Diego, CA @ Whistle Stop *
Fri. Sept. 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex *
Sat.Sept. 20 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop *
Mon.Sept. 22 - Portland, OR @ Holocene *
Tue. Sept. 23 - Seattle, WA @ Vera Project *
Wed. Sept. 24 - Vancouver, BC @ Pearl *
Sat. Sept. 27 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle #
Sun.Sept. 28 - Detroit, MI @ Lager House #
Mon.Sept. 29 - Toronto, ON @ Dance Cave #
Tue.Sept. 30 - Montreal, QC @ Sala Rossa #
Wed.Oct. 1 - Boston, MA @ Sonia #
Thu.Oct. 2 - New York, NY @ (Le) Poisson Rouge #
Fri.Oct. 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie #
Sun.Oct. 5 - Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong #
Mon.Oct. 6 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
Wed.Oct. 8 - Atlanta, GA @ The EARL
Thu.Oct. 9 - New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
Fri.Oct. 10 - Memphis, TN @ B-Side
Sat.Oct. 11 - Dallas, TX @ Rubber Gloves
Sun.Oct. 12 - Austin, TX @ The Ballroom
*with Lauren Early
#with Avishag Cohen
AnikaOnline:
SALLY SHAPIRO share new single/video "Guarding Shell". Album 'Ready To Live A Lie' out May 30th via Italians Do It Better.
- Album 'Ready To Live A Lie' out May 30th via Italians Do It Better
Photo credit: Mika StjärnglinderSwedish italo disco / synthpop duo Sally Shapiro will release their new album Ready To Live A Lie on May 30th via Italians Do It Better and today are sharing their new single/video "Guarding Shell".
On the new single, the band said "'Guarding Shell' is a track in a super classic Sally Shapiro style. On at least one track per album, we feel it's nice to go back to our roots and our interpretation of italo disco, where it all started for us. Just because we love this style of music so much. The theme here is daring to trust someone after having been hurt. We asked music video editor Iris Beatrix to edit a music video out of a Japanese anime that we thought fit perfectly to the theme and feeling of the track."
"Guarding Shell" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cuSz9EJiKkE
"Guarding Shell" on other streaming services: https://idib.ffm.to/guardingshell
Made up of producer Johan Agebjörn and an anonymous female vocalist who uses the pseudonym Sally Shapiro; the duo are known for their dreamy, melancholic sound and nostalgic homage to 1980s Italo disco and gained international recognition with their debut album Disco Romance (2007), which was then followed by My Guilty Pleasure (2009), Somewhere Else (2013) and their debut for Italians Do It Better Sad Cities (2022).
The name "Sally Shapiro" has always referred to both the duo, as well as the enigmatic anonymous singer whose real name is something else. But "Sally" is also a third entity: the fictional character singing about her love stories. It's now been 18 years since Sally Shapiro's debut album Disco Romance, that took influences from italo disco and indie pop with a naive and youthful flavor, as if everything "Sally" did was to "walk in the moonshine thinking about my love affairs", as she once put it.
Ready To Live A Lie may, however, be the duo's darkest album yet. The lyrics have shifted from the euphoria of first love to exploring "Sally's" struggles in long-term relationships—love triangles, boredom, resentment, and the lingering sense of loneliness.
Ready To Live A Lie is out on Italians Do It Better on May 30th and includes the duo’s acclaimed Pet Shop Boys cover Rent.
Taking inspiration from synthwave, italo disco, nudisco, indie pop and bossanova, the album becomes their fifth studio album & their second for Italians Do It Better - again mixed together with label founder Johnny Jewel (Chromatics, Glass Candy, Desire).
Sally Shapiro's forthcoming album 'Ready To Live A Lie' is now available for preorder on vinyl 2LP (pink vinyl or transparent electric blue vinyl), CD and digital from their Bandcamp page.
Pre-order album: https://sallyshapiro.bandcamp.com/album/ready-to-live-a-lie
Pre-save album: https://idib.ffm.to/readytolivealie
Ready To Live A Lie artwork:
Ready To Live A Lie tracklist:
1. The Other Days (YouTube)
2. Hard To Love
3. Rent
4. Purple Colored Sky
5. Happier Somewhere Else
6. Guarding Shell
7. Hospital
8. Did You Call Tonight
9. Oh Carrie
10. He's Not You
11. Rain
Links:
DEATH IN VEGAS announce first album in 8 years + live dates
Photos - please credit Elaine KinAlbum pre-order
On June 6th the highly-established Death In Vegas return with new album ‘Death Mask’, where disintegration, overload and total sonic immersion tell a personal tale. With dirty circuitry and rough-hewn textures at the fore, this is gritty, unpolished techno; an audio outlier that’s full of personality, and a bold artistic statement. It’s closer in DNA to the grainy growl of sunn O))), or the searing intensity of Underground Resistance at their fiercest, and as far from generic influencer business as you could possibly get. Raw in both senses, as well as unbridled electrical grit, ‘Death Mask’ is raw emotionally too. From Death In Vegas’ mainstay Richard Fearless’ own birth in Chingola, Zambia, to his father’s funeral, and the solace of his partner, the album reflects on Fearless’ own life, loved ones, and grief. Seeped in heavy emotions and torrents of volts, the results are some of the most strikingly visceral and human electronic sounds you’ll hear. Multiple thematic channels are fed through Death in Vegas’ machines, with Fearless literally processing his feelings, working them through as a form of electronic primal therapy. More than just tattered gnarliness though, an unconventional beauty radiates through the noise. Like light refracting through a filthy, cracked stained-glass-window, icy IDM melancholy juxtaposes perfectly, with caustic rave power. Broader inspirations are weaved into the album’s fabric too; from his Thameside Metal Box studio and evocations of nautical ghosts, to lamentations for a broken world, to memories of a youthful Detroit pilgrimage, and the innocent fraternity of rave euphoia, there’s a lot going on, acting as a chronicle of moments, and locations. To the casual observer, with their mercurial catalogue, Death In Vegas might seem a hard act to pin down, but everything they’ve done is in fact grown from the same dirt. From the scuzzed-up beats of ‘Dead Elvis’, ‘The Contino Sessions’ narcotic rock n roll; the sleazegaze psych of ‘Scorpio Rising’; the krautwwerk klang of ‘Satans Circus’; the stroboscopic frazzlement of ‘Trans Love Energies’ and the gauzy throb of ‘Transmission’, each made its bed in the cosmic slop. This time round, when asked about his influences for ‘Death Mask’, Richard comments, “I’ve been soaking in Ramleh’s ‘Hole In the Heart’, the machine funk of Terrence Dixon’s Population One, Jamal Moss’ psychedelic techno jams, the stunning minimalism of Mika Vanio’s Ø and Panasonic, the layered drones of LOOP, and drowning in the acid of TM 404. Most centrally through, I’ve been inhaling the deepest dub, from Mark Ernestus’ distillations, to the principles of originators like King Tubby and Scientist. As someone who’s always been obsessed with the genre, I loved the idea of recording live takes as separate stems, then doing dub-inspired mixes of these stems through my console. Some of the gear I use has a tendency to take on a life of its own, for example the Effectron delay which Arthur Russell also used. It was feeding back on itself, and ended up sounding like a radio conversation – literally voices from within the machine. On the Echoplex, the tape has never been changed. It’s eroded by the hands of time. When you record over the tape, things bleed in from what was there before, like people from the past.” Live dates: 16/05/25 - Sat 17/05/25 - Deleste Festival, Valencia12/06/25 - Live Q&A, Rough Trade Dover St, London15/06/25 - Beyond the Pale Festival, Co. Wicklow21/06/25 - EartH Theatre, London25/06/25 - Le Trabendo, Paris26/06/25 - Le Bikini, Toulouse27/06/25 - TBA, Nîmes Biog: Richard Fearless began as resident DJ at the Job Club in London’s Soho during the 90s, where he’d play alongside Claude Young, Derrick May, Dave Angel and Andrew Weatherall. After a few years he was picked as a resident for the legendary Heavenly Social, alongside the Chemical Brothers. It was during this time that he started Death in Vegas. Across the six Death In Vegas albums, guest vocalists have included Dot Allison, Bobby Gillespie, Iggy Pop, Jim Reid from The Jesus and Mary Chain and Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval. ‘The Contino Sessions’ was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and its single ‘Aisha’ was a top 10 hit in the UK. The title track from the album ‘Scorpio Rising’ reached 14 in the UK charts. Death In Vegas performed their much-loved single ‘Dirge’ on Jools Holland in 2000, then a quarter century later, in testament to its enduring appeal, the track was sampled by Celeste on her recent single ‘Everyday’. Their music has featured in many TV programmes and films, most notably Sofia Coppola's ‘Lost in Translation’, ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’, and ‘The Animatrix’. Gigs played include Atonal Berlin, Movement in Detroit, Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Coachella, Brixton Academy, Fabric, Fuji Rock, Primavera Sound and Manchester Academy. ‘Death Mask’ track list: 1. Chingola2. Lovers3. While My Machines Gently Weep4. Hazel5. Roseville6. Róisín Dub(H)7. Robin's Ghost8. Your Love9. Death Mask
The Pogues Announce First U.S. And Canadian Dates In Thirteen Years
The Pogues Announce First U.S. And Canadian Dates In Thirteen YearsSpecial Guest Vocalists And Musicians Join Headline Tour September 2025Celebrating 40 Years Of Iconic Album Rum Sodomy & The LashOriginal Pogues Members Jem Finer, Spider Stacy & James Fearnleywill be joined by Daragh Lynch, Iona Zajac, John Francis Flynn, Lisa O’Neill, Nadine ShahPlus Musicians James Walbourne, Holly Mullineaux, Jordan O’Leary, Fiachra Meek, Jim Sclavunos, Pete Fraser, Daniel Hayes and Ian Williamson April 1, 2025 - New York, NY: The Pogues announce their first U.S. and Canadian dates in thirteen years, including a festival stop in Boston (Seísun Festival.) The tour will include guest vocalists and musicians celebrating forty years of the album Rum Sodomy & The Lash. Full dates below. Tickets on sale Friday April 4. More info at: http://www.pogues.com/
"To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of our second LP, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, a veritable Super Session of musicians, a Last Waltz if you will - including the Pogues themselves, members of bands that have come after, such as Lankum, featuring such incomparable artists as Lisa O'Neill and John Francis Flynn, not to mention from the Bad Seeds - will gather to rekindle the music on the record with a new fire. We're looking forward not just to raising a glass or two but also to raising the roof with our fans and friends, old and new, to celebrate the music we've made and the alliances we've formed over the years." - James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Spider Stacy.
Legendary and lauded vocalists Daragh Lynch, Iona Zajac, John Francis Flynn, Lisa O’Neill and Nadine Shah join original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Spider Stacy along with special guest musicians Holly Mullineaux (bass), Jordan O’Leary (banjo), Fiachra Meek (pipes/whistles - Alfi), Jim Sclavunos (drums - The Bad Seeds) James Walbourne, (guitarist, - Pretenders) plus brass section Pete Fraser, Daniel Hayes and Ian Williamson. Daragh Lynch, Iona Zajac and John Francis Flynn will also take up guitar, harp and multiple instruments respectively during the show. You never know who else might join the stage along the way...
Released in 1985,
Rum Sodomy & the Lash
is a cornerstone of punk and alternative rock, renowned for its raw energy, poetic lyrics, and infectious melodies. The band are set to play the legendary album in full, including b-sides, extended version tracks plus a special selection of their most beloved material. Album highlights include iconic songs like 'Rainy Night in Soho,' 'A Pair of Brown Eyes' and 'Dirty Old Town.' Ranked among Rolling Stone’s Best 500 Albums of All Time and featured in such tastemaker books as 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die; Rum Sodomy & the Lash is a certified classic which has influenced countless artists globally and continues to impact listeners forty years on. Watch The Pogues 'Dirty Old Town' on YouTube:
Live Dates: (More TBA)September 5 - Washington DC - Lincoln TheaterSeptember 7 - Boston, MA - Seisíun Festival September 8 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music HallSeptember 10 - Toronto, ON - HistorySeptember 12 - Montreal, QC - MTelusSeptember 16 - New York, NY - Terminal 5September 17 - New York, NY - Terminal 5Touring PartyJem FinerSpider StacyJames Fearnley Holly Mullineaux (Bass)Darragh Lynch (Guitar - Lankum)Jordan O’Leary (Banjo)Fiachra Meek (Pipes/Whistles - Alfi)Jim Sclavunos (Drums - The Bad Seeds)Iona Zajac (Vocals - Harp)John Francis Flynn (Vocalist, Multi-instrumentalist)Lisa O’Neill (Vocals)Nadine Shah (Vocals)James Walbourne (Guitar, Vocals, - Pretenders)
Brass SectionPete FraserDaniel HayesIan Williamson
Photo credit: Holly WhitakerSite: http://www.pogues.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Poguetry/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepoguesofficial/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoguesOfficialTwitter: https://x.com/poguesofficialSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wzMOQwNT6ZvVB4amvhFAH
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM + PULP Live at the Hollywood Bowl September 25 & 26
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM + PULP
Live at the Hollywood Bowl
September 25 & 26
General On Sale Friday, April 4 at 10am PT
Pre-Sales and Additional Information at
https://events.seated.com/lcd-pulp-hollywood-bowl
Brooklyn and Sheffield will meet in Los Angeles this fall, when LCD Soundsystem and Pulp come together for a historic two-night engagement at the Hollywood Bowl. The shows, which take place September 25 and 26, are the only confirmed dates to feature this iconic double bill.
Tickets for LCD Soundsystem and Pulp at the Hollywood Bowl will go on sale to the general public beginning April 4 at 10am PT. Register now at https://events.seated.com/lcd-pulp-hollywood-bowl for first access to tickets before artist presale goes live from Wednesday, April 2 at 10am PT through Thursday, April 3 at 10am PT. Additional presale opportunities will begin Thursday, April 1.
Amex Presale Tickets™ for LCD Soundsystem and Pulp’s Hollywood Bowl shows in Los Angeles on September 25 and 26 will be available to American Express Card Members for purchase HERE from Tuesday, April 1 at 10 am PT through Thursday, April 3 at 10 pm PT, before the general on-sale, while supplies last. Terms apply. This is one of the many entertainment benefits American Express Card Members can access across the arts, theater, sports, and music through Amex Experiences™.LCD Soundsystem kicked off 2025 with the announcement of 10 new shows in five North American cities. Following a March 7 appearance at the M3F Music Festival, the new LCD U.S. headline dates began March 8 at San Diego’s Gallagher Square at Petco Park, and will resume April 22-24 at Emo’s in Austin, April 26-27 at The Factory in Deep Ellum in Dallas, April 30-May 1 at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, and May 3-4 at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta.
LCD Soundsystem is James Murphy, Pat Mahoney, Nancy Whang, Al Doyle, Tyler Pope, Korey Richey, Nick Millhiser and Abby Echeverri.
Pulp started off the year announcing a UK and Ireland arena tour which kicks off June 7 at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro and includes two nights back-to-back at The O2 in London, culminating with a show at Manchester’s Co-op Live. The tour follows the band’s previously announced Sheffield homecoming which will see them headline a bill they handpicked at the city’s Tramlines Festival on July 25.
Pulp is Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Nick Banks and Mark Webber with Emma Smith, Andrew McKinney, Adam Betts, Jason Buckle and Richard Jones.
LCD Soundsystem
North American Tour 2025
* New dates in BOLD
April 22 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 23 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 24 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 26 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
April 27 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
April 30 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
May 1 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
May 3 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
May 4 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
September 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl * with PULP
September 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl * with PULP
Skrillex surprise album out now
SKRILLEX RELEASES NEW ALBUM F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3
FEATURING BOYS NOIZE, DYLAN BRADY, EUROHEAD, VIRTUAL RIOT, VARG2™, STARRAH, SWEDM®, WUKI AND MORE
LISTEN TO THE NEW ALBUM HERE
credit: NAKEESHA
Skrillex has officially released his heavily anticipated album F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3 on OWSLA/Atlantic Records. This monumental release marks his final project with the label, capping off a 15-year run during which Skrillex emerged as one of the most innovative and enigmatic figures in electronic and pop music—winning multiple Grammy Awards and selling out arenas and festivals worldwide.
The new album follows a historic ULTRA Music Festival performance on Saturday, where Skrillex made his return to the festival’s Main Stage for the first time in 10 years. During the electrifying set, he played a wide range of fan favorites and teased previously unreleased tracks from the new record, accompanied by surprise guest appearances from Flowdan, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Young Niko, and NAISHA.
In signature Skrillex fashion, he announced the album just one day before its release on Instagram. Fans in Miami received an early preview at an intimate listening event held yesterday at Ice Palace Studios, announced via a surprise RSVP link shared on X. The event offered attendees an exclusive first listen ahead of today’s official release. In a move that exemplifies his unpredictable and fan-centric approach, Skrillex then leaked the album himself 14 hours before its official release by emailing it as a Dropbox audio file to everyone on his mailing list. The Dropbox comment section quickly turned into an impromptu listening party with fans reacting to the tracks in real-time.
F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3 blends Skrillex’s signature bass-heavy sound with deeper nods to dance culture, featuring collaborations with electronic music trailblazers like Dylan Brady, Eurohead, Varg2™, and Wuki, as well as frequent collaborators including Starrah, Boys Noize, and more.
Listen to Skrillex’s new album F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3 here.
Credit: Marilyn Hue
F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3 TRACKLIST
1.SKRILLEX IS DEAD
2.Skrillex & Hawaii Slim - SPITFIRE
3.Skrillex, Virtual Riot & Nakeesha - WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING VIP
4.SLICKMAN
5.Skrillex, Sleepnet & Joker - TEARS LOST DROP
6.THINGS I PROMISED
7.Skrillex & Space Laces - RECOVERY
8.ANDY
9.SQUISHY CLIP
10.Skrillex & Jónsi - LOOK AT YOU
11. Skrillex & Naisha - GULAB XX
12.Skrillex, Zacari, Starrah & Ilykimchi - MOMENTUM
13.Skrillex & Team EZY - ANIMALS BEAT
14.Skrillex, Virtual Riot & Nakeesha - MIRCHI TEST
15.HOLD ON
16.Skrillex, swedm® & LOAM - SEE YOU AGAIN VIP
17. MORJA KAIJU VIP
18. Skrillex, bgirl, PARISI, Varg2™, Whitearmor, Eurohead & jamesjamesjames - KORABU
19. REDLINE DASH
20. Skrillex, Boys Noize & Dylan Brady - ZEET NOIZE
21. Skrillex & Dylan Brady - BOOSTER
22. FRICKY VIP
23. Skrillex & LH4L - ULTRA INTRO
24. JUNGUNDRA
25. Skrillex & G Jones - DRUIDS
26. Skrillex & Wuki - BIGGY BAP
27. Skrillex, NJOMZA & swedm® - SAY GOODBYE
28. MOSQUITOTOUILLE
29. Skrillex & swedm® - BABY ROYAL
30. Skrillex, swedm® & Badriia - G2G
31. Skrillex & Majestic - DNB TING
32. SAN DIEGO VIP
33. VOLTAGE
34. Skrillex & swedm® - AZASU
Laibach Share New Track || New Original Symphonic Work 'Alamut' Out 5/9 On Mute
IRANIAN COMPOSERS AND PERFORMERS, IS INSPIRED BY
THE 11TH CENTURY PERSIAN TALE, ALAMUT
Photo credit: Nika Hölcl
Today Laibach have shared the latest track from their forthcoming album, Alamut, out on double vinyl, double CD box set (both with extensive sleeve notes) and digitally via Mute on May 9, 2025. The new album, presented in partnership with A/POLITICAL, is composed in collaboration with Iranian composers Idin Samimi Mofakham, and Nima A. Rowshan.
Opening with AccordiOna, a 60-piece accordion orchestra, “War”’ is the sixth movement in the Slovenian collective’s innovative symphonic work. Listen / watch the live performance of the piece, conducted by Navid Gohari HERE.
Pre-order Alamut HERE.
Alamut takes inspiration from the 1938 book of the same name, a retelling of a story from eleventh century Persia by Slovenian writer Vladimir Bartol. The book, about martyrdom and the Cult of Personalities, went on to inspire the video game series Assassin’s Creed, as well as artists such as Umberto Eco, Hawkwind and William S. Burroughs (who referenced the work in Naked Lunch, Nova Express, and The Red Night Trilogy).
In Laibach’s 9-track retelling of Alamut, these ideas of radical nihilism are interwoven with the classical Persian poetry of Omar Khayyam, while the sensual verses of Mahsati Ganjavi blend with minimalist orchestral colors derived from the Iranian tradition. Hassan-i Sabbāh’s propaganda mechanisms echo in the industrial principle of the workings of the orchestra and Laibach’s unique sound.
The album was recorded at the concert in Križanke Outdoor Theatre, Monastery of the Holy Cross, Ljubljana, by Laibach and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the Iranian conductor Navid Gohari. Laibach’s firm belief that “cultural and political differences in these complex times must be overcome through a profoundly open cooperation, against all odds” meant that the production was expected to premiere in Tehran, but the current political climate has so far prohibited this. Instead, they invited the Human-Voice Ensemble vocal group from Tehran, who worked alongside two Slovenian ensembles: the Gallina Vocal Group, and AccordiOna, a 60-piece accordion orchestra.
Alamut was composed by Luka Jamnik (Laibach), Idin Samimi Mofakham, and Nima A. Rowshan.
Laibach will open an Alamut related exhibition at the Cukrarna Gallery, Ljubljana on April 23rd. The UNTERNEHMEN BARBAROSSA project intertwines themes and visuals from Nikolaj Pirnat's partisan graphics with reference to Picasso’s Guernica and the story of an Afghan family from Kabul who wove a carpet based on a sketch provided by the group. More details HERE.
LAIBACH – LIVE
4/5/2025 - Sarajevo, Dom mladih, BA
4/26/2025 - Dubrovnik, TUP hala, HR - Opus Dei Tour
5/9/2025 – Ljubljana, Cukrarna, SI [tickets] – We Forge the Future
7/11/2025 – Kranj, Letno gledališče Khislstein, SI [tickets] – Opus Dei Tour
7/19/2025 – Friedrichshafen, VOD-Festival, DE [SOLD OUT] – industrial program
Tickets and further information: https://www.laibach.org/future-events/
Track listing:
1. Overture
2. Secret Gardens
3. Fedayeen
4. Transition
5. Meditation I
6. War
7. Doors of Perception
8 . Metaverse
9. Meditation II & Epilogue
RECENT RELEASES:
Opus Dei Revisited: https://mute.ffm.to/laibach-odr
“White Christmas”: https://mute.ffm.to/laibach-silence-wc
“Strange Fruit”: https://mute.ffm.to/laibach-sf
Opus Dei (Remastered): https://mute.ffm.to/laibach-od24
The Engine of Survival: https://mute.ffm.to/laibach_teos
Love is Still Alive EP: https://mute.ffm.to/lb-lisa
The Future: https://mute.ffm.to/laibach-tf
Love Is Still Alive I (Moon, Euphoria): https://youtu.be/lQSqCvpAVQQ
CONNECT WITH LAIBACH:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEB
CONNECT WITH MUTE:
FACEBOOK | BLUESKY | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEB
AUSTIN PSYCH FEST just 1 month away! Schedule, night shows & more announced. Dinosaur Jr, Kim Gordon, Explosions in the Sky, Darkside, Yo La Tengo & More
AUSTIN PSYCH FEST JUST ONE MONTH AWAY! SCHEDULE, NIGHT SHOWS AND MORE ANNOUNCED
APRIL 25-27, 2025 • THE FAR OUT LOUNGE • AUSTIN, TX
FEATURING:
DINOSAUR JR • EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY • DARKSIDE • KIM GORDON • YO LA TENGO • STRFKR • GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR • GEORDIE GREEP • BÔA • BLACK MOUNTAIN • LOS MIRLOS • DEAN WAREHAM PLAYS GALAXIE 500 • LA LUZ • SASAMI • BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT • WOMBO • DUMMY • HOLY WAVE
AND MANY MORE…
LIMITED 3 DAY PASSES + SINGLE DAY TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE HERE
Austin Psych Fest (APF) 2025 is excited to announce the daily lineup schedule for the three day festival returning to the big South Austin backyard at The Far Out Lounge on April 25-27, 2025 – the third year at this venue and the 17th year of the fest since its inception. APF 2025 guests can expect stellar performances from indie rock icons, experimental rock and tripped-out sounds – from shoegaze to psychedelic rock and cumbia – with great fest partners, also being announced today, rounding out the offerings and making it all possible.
The event has always taken an expansive interpretation of psychedelia, exploring the outer edges of the musical spectrum that continue to be informed and inspired by 1960s sonic experimentation, and a penchant for loud guitars and plenty of reverb. This year's lineup is no different. Friday night is topped off with post-rock titans EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, and GODSPEED! YOU BLACK EMPEROR, two artists who have conjured up wildly emotive and ethereal music, without any words - a testament to the sheer power of music. Heavy psych rockers BLACK MOUNTAIN and KADAVAR round out Day One, with Austin experimentalists OCTOPUS PROJECT and more. Saturday night brings electronic psych explorers DARKSIDE, indie icon KIM GORDON fresh off her recent Grammy nomination, the cosmic grooves of electro rock outfit STRFKR, art rock auteur GEORDIE GREEP plus WOMBO, SASAMI and more on Day Two. Day Three brings it all together with 90s guitar rock icons DINOSAUR JR playing their landmark album Without A Sound, co-headlining with beloved indie rock trio YO LA TENGO, joined by Peruvian cumbia legends LOS MIRLOS, viral UK alt rockers BÔA, Seattle quartet LA LUZ, luminary DEAN WAREHAM of GALAXIE 500 playing tracks from the band’s legendary discography, and more incredible tunes from MYSTERY LIGHTS, HOLY WAVE and more, with additional acts for the weekend to be announced.
APF 2025 wouldn’t be possible without the help of this year’s brand partners, including: Montucky Cold Snacks, Liquid Death, New Brew, Flintts Mints, EarlyBird CBD, Malibu, The Community Spirit Vodka, High Five THC Seltzer from Austin Beerworks, Twisted X Brewing Company, Del Maguey Mezcal, Home2Suites by Hilton, KUTX, and SIMS Foundation.
The full lineup and schedule for all three days of APF 2025 can be found HERE. Tickets are going fast, with THREE DAY PASSES and SINGLE DAY tickets still available HERE.
Artwork by Catie St. Jacques
FRI APRIL 25
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR
BLACK MOUNTAIN • KADAVAR • OCTOPUS PROJECT • BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT • FEDERALE
JESSE SYKES & THE SWEET HEREAFTER
SAT APRIL 26
DARKSIDE • KIM GORDON • STRFKR
GEORDIE GREEP • SASAMI
CORRIDOR • WOMBO • DUMMY • ALEX MAAS • COLOR GREEN • WINDOWS • WATER DAMAGE
SUN APRIL 27
DINOSAUR JR PLAYS 'WITHOUT A SOUND' • YO LA TENGO
BÔA • LOS MIRLOS • LA LUZ
DEAN WAREHAM PLAYS GALAXIE 500
THE MYSTERY LIGHTS • HOLY WAVE
GARRETT T. CAPPS & NASA COUNTRY
& MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED...
VIDEO ART + INSTALLATIONS FROM:
MAD ALCHEMY • TV EYE
DRIP//CUTS • BILL GAZER • SLIM REAPER • VIDEO DREAM
DEEP TRIP • ATTIC SPACE • SHELUSHY & MORE
NIGHT SHOWS:
THUR APRIL 24
ETRAN D’LAÏR • MAYA ONGAKU at HOTEL VEGAS
RINGO DEATHSTARR • LSD AND THE SEARCH FOR GOD • BLUSHING at MOHAWK
KADAVAR • CHRISTIAN BLAND & THE REVELATORS at 13TH FLOOR
FRI APRIL 25
SUUNS • QUEEN SERENE at THE 13TH FLOOR
SAT APRIL 26
HEAVY BLANKET (J MASCIS) • PRIMITIVE RING at THE 13TH FLOOR
SAT APRIL 27
LEVITATION ROOM • LOS BLENDERS at THE 13TH FLOOR
_________________
Austin Psych Fest began in 2008, as a DIY event and quickly expanded over the years into an international destination for the underground music scene. The event was rechristened LEVITATION, in a nod to the Austin’s psychedelic rock godfathers The 13th Floor Elevators. Austin Psych Fest returned in April 2023 celebrating its 15 year anniversary with a 3 day throwback to the original multi-stage, single venue format - bringing an intimate gathering on the Spring side of the calendar, and LEVITATION in the Fall. APF honors the city’s 1960s psychedelic rock heritage and brings it into the here and now - bringing indie rock icons, experimental rock and tripped-out sounds to an appropriately laid-back South Austin setting.
Since Austin Psych Fest’s inception, organizers have sought to create a thriving center for the independent music scene locally and internationally, in the original home of psychedelic rock: Austin, Texas.
For updates and additional information, keep up with Levitation on Instagram here.
