Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 1876
May 10, 2017
Honeyblood Release Video for "Walking at Midnight," 'Babes Never Die' out now on FatCat Records
HONEYBLOOD RELEASE VIDEO FOR "WALKING AT MIDNIGHT"
ON FAT CAT RECORDS
Watch/share the video for "Walking at Midnight"
Glasgow two-piece Honeyblood - frontwoman Stina Tweeddale and drummer Cat Myers -today share the video for "Walking At Midnight," the anthemic new single from their critically lauded second LP, Babes Never Die. Directed by James Copeman, the beautifully shot, hypnotically eerie video features drag artist 'Virgin Xtravaganzah' and estranged frontwoman Stina Tweeddale in a take on the classic slasher format.
Commenting on the video, Honeyblood's Stina says; "It was a lot of fun. We treated the story as if it was a snapshot scene from a slasher movie. James and I were ecstatic to have Virgin Xtravaganza star in the video as we really wanted to capture something exquisitely beautiful to match the mood of "Walking At Midnight."" James Copeman added, ""Walking At Midnight" instantly felt like the music playing over climactic scene in a horror film. So I set out to create just that. Creating a moment in the story of a young vulnerable girl with a dark power. It was a great excuse to pay homage to my favorite horror films."
Honeyblood have just come off their biggest UK headline tour and dates in Australia and Asia and are now gearing up to play London's iconic Koko on June 16th.
Babes Never Die is the follow-up to their eponymous debut, Honeyblood.
"The Glaswegian pop-punk duo's third LP slips agitated misanthropy into hummable tunes like "Cruel," in which gentle power chords flutter while Tweeddale wonders how much more of her shit her boyfriend will suffer...Elsewhere, "Ready for the Magic" and "Sea Hearts" pile up boomerang guitars and liquor-soaked prophecies to make playing jump-rope with your heartstrings seem like an Olympic sport." - Rolling Stone
"Scottish punk duo Honeyblood had a stellar string of one-offs after their self-titled 2014 debut, and today they continue the streak with the fun, frenzied "Sea Hearts." A muted 4-bar lures you in before they sucker punch you with plenty of fuzz and lyrics about "sipping tequila after dark." The song then dissolves into a more rhythmic earworm hook, and it all exudes the carefree, playful audacity that we've come to expect from the band." - Stereogum
" Honeyblood's ambitious, unsettled Babes Never Die is a riotous success." - The AV Club
"Scottish duo Honeyblood play pumped-up punk rock that's both exhilarating and jubilant-music with fun melodies that jump off the walls." - SPIN
""Sea Hearts" hits like an endorphin rush. Tweeddale's guitar is fuzzy grunge fun, her melody is as catchy as a pop song, and drummer Cat Myers provides both pep-squad harmony and a crashing wall of drums that give the song precisely the havoc Tweeddale imagined." - Bitch Media
"It's fuzzed up, 90s-indebted indie rock that'll make you wanna mosh and destroy stuff and do shots and headbang and run real fast and ride your bike with your hands nowhere near the handlebars." - Noisey
"Their 2016 record Babes Never Die teems with the muscularity of "Killer Bangs," but it's tighter and louder and sustains the adrenaline through rocking anthems like "Ready for the Magic," "Walking at Midnight," and "Sea Hearts." "Justine, Misery Queen" and "Sister Wolf" fuel the 90s-nostalgia fire, referencing the power cum sweetness of Juliana Hatfield and the Breeders, which feels particularly impressive for a duo." - Chicago Reader
"With growing anticipation surrounding the release of their new album, Babes Never Die, Honeyblood are giving fans the insanely catchy pop-punk track "Sea Hearts."NYLON, 24 Best Must Releases of the Week
"These shreddin' Scots have cashed out the dreamier guise of their self-titled debut for more jagged edges on this boldly-titled follow-up." Under The Radar
"Beyond the punk snarl salt and the saccharine melodies, though, Honeyblood's arguably greatest achievement is a stage presence much too big to be from just two people. Tweeddale has a hand in that, with her side of the stage banter, but when drummer Cat Myers channels her inner John Bonham on her kit you'll find it hard to look away. She wears an innocent smile, but she's a downright ferocious percussionist, lending Tweeddale's vocals the muscular grooves that drive her words home." - The Key WXPN
World Tour Dates:6.16.17 - KOKO - London, UK
Babes Never Die Tracklisting1. Intro2. Babes Never Die3. Ready For The Magic4. Sea Hearts5. Love Is A Disease6. Walking At Midnight7. Justine, Misery Queen8. Sister Wolf9. Hey, Stellar10. Cruel11. Gangs12. Outro
honeyblood.co.uk/twitter.com/yumhoneyblood#_=_facebook.com/yumhoneybloodinstagram.com/yumhoneyblood/
ON FAT CAT RECORDS
Watch/share the video for "Walking at Midnight"
Glasgow two-piece Honeyblood - frontwoman Stina Tweeddale and drummer Cat Myers -today share the video for "Walking At Midnight," the anthemic new single from their critically lauded second LP, Babes Never Die. Directed by James Copeman, the beautifully shot, hypnotically eerie video features drag artist 'Virgin Xtravaganzah' and estranged frontwoman Stina Tweeddale in a take on the classic slasher format.
Commenting on the video, Honeyblood's Stina says; "It was a lot of fun. We treated the story as if it was a snapshot scene from a slasher movie. James and I were ecstatic to have Virgin Xtravaganza star in the video as we really wanted to capture something exquisitely beautiful to match the mood of "Walking At Midnight."" James Copeman added, ""Walking At Midnight" instantly felt like the music playing over climactic scene in a horror film. So I set out to create just that. Creating a moment in the story of a young vulnerable girl with a dark power. It was a great excuse to pay homage to my favorite horror films."
Honeyblood have just come off their biggest UK headline tour and dates in Australia and Asia and are now gearing up to play London's iconic Koko on June 16th.
Babes Never Die is the follow-up to their eponymous debut, Honeyblood.
"The Glaswegian pop-punk duo's third LP slips agitated misanthropy into hummable tunes like "Cruel," in which gentle power chords flutter while Tweeddale wonders how much more of her shit her boyfriend will suffer...Elsewhere, "Ready for the Magic" and "Sea Hearts" pile up boomerang guitars and liquor-soaked prophecies to make playing jump-rope with your heartstrings seem like an Olympic sport." - Rolling Stone"Scottish punk duo Honeyblood had a stellar string of one-offs after their self-titled 2014 debut, and today they continue the streak with the fun, frenzied "Sea Hearts." A muted 4-bar lures you in before they sucker punch you with plenty of fuzz and lyrics about "sipping tequila after dark." The song then dissolves into a more rhythmic earworm hook, and it all exudes the carefree, playful audacity that we've come to expect from the band." - Stereogum
" Honeyblood's ambitious, unsettled Babes Never Die is a riotous success." - The AV Club
"Scottish duo Honeyblood play pumped-up punk rock that's both exhilarating and jubilant-music with fun melodies that jump off the walls." - SPIN
""Sea Hearts" hits like an endorphin rush. Tweeddale's guitar is fuzzy grunge fun, her melody is as catchy as a pop song, and drummer Cat Myers provides both pep-squad harmony and a crashing wall of drums that give the song precisely the havoc Tweeddale imagined." - Bitch Media
"It's fuzzed up, 90s-indebted indie rock that'll make you wanna mosh and destroy stuff and do shots and headbang and run real fast and ride your bike with your hands nowhere near the handlebars." - Noisey
"Their 2016 record Babes Never Die teems with the muscularity of "Killer Bangs," but it's tighter and louder and sustains the adrenaline through rocking anthems like "Ready for the Magic," "Walking at Midnight," and "Sea Hearts." "Justine, Misery Queen" and "Sister Wolf" fuel the 90s-nostalgia fire, referencing the power cum sweetness of Juliana Hatfield and the Breeders, which feels particularly impressive for a duo." - Chicago Reader
"With growing anticipation surrounding the release of their new album, Babes Never Die, Honeyblood are giving fans the insanely catchy pop-punk track "Sea Hearts."NYLON, 24 Best Must Releases of the Week
"These shreddin' Scots have cashed out the dreamier guise of their self-titled debut for more jagged edges on this boldly-titled follow-up." Under The Radar
"Beyond the punk snarl salt and the saccharine melodies, though, Honeyblood's arguably greatest achievement is a stage presence much too big to be from just two people. Tweeddale has a hand in that, with her side of the stage banter, but when drummer Cat Myers channels her inner John Bonham on her kit you'll find it hard to look away. She wears an innocent smile, but she's a downright ferocious percussionist, lending Tweeddale's vocals the muscular grooves that drive her words home." - The Key WXPN
World Tour Dates:6.16.17 - KOKO - London, UK
Babes Never Die Tracklisting1. Intro2. Babes Never Die3. Ready For The Magic4. Sea Hearts5. Love Is A Disease6. Walking At Midnight7. Justine, Misery Queen8. Sister Wolf9. Hey, Stellar10. Cruel11. Gangs12. Outrohoneyblood.co.uk/twitter.com/yumhoneyblood#_=_facebook.com/yumhoneybloodinstagram.com/yumhoneyblood/
Yusuf / Cat Stevens Announcing New Shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane
Yusuf / Cat Stevens Announcing New Shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane
TEG DAINTY and Live Nation in association with Moonshadow Aus Pty announced today that due to overwhelming demand new shows have been added to Yusuf / Cat Stevens‘ Australian Tour. The British singer-songwriting legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will play extra shows at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, the new venue of the ICC Sydney Theatre, Darling Harbour and Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre.Tickets to the new shows go on sale on Tuesday 16 May at 10am local time.NEW SHOWS:Melbourne – Tuesday 28 November – Rod Laver ArenaSydney – Thursday 7 December – ICC Sydney Theatre *NEW VENUEBrisbane - Sunday 10 December – Brisbane Entertainment CentreTickets from Ticketek.com.au or 132 849Having first found fame as a teenager in 1960s England, Cat Stevens grew from being a teen idol into becoming one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time. In addition to his vast musical achievements, his lifelong spiritual quest and search for meaning has added intrigue and depth to a groundbreaking career.A Cat’s Attic “Peace Train Tour” commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ first major hit single and debut album Matthew & Son released in 1967.Yusuf / Cat Stevens toured Australia in 2010, it was his first Australian tour in 36 years and it had the critics raving:“....Yusuf played it as recorded, reminding all how rare are songs of such exquisite beauty. And how much we've missed them.” The Australian“...there was nothing but love at a sold out Rod Laver Arena show last night with everyone waiting to hear that voice in person.” The Herald Sun“Moonshadow Magic” The Daily Telegraph“Yusuf's back-to-back rendition of '70s hits Morning Has Broken, Wild World, Moonshadow, Father and Son and Peace Train was met with a standing ovation. Those five songs alone spelled out the legacy of a world-class musician" The West Australian“Adoring fans journey back to the days of old-school Cat.” The AgeThis 50th Anniversary Tour is going to be an unmissable night for fans.YUSUF / CAT STEVENS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATESPERTH: Wednesday 22 November – Perth Arena – www.ticketek.com.auADELAIDE: Saturday 25 November – Botanic Park – www.ticketek.com.auMELBOURNE: Monday 27 November – Rod Laver Arena – www.ticketek.com.auMELBOURNE: Tuesday 28 November – Rod Laver Arena - www.ticketek.com.au * NEW SHOWNSW: Saturday 2 December – Roche Estate – www.ticketmaster.com.auSYDNEY: Monday 4 December – Qudos Bank Arena – www.ticketek.com.auSYDNEY: Thursday 7 December – ICC Sydney Theatre - www.ticketek.com.au *NEW SHOWBRISBANE: Saturday 9 December – Brisbane Entertainment Centre – www.ticketek.com.auBRISBANE: Sunday 10 December - Brisbane Entertainment Centre – www.ticketek.com.au *NEW SHOWTickets for the new shows go on sale on Tuesday 16 May at 10am local time.
TEG DAINTY and Live Nation in association with Moonshadow Aus Pty announced today that due to overwhelming demand new shows have been added to Yusuf / Cat Stevens‘ Australian Tour. The British singer-songwriting legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will play extra shows at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, the new venue of the ICC Sydney Theatre, Darling Harbour and Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre.Tickets to the new shows go on sale on Tuesday 16 May at 10am local time.NEW SHOWS:Melbourne – Tuesday 28 November – Rod Laver ArenaSydney – Thursday 7 December – ICC Sydney Theatre *NEW VENUEBrisbane - Sunday 10 December – Brisbane Entertainment CentreTickets from Ticketek.com.au or 132 849Having first found fame as a teenager in 1960s England, Cat Stevens grew from being a teen idol into becoming one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time. In addition to his vast musical achievements, his lifelong spiritual quest and search for meaning has added intrigue and depth to a groundbreaking career.A Cat’s Attic “Peace Train Tour” commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ first major hit single and debut album Matthew & Son released in 1967.Yusuf / Cat Stevens toured Australia in 2010, it was his first Australian tour in 36 years and it had the critics raving:“....Yusuf played it as recorded, reminding all how rare are songs of such exquisite beauty. And how much we've missed them.” The Australian“...there was nothing but love at a sold out Rod Laver Arena show last night with everyone waiting to hear that voice in person.” The Herald Sun“Moonshadow Magic” The Daily Telegraph“Yusuf's back-to-back rendition of '70s hits Morning Has Broken, Wild World, Moonshadow, Father and Son and Peace Train was met with a standing ovation. Those five songs alone spelled out the legacy of a world-class musician" The West Australian“Adoring fans journey back to the days of old-school Cat.” The AgeThis 50th Anniversary Tour is going to be an unmissable night for fans.YUSUF / CAT STEVENS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATESPERTH: Wednesday 22 November – Perth Arena – www.ticketek.com.auADELAIDE: Saturday 25 November – Botanic Park – www.ticketek.com.auMELBOURNE: Monday 27 November – Rod Laver Arena – www.ticketek.com.auMELBOURNE: Tuesday 28 November – Rod Laver Arena - www.ticketek.com.au * NEW SHOWNSW: Saturday 2 December – Roche Estate – www.ticketmaster.com.auSYDNEY: Monday 4 December – Qudos Bank Arena – www.ticketek.com.auSYDNEY: Thursday 7 December – ICC Sydney Theatre - www.ticketek.com.au *NEW SHOWBRISBANE: Saturday 9 December – Brisbane Entertainment Centre – www.ticketek.com.auBRISBANE: Sunday 10 December - Brisbane Entertainment Centre – www.ticketek.com.au *NEW SHOWTickets for the new shows go on sale on Tuesday 16 May at 10am local time.
May 9, 2017
Metallica To Stream 'Now That We're Live' Rehearsal Special From Baltimore on Facebook Live at 9:00pm EST Tonight
METALLICA TO STREAM 'NOW THAT WE'RE LIVE' REHEARSAL SPECIAL FROM BALTIMORE ON FACEBOOK LIVE AT 9:00PM EST TONIGHT NORTH AMERICAN LEG OF WORLDWIRED TOUR KICKS OFF TOMORROW NIGHT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 9, 2017 - Metallica will stream "Now That We're Live," a live rehearsal special from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore that will air exclusively on Facebook Live at 9:00 PM EST tonight, the eve of their inaugural show for the North American leg of the WorldWired Tour 2017. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and multiple-Grammy® Award winning band will warm up the stadium stage with a full-scale rehearsal performance. The 'Now That We're Live' rehearsal special will feature Metallica performing four songs in their entirety (including their current single, "Now That We're Dead"). The presentation will offer fans an early glimpse of the groundbreaking production elements of the WorldWired tour and will be available for on-demand viewing following the live stream via Metallica.com and the band's Facebook page. Said Metallica's Lars Ulrich, "We are psyched to share some of our rehearsals and final pre-production run-through with our friends around the world, and we hope you'll come hang with us as we fire up the engines for the North American Summer run." Viewers will also be able to donate on Facebook Live to Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation, which supports a cross-section of national, local and Bay Area charities that the individual band members support, as well as music education programs and local food banks. Metallica's most recent album Hardwired...To Self Destruct was released on November 18, 2016 on Metallica's own Blackened Recordings record label and debuted at No. 1 around the world, selling over 800,000 copies worldwide in its first week. The album was produced by Greg Fidelman with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and is available in various configurations at www.metallica.com. See below for a list of all confirmed dates and visit www.Metallica.com for more info. WorldWired Live Dates May 10 - Baltimore, MD - M&T Bank Stadium*^May 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Lincoln Financial Field*^May 14 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium*^May 17 - Uniondale, NY - New Coliseum^May 19 - Boston, MA - Gillette Stadium ^#May 21 - Columbus, OH - Rock On The Range FestivalJune 4 - St. Louis, MO - Busch Stadium^#June 7 - Denver, CO - Sports Authority Field*^June 9 - Dayton, IA - Iowa SpeedwayJune 11 - Houston, TX - NRG Stadium*^June 14 - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome*#June 16 - Dallas, TX - AT&T Stadium*#June 18 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field*#July 5 - Orlando, FL - Camping World Stadium*^July 7 - Miami, FL - Hard Rock Stadium*^July 9 - Atlanta, GA - Suntrust Park*^July 12 - Detroit, MI - Comercia Park*^July 14 - Quebec City, QC- Festival D'EteJuly 16 - Toronto, ON - Rogers Centre*^July 19 - Montreal, QB - Parc Jean-Drapeau*^July 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Rose Bowl*+August 4 - Phoenix, AZ - University of Phoenix Stadium*+August 6 - San Diego, CA - Petco Park*+August 9 - Seattle, WA - Centurylink Field*+August 11-13 - San Francisco, CA - Outside LandsAugust 14 - Vancouver, BC - BC Place*+August 16 - Edmonton, AB - Commonwealth Stadium*+ *With Avenged Sevenfold^With Volbeat+With Gojira#With Local H
###
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 9, 2017 - Metallica will stream "Now That We're Live," a live rehearsal special from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore that will air exclusively on Facebook Live at 9:00 PM EST tonight, the eve of their inaugural show for the North American leg of the WorldWired Tour 2017. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and multiple-Grammy® Award winning band will warm up the stadium stage with a full-scale rehearsal performance. The 'Now That We're Live' rehearsal special will feature Metallica performing four songs in their entirety (including their current single, "Now That We're Dead"). The presentation will offer fans an early glimpse of the groundbreaking production elements of the WorldWired tour and will be available for on-demand viewing following the live stream via Metallica.com and the band's Facebook page. Said Metallica's Lars Ulrich, "We are psyched to share some of our rehearsals and final pre-production run-through with our friends around the world, and we hope you'll come hang with us as we fire up the engines for the North American Summer run." Viewers will also be able to donate on Facebook Live to Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation, which supports a cross-section of national, local and Bay Area charities that the individual band members support, as well as music education programs and local food banks. Metallica's most recent album Hardwired...To Self Destruct was released on November 18, 2016 on Metallica's own Blackened Recordings record label and debuted at No. 1 around the world, selling over 800,000 copies worldwide in its first week. The album was produced by Greg Fidelman with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and is available in various configurations at www.metallica.com. See below for a list of all confirmed dates and visit www.Metallica.com for more info. WorldWired Live Dates May 10 - Baltimore, MD - M&T Bank Stadium*^May 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Lincoln Financial Field*^May 14 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium*^May 17 - Uniondale, NY - New Coliseum^May 19 - Boston, MA - Gillette Stadium ^#May 21 - Columbus, OH - Rock On The Range FestivalJune 4 - St. Louis, MO - Busch Stadium^#June 7 - Denver, CO - Sports Authority Field*^June 9 - Dayton, IA - Iowa SpeedwayJune 11 - Houston, TX - NRG Stadium*^June 14 - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome*#June 16 - Dallas, TX - AT&T Stadium*#June 18 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field*#July 5 - Orlando, FL - Camping World Stadium*^July 7 - Miami, FL - Hard Rock Stadium*^July 9 - Atlanta, GA - Suntrust Park*^July 12 - Detroit, MI - Comercia Park*^July 14 - Quebec City, QC- Festival D'EteJuly 16 - Toronto, ON - Rogers Centre*^July 19 - Montreal, QB - Parc Jean-Drapeau*^July 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Rose Bowl*+August 4 - Phoenix, AZ - University of Phoenix Stadium*+August 6 - San Diego, CA - Petco Park*+August 9 - Seattle, WA - Centurylink Field*+August 11-13 - San Francisco, CA - Outside LandsAugust 14 - Vancouver, BC - BC Place*+August 16 - Edmonton, AB - Commonwealth Stadium*+ *With Avenged Sevenfold^With Volbeat+With Gojira#With Local H
###
DIE ANTWOORD SHARES NEW SINGLE "LOVE DRUG" FROM FINAL ALBUM, ANNOUNCES TOUR
DIE ANTWOORD presents "Love Drug", the 1st single off their final album The Book Of Zef:https://open.spotify.com/artist/6urkHDoIVO1WO8vNIwcJmM
DIE ANTWOORD presents the 'Love Drug' lyric video hand-made by Ninja + ¥o-landi:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGWpXEtFhOo&app=desktop
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE 'LOVE DRUG WORLD TOUR':http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/110052A59F1B734F
DIE ANTWOORD SOCIALS:TwitterFacebookInstagramSoundCloud
DIE ANTWOORD presents the 'Love Drug' lyric video hand-made by Ninja + ¥o-landi:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGWpXEtFhOo&app=desktop
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE 'LOVE DRUG WORLD TOUR':http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/110052A59F1B734F
DIE ANTWOORD SOCIALS:TwitterFacebookInstagramSoundCloud
MAGGIE ROGERS ADDS NEW SHOWS AT LA'S TERAGRAM BALLROOM AUGUST 10 AND NYC'S BROOKLYN STEEL AUGUST 17
MAGGIE ROGERS ADDS NEW SHOWS AT LA'S TERAGRAM BALLROOM AUGUST 10 AND NYC'S BROOKLYN STEEL AUGUST 17ROGERS SHOWS AT LA'S FONDA THEATRE AUGUST 11 AND NYC'S BROOKLYN STEEL AUGUST 16 IMMEDIATELY SOLD OUT
WATCH ROGERS PERFORM "ALASKA" ON NBC'S LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS
Catch Rogers At Firefly Festival, Lollapalooza And Outside Lands This Summer Debut EP Now That The Light Is Fading Out Now On Capitol Records Maggie Rogers will perform two new headline shows announced this morning at The Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on August 10th and a second night at NYC's Brooklyn Steel on August 17th. Last week Rogers announced shows at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles (August 11) and Brooklyn Steel in NYC (August 16) - both shows sold out in minutes. Fresh off her sold out North American spring headline tour, Rogers is also set to play U.S. festivals this summer including June's Firefly Festival and both Lollapalooza and Outside Lands in August. Please visitmaggierogers.com for all dates. Last night Rogers performed her breakout single
"Alaska"
on Late Night with Seth Meyers- watch the performance HERE. "Alaska"charted in Spotify's Viral 50 in 40 countries and hit #1 in 23 countries, including the U.S. With more than 80 million global streams to date, it earned Rogers a place on the Spotify Best of 2016 list and set the stage for widespread international acclaim. "Alaska" is featured on Rogers debut EP
Now That The Light Is Fading
, out now on Capitol Records. The EP includes four original songs written, produced and performed by the 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist, and also features the tracks
"Dog Years,"
and "On + Off". Now That The Light Is Fading is available at all digital providers and now on limited edition vinyl. The full track list is below. Rogers has been chosen as a Tidal Artist To Watch (RISING) for 2017 and as aGoogle Play Music 2017 Artist To Watch. Vevo, Pandora, the BBC and numerous publications - including Rolling Stone, Billboard, V Magazine, Baeble, Pigeons & Planes, Idolator, Paste and more - have also tipped her as an artist to watch. "(Maggie Rogers') voice is mesmerizing... musicality so layered and complex, said NPR, which named her as one of its Favorite Musicians of 2016 and included "Alaska" on its Top Songs of 2016 list- listen to Rogers interview on NPR's Weekend Edition. The single also showed up on year-end lists by such outlets as Gorilla Vs Bear, W Magazine andStereogum. The New Yorker declares, "Maggie Rogers is an artist of her time." Baeble observed, "It's not often that a truly special artist comes along. One that captures your full attention. One that makes the world shake with a single song. One that completely embodies a free-spirited energy and defines artistry. But Maggie Rogers is one of those rarities." V Magazine praised "Dog Years" as "another stellar track" and Billboard hailed it as "a blissful sonic journey," noting, "'Dog Years' solidifies (Maggie Rogers) as an artist to watch (and with a close eye, at that)." Rolling Stonesays "'On + Off' combines an urgent beat with folk-inspired vocal harmonies and a dizzying piano riff." While Pitchfork declares Rogers is, "standing at the intersection of so many genres (pop, folk, soul, and dance), (her) music is united by the brazen heart she wears on her sleeve."
Track Listing - Now That The Light Is Fading
1. Color Song2. Alaska
3. On + Off
4. Dog Years
5. Better
Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter / Tumblr
Chastity Belt share new track "5am"
LISTEN TO CHASTITY BELT'S "5am"; NEW RECORD OUT JUNE 2nd
STREAM: Chastity Belt - "5am"
STREAM: Chastity Belt - "Caught in a Lie"
VIDEO: Chastity Belt - "Different Now" (dir. Bobby McHugh)
STREAM: Chastity Belt - "Different Now"
This morning, Chastity Belt unveiled a third song from their upcoming full-length I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone. "5am" is the record's epic closing number and reveals a harder-edged side of the band that hasn't been heard before. Stream the track via Stereogum or the link above. I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone is out June 2nd on LP, CD, cassette, digital and streaming formats and includes three bonus tracks. See below for a list of US and UK tour dates.
Advance copies of I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone for review are available upon request.
TOUR DATES:
05.20.17 - Seattle, WA - Bothell Block Party and Brewfest
06.01.17 - Seattle, WA - Record Release show at The Crocodile *
06.14.17 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club #
06.15.17 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean #
06.16.17 - Detroit, MI - Jumbo's #
06.17.17 - Toronto, ON - Longboat Hall at the Great Hall #
06.18.17 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz #
06.19.17 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall #
06.20.17 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg #
06.22.17 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA #
06.23.17 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd %
06.24.17 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook %
06.25.17 - Asheville, NC - The Mothlight %
06.27.17 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Purgatory) %
06.28.17 - Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR %
06.29.17 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway %
06.30.17 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's %
07.01.17 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry %
08.01.17 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
08.03.17 - Los Angeles, CA - Teregram Ballroom
09.04.17 - Margate, UK - The Dugout
09.05.17 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
09.06.17 - Manchester, UK - Star and Garter
09.07.17 - Newcastle, UK - Cluny
09.08.17 - Glasgow, UK - Broadcast
09.10.17 - Isle of White, UK - Bestival
09.11.17 - Bristol, UK - Exchange
09.12.17 - Nottingham, UK - Bodega
09.13.17 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store
09.14.17 - London, UK - Garage
09.15.17 - Brussels, BE - Witloof Bar
09.16.17 - Cologne, DE - King Georg &
09.17.17 - Berlin, DE - Kantine Am Berghain &
09.19.17 - Vienna, AT - Arena &
09.20.17 - Lausanne, CH - La Romandie Club &
09.21.17 - Paris, FR - Espace B &
09.22.17 - Rotterdam, NL - V11
09.23.17 - Utrecht, NL - ACU &
* - w/ So Pitted, Jenn Champion
# - w/ SNEAKS
% - w/ Darren Hanlon
& - w/ Magic Potion
STREAM: Chastity Belt - "5am"
STREAM: Chastity Belt - "Caught in a Lie"
VIDEO: Chastity Belt - "Different Now" (dir. Bobby McHugh)
STREAM: Chastity Belt - "Different Now"
This morning, Chastity Belt unveiled a third song from their upcoming full-length I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone. "5am" is the record's epic closing number and reveals a harder-edged side of the band that hasn't been heard before. Stream the track via Stereogum or the link above. I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone is out June 2nd on LP, CD, cassette, digital and streaming formats and includes three bonus tracks. See below for a list of US and UK tour dates.
Advance copies of I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone for review are available upon request.
TOUR DATES:
05.20.17 - Seattle, WA - Bothell Block Party and Brewfest
06.01.17 - Seattle, WA - Record Release show at The Crocodile *
06.14.17 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club #
06.15.17 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean #
06.16.17 - Detroit, MI - Jumbo's #
06.17.17 - Toronto, ON - Longboat Hall at the Great Hall #
06.18.17 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz #
06.19.17 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall #
06.20.17 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg #
06.22.17 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA #
06.23.17 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd %
06.24.17 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook %
06.25.17 - Asheville, NC - The Mothlight %
06.27.17 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Purgatory) %
06.28.17 - Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR %
06.29.17 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway %
06.30.17 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's %
07.01.17 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry %
08.01.17 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
08.03.17 - Los Angeles, CA - Teregram Ballroom
09.04.17 - Margate, UK - The Dugout
09.05.17 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
09.06.17 - Manchester, UK - Star and Garter
09.07.17 - Newcastle, UK - Cluny
09.08.17 - Glasgow, UK - Broadcast
09.10.17 - Isle of White, UK - Bestival
09.11.17 - Bristol, UK - Exchange
09.12.17 - Nottingham, UK - Bodega
09.13.17 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store
09.14.17 - London, UK - Garage
09.15.17 - Brussels, BE - Witloof Bar
09.16.17 - Cologne, DE - King Georg &
09.17.17 - Berlin, DE - Kantine Am Berghain &
09.19.17 - Vienna, AT - Arena &
09.20.17 - Lausanne, CH - La Romandie Club &
09.21.17 - Paris, FR - Espace B &
09.22.17 - Rotterdam, NL - V11
09.23.17 - Utrecht, NL - ACU &
* - w/ So Pitted, Jenn Champion
# - w/ SNEAKS
% - w/ Darren Hanlon
& - w/ Magic Potion
Girlpool share "Powerplant" video, new album out 5/12 via Anti- Records
GIRLPOOL SHARE "POWERPLANT" VIDEO
UPCOMING TOUR DATES WITH VAGABON, SNAIL MAIL & MORE
POWERPLANT OUT MAY 12TH ON ANTI- RECORDS
Photo Credit: Kacie Tomita
Today, Girlpool have released a video for "Powerplant," the title track from the long-awaited follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed debut. NPR, who premiered the video today as a First Watch, are saying it's "delightfully comical," while video director, Philip Steiger says the "music video is a meta-narrative nightmare exploring the power dynamics and manipulation behind an insincere candidness."
Powerplant is available for pre-order now and out via ANTI- Records on May 12th.
The band has also announced a full US tour that includes dates with Vagabon, Snail Mail, Ian Sweet and Lexie. All dates below.
WATCH THE "POWERPLANT" VIDEO
TOUR DATES:5/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom *5/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel *5/25 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *5/26 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos *5/27 - Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore *5/31 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry * $6/1 - Iowa City, IA @ The Mill * $6/2 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle * $6/4 - Detroit, MI @ El Club $6/5 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern $6/6 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB $6/7 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall $ ~6/9 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw $ ~6/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer $ ~6/11 - Washington, DC @ Rock + Roll Hotel ^ ~6/13 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook *6/14 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Hell Stage) *6/15 - New Orleans, LA @ Republic *6/16 - Houston, TX @ Walter's *6/17- Austin, TX @ Barracuda *6/20 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge *6/21 - San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe *6/22 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House *
* w/ Snail Mail$ w/ Ian Sweet^ w/ Vagabon~ w/ Lexie
UPCOMING TOUR DATES WITH VAGABON, SNAIL MAIL & MORE
POWERPLANT OUT MAY 12TH ON ANTI- RECORDS
Photo Credit: Kacie TomitaToday, Girlpool have released a video for "Powerplant," the title track from the long-awaited follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed debut. NPR, who premiered the video today as a First Watch, are saying it's "delightfully comical," while video director, Philip Steiger says the "music video is a meta-narrative nightmare exploring the power dynamics and manipulation behind an insincere candidness."
Powerplant is available for pre-order now and out via ANTI- Records on May 12th.
The band has also announced a full US tour that includes dates with Vagabon, Snail Mail, Ian Sweet and Lexie. All dates below.
WATCH THE "POWERPLANT" VIDEO
TOUR DATES:5/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom *5/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel *5/25 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *5/26 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos *5/27 - Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore *5/31 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry * $6/1 - Iowa City, IA @ The Mill * $6/2 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle * $6/4 - Detroit, MI @ El Club $6/5 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern $6/6 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB $6/7 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall $ ~6/9 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw $ ~6/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer $ ~6/11 - Washington, DC @ Rock + Roll Hotel ^ ~6/13 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook *6/14 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Hell Stage) *6/15 - New Orleans, LA @ Republic *6/16 - Houston, TX @ Walter's *6/17- Austin, TX @ Barracuda *6/20 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge *6/21 - San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe *6/22 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House *
* w/ Snail Mail$ w/ Ian Sweet^ w/ Vagabon~ w/ Lexie
Shabazz Palaces' to release Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machines, their 4th album (and 2nd of 2017) on July 14th + Watch "30 Clip Extension" lyric video
Shabazz Palaces’
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines,
the group’s fourth album and monozygotic twin to
Quazarz : Born on a Gangster Star, scheduled for simultaneous worldwide release July 14th on Sub Pop
Photo credit: Victoria KoviosShares lead single “30 Clip Extension”
Lyric Video: http://u.subpop.com/2pZgWt2
Soundcloud: http://u.subpop.com/2qU7pmnShabazz Palaces will release Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines,the group’s fourth album and extra-spatial twin to Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star, worldwide July 14th through Sub Pop Records. The album, featuring highlights “30 Clip Extension,” “Julian’s Dream (ode to a bad)” and “Effeminence” includes guest appearances from Fly Guy Dai of Chimurenga Renaissance, AmirYaghamai, John Carroll Kirby, Thaddillac, Morgan Henderson, The Shogun Shot, Laz, and Purple Tape Nate.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines was produced by the Palaceer Lazaro and Sunny Levine, recorded in Seattle at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space and in Marina Del Rey at Dror Lord Studios, and mixed by Levine and Kamal Humphrey at Kamal’s House Studio.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines is a second, fully-realized album of new material that expands the Quazarz universe.
Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machines tells the tales of Quazarz, that sent sentient from some elsewhere. A wave warrior wielding his sonic sword. Posted to the turnt-up states of Amurderca here on the Gangster Star to chronicle, explore and enjoy as a musical emissary. He discovers a world where humankind’s relationship with their tech-devices has become weirdly sensual, seducing a sedentary seamlessness with humans, while capturing and incarcerating the results of their imagination. Quazarz vs The Jealous Machines finds our protagonist with his dazzling cohorts rising a collective Nah to the device and the guilds that proliferate them.
You can now watch a lyric video for “30 Clip Extension” directed byCristina T. Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes of Clipping [watch here].Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and ...Born on a Gangster Starwill be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and are now available for preorder from Sub Pop [link here]. LP pre-orders for each album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited “Loser” edition on colored vinyl (...Jealous Machines on mashed-up purple; ...Born on a Gangster Star on aluminum). Both albums can be purchased together as a special bundle, and there are also new T-shirt designs associated with each release (one for ...Born on a Gangster Star and two for ...vs. The Jealous Machines).
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will also be available as a special-edition illustrated album: illustrated by cartoonist Joshua Ray Stephens this full-color, hand-numbered, 32-page book includes a download code for the full album. Joshua Ray Stephens worked directly with Shabazz Palaces to interpret the album track-by-track, creating a cohesive whole that synchronizes music and image. Printed in a large 11” x 17” format, with saddle-stitch binding, this limited-edition art piece further expands the ambitious universe of Quazarz and Shabazz Palaces. The illustrated album version of Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will be released in collaboration with Fantagraphics Books on Friday, August 18th.
Book Cover"30 Clip Extension"Shabazz Palaces’ previously announced full-length albumQuazarz: Born on a Gangster Star will also be available worldwide on July 14th through Sub Pop. The album, featuring highlights “Shine a Light” (feat. Thaddillac) [link here], “Since C.A.Y.A.,” and Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius)” was produced by Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood) and recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle.
Shabazz Palaces will support both Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star with North American tour dates that currently span May 13th through September 17th. New cities for the the tour include El Paso, Toronto, Quebec City, and Baltimore. Additionally, for the dates from August 16th to September 9th, support will come from labelmate Porter Ray.
Tour Dates
May 13 - Seattle, WA - Upstream Music Fest + Summit 2017
Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater*
Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall*
Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre*
Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom*
Aug. 21 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow*
Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)*
Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada*
Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon*
Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West*
Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm*
Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle*
Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups*
Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club*
Sep. 01 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace*
Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount*
Sep. 03 - Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle
Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair*
Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw*
Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer*
Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat*
Sep. 09 - Baltimore, DC - Ottobar*
Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
Sep. 15 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
Sep. 16 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
Sep. 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
*w/ Porter Ray
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines,
the group’s fourth album and monozygotic twin to
Quazarz : Born on a Gangster Star, scheduled for simultaneous worldwide release July 14th on Sub Pop
Photo credit: Victoria KoviosShares lead single “30 Clip Extension”Lyric Video: http://u.subpop.com/2pZgWt2
Soundcloud: http://u.subpop.com/2qU7pmnShabazz Palaces will release Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines,the group’s fourth album and extra-spatial twin to Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star, worldwide July 14th through Sub Pop Records. The album, featuring highlights “30 Clip Extension,” “Julian’s Dream (ode to a bad)” and “Effeminence” includes guest appearances from Fly Guy Dai of Chimurenga Renaissance, AmirYaghamai, John Carroll Kirby, Thaddillac, Morgan Henderson, The Shogun Shot, Laz, and Purple Tape Nate.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines was produced by the Palaceer Lazaro and Sunny Levine, recorded in Seattle at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space and in Marina Del Rey at Dror Lord Studios, and mixed by Levine and Kamal Humphrey at Kamal’s House Studio.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines is a second, fully-realized album of new material that expands the Quazarz universe.
Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machines tells the tales of Quazarz, that sent sentient from some elsewhere. A wave warrior wielding his sonic sword. Posted to the turnt-up states of Amurderca here on the Gangster Star to chronicle, explore and enjoy as a musical emissary. He discovers a world where humankind’s relationship with their tech-devices has become weirdly sensual, seducing a sedentary seamlessness with humans, while capturing and incarcerating the results of their imagination. Quazarz vs The Jealous Machines finds our protagonist with his dazzling cohorts rising a collective Nah to the device and the guilds that proliferate them.
You can now watch a lyric video for “30 Clip Extension” directed byCristina T. Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes of Clipping [watch here].Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and ...Born on a Gangster Starwill be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and are now available for preorder from Sub Pop [link here]. LP pre-orders for each album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited “Loser” edition on colored vinyl (...Jealous Machines on mashed-up purple; ...Born on a Gangster Star on aluminum). Both albums can be purchased together as a special bundle, and there are also new T-shirt designs associated with each release (one for ...Born on a Gangster Star and two for ...vs. The Jealous Machines).
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will also be available as a special-edition illustrated album: illustrated by cartoonist Joshua Ray Stephens this full-color, hand-numbered, 32-page book includes a download code for the full album. Joshua Ray Stephens worked directly with Shabazz Palaces to interpret the album track-by-track, creating a cohesive whole that synchronizes music and image. Printed in a large 11” x 17” format, with saddle-stitch binding, this limited-edition art piece further expands the ambitious universe of Quazarz and Shabazz Palaces. The illustrated album version of Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will be released in collaboration with Fantagraphics Books on Friday, August 18th.
Book Cover"30 Clip Extension"Shabazz Palaces’ previously announced full-length albumQuazarz: Born on a Gangster Star will also be available worldwide on July 14th through Sub Pop. The album, featuring highlights “Shine a Light” (feat. Thaddillac) [link here], “Since C.A.Y.A.,” and Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius)” was produced by Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood) and recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle.Shabazz Palaces will support both Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star with North American tour dates that currently span May 13th through September 17th. New cities for the the tour include El Paso, Toronto, Quebec City, and Baltimore. Additionally, for the dates from August 16th to September 9th, support will come from labelmate Porter Ray.
Tour Dates
May 13 - Seattle, WA - Upstream Music Fest + Summit 2017
Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater*
Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall*
Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre*
Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom*
Aug. 21 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow*
Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)*
Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada*
Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon*
Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West*
Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm*
Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle*
Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups*
Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club*
Sep. 01 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace*
Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount*
Sep. 03 - Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle
Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair*
Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw*
Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer*
Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat*
Sep. 09 - Baltimore, DC - Ottobar*
Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
Sep. 15 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
Sep. 16 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
Sep. 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
*w/ Porter Ray
Paul Collins Beat: The 'King Of Power Pop' Returns to London's Dirty Water Club to Launch European Tour
Paul Collins Beat: The 'King Of Power Pop' Returns to London's Dirty Water Club to Launch European Tour
Paul Collins Beat 
PAUL COLLINS
is THE formative figure in powerpop and, indeed, a major figure in rock’n’roll history. He's a man with an impressive résumé, even if he may not be a household name. 
He started out in
THE NERVES
, whose sole release, a 1976 self-titled four-song EP distributed by the independent Bomp Records, is most famous for “Hanging on the Telephone”, which went unnoticed when it was originally released, but turned into a UK top 5 single when covered by Blondie. 
After The Nerves’ ended, Collins and bassist Peter Case briefly played in THE BREAKAWAYS before recruiting Steve Huff (bass & backing vocals) and Mike Ruiz (drums) into what would later become
THE BEAT
. Case, however, quit to go solo before eventually forming The Plimsouls. Collins now took lead vocals on all of the songs, with the addition of Larry Whitman (lead guitar & backing vocals), and The Beat were on their way. 
The Los Angeles powerpop scene was beginning to garner national attention and Collins signed the band with Columbia/CBS and Bill Graham Management and their self-titled debut was released in October 1979. All 12 songs were Collins originals with other band members taking co-writing credits each, all on different songs. Continuing in the style of The Nerves, the album consisted of harmony-laden, driving guitar pop songs. The album was critically acclaimed and is today remembered as a classic of the genre. The group appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and contributed a song to the soundtrack LP of the massively popular movie “Caddyshack”. Despite this promotion, diligent touring alongside such popular artists as Ian Gomm and The Jam and a tour of Europe, The Beat found limited commercial success.(The British ska group of the same name were first to establish themselves as “The Beat” in Europe, however, which forced the American “Beat” to be referred to as “Paul Collins Beat” on that continent. The Collins’ “The Beat” was first to release their album in their home territory, though, forcing the British group to use the name “The English Beat” in the USA. In 2015, the two bands toured together as “Two beats, hearting as one”!) 
After a second album for CBS, The Kids Are The Same, in 1982, with the group billed as “Paul Collins’ Beat”, the group self-financed the production of three videos, including “On The Highway”, which had been modestly promoted to AOR radio by CBS which was put on rotation for several months by the then fledgling MTV network, much to the chagrin of their former label."After one long tour out west we got back to NY and we really wanted to have one more cut to round out the EP To Beat or Not To Beat as it was being released in Europe, so we went back into the studio.We came pretty close a you can hear the slick production sound on this recording, thankfully the song holds up and it still sounds good today."
Paul hits Europe on tour from May, including a UK show at a special Dirty Water Club night at The Finsbury, London on Saturday 13 May. Support comes from LUCY & THE RATS and SEE NO EVILS.Tickets priced £8.50 are available here.Special Thanks to Gerry Ranson and Vive Le Rock for contributing to this article.
Peaking Lights new LP 'The Fifth State Of Consciousness' out 16th June 2017
Peaking Lightsnew album
'The Fifth State Of Consciousness'
out 16th June 2017 on Two Flower Records
stream new track 'I'll Be In The Sky' here:
https://soundcloud.com/peakinglights/ill-be-in-the-sky "A journey thru an alien landscape where the dream world tells stories of lost innocence, finding strength and seeking an enlightened state of being after trials and tribulations all wrapped up in two syrupy dubbed to the bone balearic pancakes sprinkled with powdered psychedelia.” — Peaking Lights
Peaking Lights’ fifth studio album, "The Fifth State Of Consciousness", is a 12-track, double LP produced in the band’s Dreamfuzz studio over the course of the last two years.
Following 2014’s Cosmic Logic LP on Weird World, it marks both a departure from the new and a return to the old, with a whole new twist on the psychedelic dub-pop they’ve become revered for, a listening experience of otherworldly sounds. Through all its peaks and valleys, the larger arc of themes within “The Fifth State Of Consciousness” surround dreams, strength, a loss of innocence, and seeking an enlightened state of being after overcoming life’s trials and tribulations.
Musically, the album shifts through many states from beginning to end, resembling a car journey through foreign landscapes. A sense of wonderment flows with each track and with every listen, new sounds and eccentricities begin to surface. Bringing together their love of Psychedelic music, House, Electronic and Reggae, each song lives and breathes it’s own life but as an album, remains knitted together by Peaking Lights’ tight, conceptual writing.
Produced by Aaron Coyes, the creative process was filled with odd gadgetry, playful experimentation and deep, alchemical soul. Dreamfuzz studio, designed by Coyes who describes it as “a small junkyard with many happy mistakes”, formed the hub for a host of one-of-a-kind recording methods including using tape machines to record melodies backwards before playing them in reverse, breaking electronic gear to create their own sounds and layering sounds to create ‘pads’.
The sounds were also run through Peaking Lights’ 1976 16/8 Soundcraft Series Two mixing console — the same type of board used by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry at Black Ark and at the infamous Cargo Studios, where many of the early Factory Records bands were recorded.
“The Fifth State Of Consciousness” is released on June 16 via Two Flower Records. Tracklisting01. Dreaming Outside02. Coyote Ghost Melodies
03. Everytime I See The Light
04. I’ll Be In The Sky
05. Love Can Move The Mountains
06. Sweetness Isn’t Far Away
07. Que Du Bon
08. A Phoenix and a Fish
09. Eclipse Of The Heart
10. In My Disguise
11. Put Down Your Guns
12. Wild Paradise
UK & EU tour dates:
Sunday 25 June 2017 @ Soup Kitchen, Manchester, UK
Monday 26 June 2017 @ Moth Club, London, UK
Thursday 13 July 2017 – Sunday 16 July 2017 @ Festival Internacional de Benicàssim,
Benicassim, Spain
**more to be announced
Peaking Lights online
Soundcloud // Facebook // Twitter // Bandcamp
