Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 1944
February 2, 2017
Lola Kirke Releases "Brilliant Friend" Video; On West Coast Tour Now
LOLA KIRKE RELEASES "BRILLIANT FRIEND" VIDEO
ON WEST COAST TOUR NOW
Photo credit: Lauren Perlstein for Nylon Magazine
Actress and musician Lola Kirke (Mozart in the Jungle, Mistress America) released her self-titled debut EP last fall; today she shared the self-directed music video for the track "Brilliant Friend."
Brilliant Friend (Offical Music Video)
Lola created the video using footage from a short film called My Rifle, My Baby and Methat she directed and starred in back in 2012. Lola tells Nylon, who premiered the video, "My relationships with other women have always been extremely intense and important: at once healing and damaging, almost frivolous and yet wholly necessary. The footage I cut this video out of is from film I made in college that explored those sentiments. When, years later, I found myself still making things about the pain and beauty of that kind of friendship, unearthing this footage and giving it a new life felt incredibly appropriate."
Lola's EP is a collection of four beautifully plaintive songs that she brands as "Cosmic American," bolstered by her gentle guitar melodies and smoky vocals. It is available now onSpotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp via Spirit House Records.
Lola is currently on a West Coast tour -- catch her at the following remaining dates:
Lola Kirke + Wyndham West Coast Tour2/03: Ballard Homestead - Seattle, WA^2/04: Obsidian - Olympia, WA^2/05: Turn, Turn, Turn - Portland, OR^2/11: Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, CA2/18: Pappy & Harriet's - Pioneertown, CA
^ w/ Johanna Warren
"A handful of folksy tracks - a dreamy, experimental Americana - to accompany fantasies of settling on a utopian homestead in Joshua Tree." - i-D
@lolakirke on Twitter and Instagram
ON WEST COAST TOUR NOW
Photo credit: Lauren Perlstein for Nylon MagazineActress and musician Lola Kirke (Mozart in the Jungle, Mistress America) released her self-titled debut EP last fall; today she shared the self-directed music video for the track "Brilliant Friend."
Brilliant Friend (Offical Music Video)Lola created the video using footage from a short film called My Rifle, My Baby and Methat she directed and starred in back in 2012. Lola tells Nylon, who premiered the video, "My relationships with other women have always been extremely intense and important: at once healing and damaging, almost frivolous and yet wholly necessary. The footage I cut this video out of is from film I made in college that explored those sentiments. When, years later, I found myself still making things about the pain and beauty of that kind of friendship, unearthing this footage and giving it a new life felt incredibly appropriate."
Lola's EP is a collection of four beautifully plaintive songs that she brands as "Cosmic American," bolstered by her gentle guitar melodies and smoky vocals. It is available now onSpotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp via Spirit House Records.
Lola is currently on a West Coast tour -- catch her at the following remaining dates:
Lola Kirke + Wyndham West Coast Tour2/03: Ballard Homestead - Seattle, WA^2/04: Obsidian - Olympia, WA^2/05: Turn, Turn, Turn - Portland, OR^2/11: Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, CA2/18: Pappy & Harriet's - Pioneertown, CA
^ w/ Johanna Warren
"A handful of folksy tracks - a dreamy, experimental Americana - to accompany fantasies of settling on a utopian homestead in Joshua Tree." - i-D
@lolakirke on Twitter and Instagram
PUNK ROCK AGAINST TRUMP
Wednesday, February 15th @ Cal State Long Beach.............Charlotte Caffey of The Eyes and Go Gos, Jack Grisham, the big tall guy who fronts TSOL, Chris D who is responsible for the Flesh Eaters and Divine Horsemen and Keith Morris, Black Flag, Circle Jerks and OFF! will be doing what the people at this campus call a lecture. IT'S FREEE!!!!
https://www.facebook.com/events/591869004493846/
POND RELEASE VIDEO & ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES
POND RELEASE VIDEO FOR "30000 MEGATONS"
ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
THE WEATHER - OUT MAY 5
Photo Credit:Matt Sav
Showcasing their ability to tackle everything from the surreal to the most sobering of subjects in their music, psychedelic punk band POND strike a captivatingly eerie tone on their sparse and provocative new music video for "30000 Megatons." Following the release of "Sweep Me Off My Feet", the video features another taste from POND's upcoming album The Weather , out on May 5 via Marathon Artists. Pre-order The Weather here.
Watch "30000 Megatons"
In support of the upcoming record, POND will be bringing their incredible and energetic live show to North America this spring. Since forming in 2008, POND have been lauded for their raucous and unpredictable performances, utilising the punk and garage-rock foundation on which the band was built to breathe new life into their songs. Full run of North American tour dates below.
"30000 Megatons," which will serve as the album's opening track, presents a despairing meditation on the nuclear threat, its spiraling synth-prog hysteria mirroring the escalating unease we all feel around the world right now. Presented against a collage of footage from protests, riots, war, and consumerism from all over the world in this new music video, "30000 Megatons" takes on an entirely new dimension of bleakness as it confronts us with the aggressive mundanity of our daily lives.
What people are saying about POND's"30000 Megatons":
"Equal parts spacey and glam rock, the sweeping number would make David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust proud." - Consequence of Sound
"With theatrical vocals and a harrowing crescendo, it's a powerful descent into a flash of devastation that's now, horrifyingly, a bit less improbable." - Pitchfork
POND North American Tour Dates:
4/16 & 23 - Coachella Music and Arts Festival - Indio, CA4/25 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA4/27 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR4/28 - Neumos - Seattle, WA4/29 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC5/2 - Turf Club - St. Paul, MN5/3 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL5/5 - Mod Club Theatre - Toronto, ON5/7 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA5/9 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY5/10 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY5/11 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA5/12 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
THE WEATHER - OUT MAY 5
Photo Credit:Matt Sav
Showcasing their ability to tackle everything from the surreal to the most sobering of subjects in their music, psychedelic punk band POND strike a captivatingly eerie tone on their sparse and provocative new music video for "30000 Megatons." Following the release of "Sweep Me Off My Feet", the video features another taste from POND's upcoming album The Weather , out on May 5 via Marathon Artists. Pre-order The Weather here.
Watch "30000 Megatons"
In support of the upcoming record, POND will be bringing their incredible and energetic live show to North America this spring. Since forming in 2008, POND have been lauded for their raucous and unpredictable performances, utilising the punk and garage-rock foundation on which the band was built to breathe new life into their songs. Full run of North American tour dates below.
"30000 Megatons," which will serve as the album's opening track, presents a despairing meditation on the nuclear threat, its spiraling synth-prog hysteria mirroring the escalating unease we all feel around the world right now. Presented against a collage of footage from protests, riots, war, and consumerism from all over the world in this new music video, "30000 Megatons" takes on an entirely new dimension of bleakness as it confronts us with the aggressive mundanity of our daily lives.
What people are saying about POND's"30000 Megatons":
"Equal parts spacey and glam rock, the sweeping number would make David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust proud." - Consequence of Sound
"With theatrical vocals and a harrowing crescendo, it's a powerful descent into a flash of devastation that's now, horrifyingly, a bit less improbable." - Pitchfork
POND North American Tour Dates:4/16 & 23 - Coachella Music and Arts Festival - Indio, CA4/25 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA4/27 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR4/28 - Neumos - Seattle, WA4/29 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC5/2 - Turf Club - St. Paul, MN5/3 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL5/5 - Mod Club Theatre - Toronto, ON5/7 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA5/9 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY5/10 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY5/11 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA5/12 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
Savoy Motel Tour With The Lemon Twigs
Savoy Motel Tour With The Lemon Twigs BeginsHeadline Show At The Echo February 8thSelf-Titled Debut Album Available On What's Your Rupture? Records
LISTEN
Photo: Semi Song
The debut album by Nashville's Savoy Motel comes from a pedigree of garage, punk, and power-pop groups (bassist Jeffrey Novak founded both Cheap Time and the Rat Traps; drummer Jessica McFarland was also in Cheap Time, and along with guitarists Dillon Watson and Mimi Galbierz, played in Heavy Cream). Savoy Motel transposes the energy and hooks of those groups to an entirely different move: an intensely orchestrated hybrid of glam rock, soul, dance music, and showmanship. “We use rock and roll as a vehicle to reach and promote the feeling of TOTAL FREEDOM,” claims Dillon. “Savoy Motel is defined more by a feeling than a sound.”
Savoy Motel achieves a compositional harmony through the meshing of the clockwork precision in the rhythms of each song, with Jessica hammering out the beats alongside a vintage Rhythm King drum machine, and Mimi locking in on guitar, alongside the interplay of three lead vocalists, while Dillon rips intense fuzz leads on every track, and Jeffrey adds the hooks on his bass. Dillon remarks: “After Jeffrey repeatedly insisted that I play more and more like Jimi and Clapton, I realized that he wanted the shit to rock, and that he was not only unafraid of, but actually going for what a lot of contemporaries would consider faux pas. I think we were all ready for something radical and new, and Jeffrey was ready to lead us there.”
The whole package opens up their horizons, and yours, to a sound made by four friends tired of witnessing music eat its own tail; with unclouded judgment, creative refinements, and peerless technique, they grab that tail and stick it into a wall socket, putting the cap back on 15+ years of rock revivalism and strident genre adherence. And they make it seem easy. If it was that easy, though, everybody else would be doing it. Look around you. That’s not happening. Savoy Motel is happening. “Whatever musical past we had feels obsolete compared to what we’re doing now,” says Jeffrey. “The past turned its back on us, so we had to turn our backs on the past in order to find our future.”The band have been touring North America and the UK in support of their self-titled debut album on What’s Your Rupture? Records. Live dates with The Lemon Twigs egin this week, with headlining shows February 8th in LA and in March in various cities.
Videos:Souvenir Shop RockSorry People(all shows with The Lemon Twigs, except *** where noted):
2/2 THU Portland OR @ Doug Fir
TICKETS
2/4 SAT San Francisco CA @ Brick and Mortar
TICKETS
2/5 SUN Santa Cruz CA @ The Catalyst Atrium
TICKETS
2/6 MON Santa Ana CA @ Constellation Room
TICKETS 2/8 WED Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (***with Jack Name, Sadistic Candle)TICKETS
2/9 THU San Diego CA @ Casbah
TICKETS
2/10 FRI Phoenix AZ @ Valley Bar
TICKETS
2/11 SAT El Paso TX @ Lowbow Palace
TICKETS
2/14 TUE Austin TX @ Stubb’s Jr
TICKETS
2/15 WED Houston TX @ Raven Tower
TICKETS
2/17 FRI Birmingham AL @ Saturn
FREE SHOW
2/18 SAT Atlanta GA @ Aisle 5
TICKETS
2/21 TUE New York NY @ Bowery Ballroom
TICKETS2/22 WED Philadelphia PA @ Everybody Hits ***TICKETS AT DOOR2/23 THU Baltimore MD @ Ottobar ***TICKETS2/24 FRI Durham NC @ The Pinhook ***TICKETS3/3 FRI Cincinnati OH @ The Woodward Theater ***TICKETS
Photo: Semi Song
The debut album by Nashville's Savoy Motel comes from a pedigree of garage, punk, and power-pop groups (bassist Jeffrey Novak founded both Cheap Time and the Rat Traps; drummer Jessica McFarland was also in Cheap Time, and along with guitarists Dillon Watson and Mimi Galbierz, played in Heavy Cream). Savoy Motel transposes the energy and hooks of those groups to an entirely different move: an intensely orchestrated hybrid of glam rock, soul, dance music, and showmanship. “We use rock and roll as a vehicle to reach and promote the feeling of TOTAL FREEDOM,” claims Dillon. “Savoy Motel is defined more by a feeling than a sound.”
Savoy Motel achieves a compositional harmony through the meshing of the clockwork precision in the rhythms of each song, with Jessica hammering out the beats alongside a vintage Rhythm King drum machine, and Mimi locking in on guitar, alongside the interplay of three lead vocalists, while Dillon rips intense fuzz leads on every track, and Jeffrey adds the hooks on his bass. Dillon remarks: “After Jeffrey repeatedly insisted that I play more and more like Jimi and Clapton, I realized that he wanted the shit to rock, and that he was not only unafraid of, but actually going for what a lot of contemporaries would consider faux pas. I think we were all ready for something radical and new, and Jeffrey was ready to lead us there.”
The whole package opens up their horizons, and yours, to a sound made by four friends tired of witnessing music eat its own tail; with unclouded judgment, creative refinements, and peerless technique, they grab that tail and stick it into a wall socket, putting the cap back on 15+ years of rock revivalism and strident genre adherence. And they make it seem easy. If it was that easy, though, everybody else would be doing it. Look around you. That’s not happening. Savoy Motel is happening. “Whatever musical past we had feels obsolete compared to what we’re doing now,” says Jeffrey. “The past turned its back on us, so we had to turn our backs on the past in order to find our future.”The band have been touring North America and the UK in support of their self-titled debut album on What’s Your Rupture? Records. Live dates with The Lemon Twigs egin this week, with headlining shows February 8th in LA and in March in various cities.
Videos:Souvenir Shop RockSorry People(all shows with The Lemon Twigs, except *** where noted):
2/2 THU Portland OR @ Doug Fir
TICKETS
2/4 SAT San Francisco CA @ Brick and Mortar
TICKETS
2/5 SUN Santa Cruz CA @ The Catalyst Atrium
TICKETS
2/6 MON Santa Ana CA @ Constellation Room
TICKETS 2/8 WED Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (***with Jack Name, Sadistic Candle)TICKETS
2/9 THU San Diego CA @ Casbah
TICKETS
2/10 FRI Phoenix AZ @ Valley Bar
TICKETS
2/11 SAT El Paso TX @ Lowbow Palace
TICKETS
2/14 TUE Austin TX @ Stubb’s Jr
TICKETS
2/15 WED Houston TX @ Raven Tower
TICKETS
2/17 FRI Birmingham AL @ Saturn
FREE SHOW
2/18 SAT Atlanta GA @ Aisle 5
TICKETS
2/21 TUE New York NY @ Bowery Ballroom
TICKETS2/22 WED Philadelphia PA @ Everybody Hits ***TICKETS AT DOOR2/23 THU Baltimore MD @ Ottobar ***TICKETS2/24 FRI Durham NC @ The Pinhook ***TICKETS3/3 FRI Cincinnati OH @ The Woodward Theater ***TICKETS
LILYS PLAYING THE ECHO ON SUNDAY
LILYS PLAYING THE ECHO ON SUNDAY
PLAYING WITH DEAD HEAVENS
'IN THE PRESENCE OF NOTHING' BEING RE-ISSUED
Brooklyn Vegan recently announced Lilys "Corruption Wrecked My Life" N.Y.C. and California shows. On the tour the band will focus on material from their 1990-1995 era. Last year the band did a run of similar shows all of which sold out. They'll be touring with Dead Heavens and you can get tickets for the Bowery Ballroom show on Friday here. Also the band will be re-issuing a limited number of their 1992 album 'In The Presence Of Nothing'. Pre-orders for that are available here.
In addition to front-man Kurt Heasley The band's current line-up is:
Don Devore (Collapsing Scenery, Icarus Line, Sick Feeling)
James Richardson (MGMT)
Travis Rosenberg (Tanlines)
Simon O’Connor (Kuroma, Amazing Baby)
Chris Colley (Collapsing Scenery, School Of Seven Bells)
Alex Craig (Big Troubles, Limited)
Lilys – 2017 Tour Dates
January 29th – Bowery Ballroom, NYC, NY*
February 2nd – The Chapel, San Francisco, CA*
February 3rd – TBA, Sacramento, CA
February 4th – The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA*
February 5th – Part Time Punks at The Echo, Los Angeles, CA*
February 6th – Soda Bar, San Diego, CA** = with Dead HeavensIn The Presence Of Nothing - TRACKLISTING
01. There's No Such Thing As Black Orchids
02. Elizabeth Colour Wheel
03. Collider
04. Tone Bender
05. Periscope
06. It Does Nothing For Me
07. Snowblinder
08. The Way Snowflakes Fall
09. Threw A Day
10. Claire Hates Me
PLAYING WITH DEAD HEAVENS
'IN THE PRESENCE OF NOTHING' BEING RE-ISSUED
Brooklyn Vegan recently announced Lilys "Corruption Wrecked My Life" N.Y.C. and California shows. On the tour the band will focus on material from their 1990-1995 era. Last year the band did a run of similar shows all of which sold out. They'll be touring with Dead Heavens and you can get tickets for the Bowery Ballroom show on Friday here. Also the band will be re-issuing a limited number of their 1992 album 'In The Presence Of Nothing'. Pre-orders for that are available here.
In addition to front-man Kurt Heasley The band's current line-up is:
Don Devore (Collapsing Scenery, Icarus Line, Sick Feeling)
James Richardson (MGMT)
Travis Rosenberg (Tanlines)
Simon O’Connor (Kuroma, Amazing Baby)
Chris Colley (Collapsing Scenery, School Of Seven Bells)
Alex Craig (Big Troubles, Limited)
Lilys – 2017 Tour Dates
January 29th – Bowery Ballroom, NYC, NY*
February 2nd – The Chapel, San Francisco, CA*
February 3rd – TBA, Sacramento, CA
February 4th – The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA*
February 5th – Part Time Punks at The Echo, Los Angeles, CA*
February 6th – Soda Bar, San Diego, CA** = with Dead HeavensIn The Presence Of Nothing - TRACKLISTING
01. There's No Such Thing As Black Orchids
02. Elizabeth Colour Wheel
03. Collider
04. Tone Bender
05. Periscope
06. It Does Nothing For Me
07. Snowblinder
08. The Way Snowflakes Fall
09. Threw A Day
10. Claire Hates Me
Night Beats Announce Desert Daze Caravan Tour With Temples, Deap Vally, Froth and JJUUJJUU
Night Beats Announce Desert Daze Caravan Tour With Temples, Deap Vally, Froth And JJUUJJUU
New Album Who Sold My Generation Out Now On Heavenly Recordings
Tour Dates:2/22/17 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel*2/24/17 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom*2/25/17 – Seattle, WA – Neumos*2/26/17 – Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw Theatre*2/28/17 – Felton, CA – Don Quixote’s Music Hall*3/1/17 – Nevada City, CA – Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center*3/2/17 – Pomona, CA – The Glass House Concert Hall*3/3/17 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace*3/4/17 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater*3/5/17 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up*3/10/17 – Las Vegas, NV – Neon Reverb Festival*3/11/17 – Phoenix, AZ – VIVA PHX – Downtown Phoenix*3/17/17 – Dallas,TX – Not So Fun Weekend @ Trees*
*w/ Temples, Deap Vally, Froth and JJUUJJUU
Today Night Beats are excited to announce a West Coast tour in February and March of 2017 alongside TEMPLES, Deap Vally, Froth and JJUUJJUU. Dubbed the “Desert Daze Caravan Tour”, it will kick off in San Francisco on 2/22 and run through 3/17. Tickets are on sale now.
Who Sold My Generation was recorded on old two-inch tape in Echo Park, Los Angeles at the home of producer Nic Jodoin and featuring co-production and guess bass playing from Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, new album Who Sold My Generation goes beyond merely being a retreading of well-worn garage / R&B path. Instead it offers a contemporary take on the psychedelic experience, a heady set of hoodoo voodoo songs.
Very much a record in the great Texan musical tradition of acid-drenched outlaw music, Who Sold My Generation picks up where the likes of The Elevators, The Red Krayola, pre-ZZ Top band The Moving Sidewalks, The Butthole Surfers and The Black Angels – whose record label Reverb Appreciation Society released the band's second album – left off.
Named in homage to Sam Cooke's classic album, Night Beats began as a two-piece in 2009 after both Danny Lee Blackwell and James Traeger moved from Texas to Seattle, Washington and were soon picked up by Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records (Ty Segall, Fresh and Onlys, Hex Dispensers, etc.) who released their debut album. Cult US West Coast label Burger Records were also on hand, releasing Night Beats first two albums via cassette. Having been fans of both records, and having caught their astonishing set at the Shipping Forecast in Liverpool last year, Heavenly Recordings eventually signed the band in the summer of 2015.
Night Beats are: Danny Lee Blackwell (guitar / vocals), Jakob Bowden (bass) & James Traeger (drums). Who Sold My Generation is available through iTunes here. Merch bundles will be available exclusively at thenightbeats.us / nightbeats.spinshop.com
Website | Facebook
New Album Who Sold My Generation Out Now On Heavenly Recordings
Tour Dates:2/22/17 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel*2/24/17 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom*2/25/17 – Seattle, WA – Neumos*2/26/17 – Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw Theatre*2/28/17 – Felton, CA – Don Quixote’s Music Hall*3/1/17 – Nevada City, CA – Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center*3/2/17 – Pomona, CA – The Glass House Concert Hall*3/3/17 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace*3/4/17 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater*3/5/17 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up*3/10/17 – Las Vegas, NV – Neon Reverb Festival*3/11/17 – Phoenix, AZ – VIVA PHX – Downtown Phoenix*3/17/17 – Dallas,TX – Not So Fun Weekend @ Trees**w/ Temples, Deap Vally, Froth and JJUUJJUU
Today Night Beats are excited to announce a West Coast tour in February and March of 2017 alongside TEMPLES, Deap Vally, Froth and JJUUJJUU. Dubbed the “Desert Daze Caravan Tour”, it will kick off in San Francisco on 2/22 and run through 3/17. Tickets are on sale now.
Who Sold My Generation was recorded on old two-inch tape in Echo Park, Los Angeles at the home of producer Nic Jodoin and featuring co-production and guess bass playing from Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, new album Who Sold My Generation goes beyond merely being a retreading of well-worn garage / R&B path. Instead it offers a contemporary take on the psychedelic experience, a heady set of hoodoo voodoo songs.
Very much a record in the great Texan musical tradition of acid-drenched outlaw music, Who Sold My Generation picks up where the likes of The Elevators, The Red Krayola, pre-ZZ Top band The Moving Sidewalks, The Butthole Surfers and The Black Angels – whose record label Reverb Appreciation Society released the band's second album – left off.
Named in homage to Sam Cooke's classic album, Night Beats began as a two-piece in 2009 after both Danny Lee Blackwell and James Traeger moved from Texas to Seattle, Washington and were soon picked up by Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records (Ty Segall, Fresh and Onlys, Hex Dispensers, etc.) who released their debut album. Cult US West Coast label Burger Records were also on hand, releasing Night Beats first two albums via cassette. Having been fans of both records, and having caught their astonishing set at the Shipping Forecast in Liverpool last year, Heavenly Recordings eventually signed the band in the summer of 2015.
Night Beats are: Danny Lee Blackwell (guitar / vocals), Jakob Bowden (bass) & James Traeger (drums). Who Sold My Generation is available through iTunes here. Merch bundles will be available exclusively at thenightbeats.us / nightbeats.spinshop.com
Website | Facebook
ROYAL TRUX IN DETROIT!?
VETERANS OF DISORDER
It was the summer of 2000. Royal Trux, seemingly in mid-flight, disappeared. One of the great white hopes of rock and roll was gone, apparently never to return.
It was the summer of 2015. Long years of speculation had come and gone when, apropos of almost nothing, Royal Trux were headlining the Berserktown Festival out in Cali.
The summer of 2017 is coming. Royal Trux have brought their peculiar form of rock, equal parts scorch and melt, to a few selected venues around the country. A bright spot, to be sure, them rearing their fugly head amid the avalanche of a country sliding into ruin. We need the phreedom phight that onlyRoyal Trux can lead. Only they can show us we don't know what side we're really on. While the president hides in his "white house", afraid to visit the working people of this country, Neil and Jennifer will head to Deetroit Rock City on May 13th, to survey the deserted battlefields of American Industry - and to close the barn door! Oh, and also, to bring their unparalleled sprawl, their pounding rhythms and corrosive guitars and their head-scathing songs into HEAVY play at the El Club.
Will we be there? We wouldn't miss it. That's just a fake question, man! The real question is - will you?PS: Trux will be at SXSW this year (March 16th and 17th), stay tuned for more deets and announcements! Royal Trux Online: Drag City-http://www.dragcity.com/artists/royal-trux
It was the summer of 2000. Royal Trux, seemingly in mid-flight, disappeared. One of the great white hopes of rock and roll was gone, apparently never to return.It was the summer of 2015. Long years of speculation had come and gone when, apropos of almost nothing, Royal Trux were headlining the Berserktown Festival out in Cali.
The summer of 2017 is coming. Royal Trux have brought their peculiar form of rock, equal parts scorch and melt, to a few selected venues around the country. A bright spot, to be sure, them rearing their fugly head amid the avalanche of a country sliding into ruin. We need the phreedom phight that onlyRoyal Trux can lead. Only they can show us we don't know what side we're really on. While the president hides in his "white house", afraid to visit the working people of this country, Neil and Jennifer will head to Deetroit Rock City on May 13th, to survey the deserted battlefields of American Industry - and to close the barn door! Oh, and also, to bring their unparalleled sprawl, their pounding rhythms and corrosive guitars and their head-scathing songs into HEAVY play at the El Club.
Will we be there? We wouldn't miss it. That's just a fake question, man! The real question is - will you?
PS: Trux will be at SXSW this year (March 16th and 17th), stay tuned for more deets and announcements! Royal Trux Online: Drag City-http://www.dragcity.com/artists/royal-trux
February 1, 2017
FOXYGEN tour starts in February
FOXYGEN Tour starts in less than a month and tickets are going fast. Full dates and link to tickets below. Grab them while you can!
2/22 Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso2/23 Berlin, DE - Columbia Theater2/24 Brussels, BE - Orangerie2/25 Paris, FR - Le Trabendo2/27 London, UK - Koko3/18 Mexico City, MX - Vive Latino3/19 Mexico City, MX - Vive Latino3/21 Richmond, VA - The National3/22 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club3/24 New York, NY - Terminal 53/25 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club3/26 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer3/28 Toronto, ON - Opera House3/30 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall3/31 Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre4/1 Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre 4/2 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 4/4 Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre4/5 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room4/7 San Francisco, CA - The Independent4/8 Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda4/9 Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory4/11 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom4/13 Dallas, TX - Trees4/14 Austin, TX - The Mohawk4/15 Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall4/17 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks4/18 Atlanta, GA - Terminal West4/19 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel4/20 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle5/23 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory5/24 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom 5/25 Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater5/26 George, WA - Sasquatch Festival5/27 George, WA - Sasquatch Festival5/28 George, WA - Sasquatch Festival7/14 Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival7/15 Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival7/16 Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival 728 New York, NY - Panorama Festival
Tickets here: http://bit.ly/2fkUZPR
The Courtneys unveil "Minnesota" from new album on Flying Nun - Extend North American tour
THE COURTNEYS
LISTEN / SHARE "MINNESOTA" ON SOUNDCLOUDTHE COURTNEYS II OUT FEB 17 ON FLYING NUN
EXTEND NORTH AMERICAN TOUR: LA, SF AND MORE
Photo Credit: Andrew Volk
"nails simultaneously glum and bubblegum hooks with grinning purpose...the kind of pop song that belongs in a karaoke bar" - NPR
"a bouncy brand of indie rock lacing in '90s fuzz and feel-good vibes with an understated jagged edge" - STEREOGUM
"simple, catchy power-pop" - AV CLUB
"The Courtneys feel like a punkish band with a cheekily arena-rock spirit" - PITCHFORKVancouver's beloved power pop trio, The Courtneys give us another peek into their forthcoming album before it's out with their third single, "Minnesota". The Courtneys II,their sophomore release and first for Flying Nun Records is out February 17. As their number one influence for years, the legendary label signed the trio as their first non-New Zealand act.
The Courtneys drift back to the sound of the early '90s, drawing from strong influences including Teenage Fanclub, Pavement, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, and The Clean. Courtney Loove's dreamy guitar riffs add a timeless powerpop element to the punk backbone formed by Sydney Koke's driving basslines, while drummer/lead singer Jen Twynn Payne delivers heartfelt lyrics with a powerful vocal style. These components come together through a passionate collaborative songwriting process to deliver a special blend of fuzzy "artisanal grunge".
The Courtneys have previous toured throughout the world supporting Tegan and Sara, Mac Demarco and more. This time around they set out for an extensive tour with Jay Som. LA, SF and more have been announced. Check below for a full list of dates.
WATCH THE "SILVER VELVET" VIDEO
THE COURTNEYS LIVE DATES:
3/14: Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore3/16: Calgary, AB @ Broken City3/17: Edmonton, AB @ Brixx Bar & Grill 3/18: Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos Cantina3/19: Winnipeg, CA @ The Good Will3/20: Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium3/21: Madison, WI @ The Frequency ^3/22: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry ^3/23: Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club ^3/24: Chicago, IL @ Schubas ^3/25: Cleveland, OH @ Mahall's ^3/27: Montreal, QC @ Bar le Ritz3/26: Toronto, ON @ The Garrison ^3/28: Allston, MA @ The Great Scott ^3/29: Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right ^3/31: Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle ^4/1: Washingston, DC @ DC9 ^4/2: Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo4/4: Omaha, NE @ Milk Run4/6: Denver, CO @ Lost Lake City ^4/7: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court ^4/8: Boise, ID @ Neurolux ^4/10: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir ^4/11: Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt ^4/12: Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile ^4/14: San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar 4/15: Los Angeles, CA @ Resident
^ - w/ Jay Som
LISTEN / SHARE "MINNESOTA" ON SOUNDCLOUDTHE COURTNEYS II OUT FEB 17 ON FLYING NUN
EXTEND NORTH AMERICAN TOUR: LA, SF AND MORE
Photo Credit: Andrew Volk"nails simultaneously glum and bubblegum hooks with grinning purpose...the kind of pop song that belongs in a karaoke bar" - NPR
"a bouncy brand of indie rock lacing in '90s fuzz and feel-good vibes with an understated jagged edge" - STEREOGUM
"simple, catchy power-pop" - AV CLUB
"The Courtneys feel like a punkish band with a cheekily arena-rock spirit" - PITCHFORKVancouver's beloved power pop trio, The Courtneys give us another peek into their forthcoming album before it's out with their third single, "Minnesota". The Courtneys II,their sophomore release and first for Flying Nun Records is out February 17. As their number one influence for years, the legendary label signed the trio as their first non-New Zealand act.
The Courtneys drift back to the sound of the early '90s, drawing from strong influences including Teenage Fanclub, Pavement, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, and The Clean. Courtney Loove's dreamy guitar riffs add a timeless powerpop element to the punk backbone formed by Sydney Koke's driving basslines, while drummer/lead singer Jen Twynn Payne delivers heartfelt lyrics with a powerful vocal style. These components come together through a passionate collaborative songwriting process to deliver a special blend of fuzzy "artisanal grunge".
The Courtneys have previous toured throughout the world supporting Tegan and Sara, Mac Demarco and more. This time around they set out for an extensive tour with Jay Som. LA, SF and more have been announced. Check below for a full list of dates.
WATCH THE "SILVER VELVET" VIDEO
THE COURTNEYS LIVE DATES:
3/14: Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore3/16: Calgary, AB @ Broken City3/17: Edmonton, AB @ Brixx Bar & Grill 3/18: Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos Cantina3/19: Winnipeg, CA @ The Good Will3/20: Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium3/21: Madison, WI @ The Frequency ^3/22: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry ^3/23: Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club ^3/24: Chicago, IL @ Schubas ^3/25: Cleveland, OH @ Mahall's ^3/27: Montreal, QC @ Bar le Ritz3/26: Toronto, ON @ The Garrison ^3/28: Allston, MA @ The Great Scott ^3/29: Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right ^3/31: Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle ^4/1: Washingston, DC @ DC9 ^4/2: Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo4/4: Omaha, NE @ Milk Run4/6: Denver, CO @ Lost Lake City ^4/7: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court ^4/8: Boise, ID @ Neurolux ^4/10: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir ^4/11: Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt ^4/12: Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile ^4/14: San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar 4/15: Los Angeles, CA @ Resident
^ - w/ Jay Som
Japandroids Perform "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life" On Colbert
WATCH JAPANDROIDS PERFORM"NEAR TO THE WILD HEART OF LIFE" ON THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT
New Album Out Now, Tour Beginning This Month
Japandroids third album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, is finally out today! Named one of the most anticipated albums of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Consequence of Sound, New York Magazine's Vulture, Pitchfork, Stereogum, NPR, AV Club and more, the album delivers.
The band performed their song, "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life" on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last night. The single also charted at #37 on the American Alternative Radio Chart the week.
Praise for Near To The Wild Heart Of Life:
"with guitars soaring and grooves accelerating, the words feel undeniable, and you know that when you hear 'em in a club - or theater, or arena - you'll be bouncing off the walls, shouting every word." - Rolling Stone "****"
"If Celebration Rock was two guys' way of romanticizing the messiness of a dramatic past - real and rediscovered - then Near To The Wild Heart Of Life is its natural sequel, re-envisioning youth as a passageway to a new and better place." - NPR
"Japandroids has become something of a unicorn in today's landscape ... a vibrant, self-sufficient guitar-led band that keeps growing its audience without making sacrifices, aesthetic or otherwise." - New York Times
"With their third, the Vancouver duo sounds positively born to run . Near to the Wild Heart of Life marks a huge leap forward in studio craft, stylistic diversity, and lyrical scope as it crosses the gap between punk and classic rock like the Clash's London Calling or Green Day's American Idiot." - Entertainment Weekly "A-"
"...one of the best pure rock 'n' roll albums of the decade." The Ringer "The high point comes on "Arc of Bar," a seven-and-a-half minute epic built over a guitar loop that recalls a sputtering Tesla coil and a drum part that sounds like it could crack the foundation of any concert venue."- The Atlantic
"From the first track of Wild Heart, it's clear that Japandroids' world has expanded beyond one another ... The result remains thrilling, but it's a different kind of excitement -- with lower peaks but a wider base" - Billboard
"For all the descriptive language they use, descriptive language can't really adequately evoke how much beautiful, blown-out noise is produced by these two people, how much better they are at this than dozens of bands who've tried. " - SPIN
"Japandroids' new album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, is bigger in every way than Celebration Rock. It's a clear attempt from Japandroids to reach new levels, and to do things they've never done before. Their distorted-guitar/drums/vocals formula isn't gone, but now they added in bass, acoustic guitars, synthesizers, and slower tempos on a handful of songs. Celebration Rock may have been a breakthrough, but this aims to be an even bigger one." - Brooklyn Vegan
"Near to the Wild Heart of Life's mood proceeds down a road more tender than the band has most famously traversed."- Esquire
"...though Near To The Wild Heart Of Life remains a Japandroids album...The band has expanded its sound while hewing close to what it does best." - AV Club "A-"
"Was Near worth the wait? Woah yeah." - Wired
"Four and a half years after making the best rock record of the decade, Japandroids feel finally secure enough to write autobiography. It's the best thing they could've possibly done." - Noisey
Japandroids will set out on a headlining tour beginning on February 13th, which will find them playing their biggest show to date at NYC's Terminal 5 on February 23rd, as well as multiple nights in Toronto, Philadelphia, DC, SF, and Los Angeles. They've also just announced a show in Austin on February 7th at the Mohawk Inside, with all proceeds benefiting Planned Parenthood.
Check www.Japandroids.com for all ticket information.
Japandroids on tour:2/7 - Austin, TX - Mohawk Inside2/8 - Austin, TX - Waterloo Records (in-store performance)2/13 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre*2/14 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*2/15 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre* SOLD OUT2/17 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Theatre* SOLD OUT2/18 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Theatre*2/20 - Boston, MA - Royale*2/23 - New York, NY - Terminal 5*2/24 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* SOLD OUT2/25 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer*2/27 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club* SOLD OUT2/28 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club*3/01 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle*3/03 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse*3/04 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn*3/05 - St Louis, MO - The Ready Room*3/07 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre*3/09 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre*3/10 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre* SOLD OUT3/11 - San Diego, CA - Music Box*3/13 - Santa Ana, CA -Observatory*3/14 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore*3/15 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore*3/17 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall*3/18 - Seattle, WA - Neptune*3/20 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom*4/18 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset4/19 - Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefährlich4/20 - Cologne, Germany - Gebaude 94/22 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theater4/23 -Frankfurt, Germany - Zoom4/24 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg4/26 - Paris, France - La Maroquinerie4/27 - Brussels, Belgium - The Rotonde / Botanique4/28 - Birmingham, UK - o2 Institute Birmingham4/30 - Glasgow, UK - The Garage5/01 - Leeds, UK - Stylus5/02 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms5/04 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla5/05 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 25/06 - London, UK - o2 Shepherd's Bush Empire6/03 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound6/04 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound6/10 - Porto, Portugal - Primavera Sound* with Craig Finn
New Album Out Now, Tour Beginning This MonthJapandroids third album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, is finally out today! Named one of the most anticipated albums of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Consequence of Sound, New York Magazine's Vulture, Pitchfork, Stereogum, NPR, AV Club and more, the album delivers.
The band performed their song, "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life" on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last night. The single also charted at #37 on the American Alternative Radio Chart the week.
Praise for Near To The Wild Heart Of Life:
"with guitars soaring and grooves accelerating, the words feel undeniable, and you know that when you hear 'em in a club - or theater, or arena - you'll be bouncing off the walls, shouting every word." - Rolling Stone "****"
"If Celebration Rock was two guys' way of romanticizing the messiness of a dramatic past - real and rediscovered - then Near To The Wild Heart Of Life is its natural sequel, re-envisioning youth as a passageway to a new and better place." - NPR
"Japandroids has become something of a unicorn in today's landscape ... a vibrant, self-sufficient guitar-led band that keeps growing its audience without making sacrifices, aesthetic or otherwise." - New York Times
"With their third, the Vancouver duo sounds positively born to run . Near to the Wild Heart of Life marks a huge leap forward in studio craft, stylistic diversity, and lyrical scope as it crosses the gap between punk and classic rock like the Clash's London Calling or Green Day's American Idiot." - Entertainment Weekly "A-"
"...one of the best pure rock 'n' roll albums of the decade." The Ringer "The high point comes on "Arc of Bar," a seven-and-a-half minute epic built over a guitar loop that recalls a sputtering Tesla coil and a drum part that sounds like it could crack the foundation of any concert venue."- The Atlantic
"From the first track of Wild Heart, it's clear that Japandroids' world has expanded beyond one another ... The result remains thrilling, but it's a different kind of excitement -- with lower peaks but a wider base" - Billboard
"For all the descriptive language they use, descriptive language can't really adequately evoke how much beautiful, blown-out noise is produced by these two people, how much better they are at this than dozens of bands who've tried. " - SPIN
"Japandroids' new album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, is bigger in every way than Celebration Rock. It's a clear attempt from Japandroids to reach new levels, and to do things they've never done before. Their distorted-guitar/drums/vocals formula isn't gone, but now they added in bass, acoustic guitars, synthesizers, and slower tempos on a handful of songs. Celebration Rock may have been a breakthrough, but this aims to be an even bigger one." - Brooklyn Vegan
"Near to the Wild Heart of Life's mood proceeds down a road more tender than the band has most famously traversed."- Esquire
"...though Near To The Wild Heart Of Life remains a Japandroids album...The band has expanded its sound while hewing close to what it does best." - AV Club "A-"
"Was Near worth the wait? Woah yeah." - Wired
"Four and a half years after making the best rock record of the decade, Japandroids feel finally secure enough to write autobiography. It's the best thing they could've possibly done." - Noisey
Japandroids will set out on a headlining tour beginning on February 13th, which will find them playing their biggest show to date at NYC's Terminal 5 on February 23rd, as well as multiple nights in Toronto, Philadelphia, DC, SF, and Los Angeles. They've also just announced a show in Austin on February 7th at the Mohawk Inside, with all proceeds benefiting Planned Parenthood.
Check www.Japandroids.com for all ticket information.
Japandroids on tour:2/7 - Austin, TX - Mohawk Inside2/8 - Austin, TX - Waterloo Records (in-store performance)2/13 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre*2/14 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*2/15 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre* SOLD OUT2/17 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Theatre* SOLD OUT2/18 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Theatre*2/20 - Boston, MA - Royale*2/23 - New York, NY - Terminal 5*2/24 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* SOLD OUT2/25 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer*2/27 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club* SOLD OUT2/28 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club*3/01 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle*3/03 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse*3/04 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn*3/05 - St Louis, MO - The Ready Room*3/07 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre*3/09 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre*3/10 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre* SOLD OUT3/11 - San Diego, CA - Music Box*3/13 - Santa Ana, CA -Observatory*3/14 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore*3/15 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore*3/17 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall*3/18 - Seattle, WA - Neptune*3/20 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom*4/18 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset4/19 - Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefährlich4/20 - Cologne, Germany - Gebaude 94/22 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theater4/23 -Frankfurt, Germany - Zoom4/24 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg4/26 - Paris, France - La Maroquinerie4/27 - Brussels, Belgium - The Rotonde / Botanique4/28 - Birmingham, UK - o2 Institute Birmingham4/30 - Glasgow, UK - The Garage5/01 - Leeds, UK - Stylus5/02 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms5/04 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla5/05 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 25/06 - London, UK - o2 Shepherd's Bush Empire6/03 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound6/04 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound6/10 - Porto, Portugal - Primavera Sound* with Craig Finn
