Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 502
June 15, 2023
RED WEDDING Interview with Michael Ely 2023
LA music scene 1977-1985 + New Wave Theater
As the early LA punk scene of the late 1970s morphed into the new era, many things took place. Many bands had broken up by 1982 and some had not succeeded in getting signed and breaking into the national scene. The Germs and X more or less crashed and burned. The least likely candidates The Go-Gos had a hit record by 1982, and were touring nationally. The punk rock scene at first was inclusive to anyone with an attitude and a counter culture sound.
Independent Music and labels went into different genres. Punk became more hardcore and anti commercial and local. Other bands who might have been punk in the past were now Goth, Rockabilly, Roots Americana, New Wave, Techno, Ska, Reggae, Disco, Metal, Cabaret, or all of the above. People like Henry Rollins, Nick Cave and Lydia Lunch read their poetry at Club Lhasa. The birth of MTV emphasized the importance of image.
The original punk scene was also hated and banned. Clubs like the Cuckoo’s Nest and the Masque had closed down. The scene documented in The Decline of Western Civilization was fading by 1980. Public Image Ltd played at the Olympic Auditorium in May 1980 to almost five thousand people. Other punk nights were staged by the Stern Brothers soon after that at the Hollywood Palladium. Shows were getting big with the introduction of Goldenvoice. Cops hated the punks. Punk rock had to soften its image, or go underground and be hardcore punk and exist on the margins.
Many new clubs were born like the Anticlub, the Fake Club, Rajis, Al’s Bar, Club Lhasa, the ON Club, Club Lingerie, Club Fetish, The Vex. and the Cathay de Grande. They existed to present a new era of bands that formed in the wake of punk. Some clubs like the Whisky a-go-go and the Roxy existed along side of Goldenvoice events that catered to the new sounds. While conventional rock bands headed over to Gazarri’s or the Troubadour. In downtown LA, there were illegal warehouse parties, at Power Tools, Scream, Dirt Box, and Brave Dog.
There was also New Wave Theater. It was hosted by Peter Ivers and appeared around 1982. Many older bands played on it like Fear, Dead Kennedys and Circle Jerks. But there was also newer bands like 45 Grave, Monitor, Killer Pussy, Suburban Lawns, Mnemonic Devices, Red Wedding, Surf Punks, The Plugs, Legal Weapon, and the Blasters. The new scene had arrived and girls actually attended these gigs. UK bands like Adam and the Ants and Psychedelic Furs were widely accepted and very influential. LA had it’s own Paisley Underground scene, which was a 60s based retro scene based on Syd Barrett and the Velvet Underground.
Red Wedding stood out among the bands. They existed for about five years 1981-1985. They released a few EPs and played many venues and supported many of the local bands. I saw them play at Club Lhasa and the Anti-Club. They also played in San Diego and San Francisco. They never played England or did a national tour, where they may have found more support. I spoke to lead singer, Michael Ely, of Red Wedding. Recently he has formed a band in Tuscon, Arizona called Elegant Rabies.
Red Wedding existed for about five years 1981-1985. They released a few EPs and played many venues and supported many of the local bands. I saw them play at Club Lhasa and the Anti-Club. They also played in San Diego and San Francisco. I spoke to lead singer, Michael Ely, of Red Wedding. Recently he has formed a band in Tuscon, Arizona called Elegant Rabies.Website: http://michaelandspider.com/Theoretical: http://www.theoretical2.com/redwedhom...Red Wedding: https://redweddingoriginal.bandcamp.c...The Elegant Rabies: https://elegantrabies.bandcamp.com/al...
Tei Shi shares official video for "¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?"
TEI SHI SHARES OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR BILINGUAL SONG
BAD PREMONTION EP OUT NOW!
Following the release of her new indpedent EP BAD PREMONITION, Canadian-Colombian singer-songwriter and artist Tei Shi shares her official video for her single "¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?", a fan favorite taken from the 6-track EP. Co-produced alongside Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly and Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jake Portrait (Lil Yachty), the bilingual track delves into themes of deception, self-empowerment, and independence all while drawing inspiration from her cultural roots. It’s a reflection of the frustration, manipulation, and deceit Tei Shi endured while navigating the music industry. The single and its accompanying visual which premiered earlier today on REMEZCLA are a powerful testament to Tei Shi's artistic expression and serve as an anthem of strength and liberation.
While the visual is both captivating and intentional – it also holds an interesting story. After shooting, there was a major mishap which resulted in none of the footage being usable. Despite this, Tei Shi and her all-Latine team refused to give up and instead reshot the video, resulting in an exceptional piece of art. The visual features an incredible dance performance crafted with renowned choreographer Teresa "Toogie" Barcelo, who has worked with notable acts such as Dua Lipa, Xtina Aguilera, Miguel, and Kali Uchis. Directed by friend and frequent collaborator Jonatán López (Flying Lotus, A$AP Ferg, Alaina Castillo, and more), the video showcases an intricately designed outfit by fashion designer Elena Velez. This project exemplifies the team's unwavering dedication and serves as a labor of love and creativity. The empowering message of the single, juxtaposed with the challenges faced during its creation, amplifies the impact of the visual, creating a truly memorable experience.
Speaking on the video, Tei Shi shares, “The video for ‘QUIEN TE MANDA' was a huge labor of love and creativity on behalf of everyone involved. We actually had to shoot it twice – so the whole experience was very crazy. I’ve worked with Jonatan Lopez many times throughout my career. He’s one of my closest friends, and we’ve made multiple videos of mine and visual projects through the years. Working with him again now feels like such a natural extension of where I am — returning to my roots, to being independent, to taking back creative freedom, to that DIY and authentic spirit that Tei Shi was born of”.
She adds, “Toogie is someone I’ve been wanting to work with for years. I’m so glad she was brought into my life! She brings a really free, mindful, spiritual and wellness oriented approach which has been really necessary for me, because I had a lot of physical recovery to do after some really bad chapters with chronic pain”.
Touching on the choreography and inspiration, “I grew up dancing — my mom put me in ballet classes when I was two years old and I quit when I was 15. Ballet was my main thing but I did all types of dance. Dancing is something I’ve always loved to do, something that came really naturally to me my whole life. It got kind of buried for a long time, and I didn’t explore it at all within my music until now really. I came back to it gradually over the last three years, just for fun. I’m still very sloppy but that’s part of the process…it brings me a lot of joy. I also worked with my go-to stylist Kat Typaldos and we combined some incredible pieces by Elena Velez with some of my nostalgic dance elements like the dance sneaker and the tutu.
Tei Shi courageously shares her personal story and showcases her resilience and determination to rise above adversity on her EP BAD PREMONITION. The combination of songs and visuals bring to life Tei Shi's musical journey, rebirth, and diversity as both an artist and performer, navigating both heartbreak and the toxic aspects of the music industry. The EP continues to resonate with listeners and has garnered press praise from Pitchfork, CLASH, The FADER, STEREOGUM, PAPER, FLOOD Magazine, i-D, NYLON, Exclaim, and more.
The past year has kicked off Tei Shi's new era and has seen her embark on an empowering musical journey while making her mark on the live scene. She toured across North America this past Spring, provided support to Kimbra throughout the country, and performed intimate, sold-out shows in New York and Los Angeles last fall. Additionally, Tei Shi collaborated with John Cale on his highly lauded album Mercy, where she was featured on the track "I Know You're Happy". She also made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week, walking for the Elena Velez show.
Watch "¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?” and stay tuned for more from Tei Shi coming soon.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL “¿QUIÉN TE MANDA” VIDEO
STREAM/PURCHASE BAD PREMONITION EP
https://orcd.co/badpremonitionep
BAD PREMONITION EP TRACKLIST
1. FAMILIAR
2. BAD PREMONITION
3. ¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?
4. MONA LISA
5. GRIP
6. COLOR
FOLLOW TEI SHI
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER I FACEBOOK I SPOTIFY I APPLE MUSIC I BANDCAMP I TEISHI.WORLD
OSEES Share "Goon" Single + Video via Paste, Read the Consequence Feature | 'Intercepted Message' LP Out 8/18 via In The Red
Read the Consequence Feature
North American + UK/EU Tour, Tickets Available Now
Intercepted Message LP Out August 18
via In The Red
Photo by Titouan MasséLISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: OSEES - "Goon"Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: OSEES - "Intercepted Message"
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube
PURCHASE/WATCH & SHARE: Thee Oh Sees - Live at LEVITATION LP
Purchase | "Block of Ice" (Live in 2012) | "Devil Again" (Live in 2012)
LISTEN/PURCHASE & SHARE: OSEES - A Foul Form
Spotify / Apple Music / Purchase / Bandcamp
WATCH & SHARE: OSEES - "Scum Show"
YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: OSEES - "A Foul Form"
Stream / Bandcamp / YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: OSEES - "Perm Act"
Stream / YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: OSEES - "Funeral Solution"
Stream / YouTube"'Goon' is synth-punk-meets-hair-metal greatness. Imagine an edgier, subtler, less-hairsprayed version of KISS [...] It’s a tune that will transport you to the most rebellious years of your early tweens, the kind of tongue-in-cheek, 'fuck you all' number that never fails to make you want to head-bang at your desk."
- Paste
"Title track 'Intercepted Message' is indeed on the poppier side of the Dwyer oeuvre [...] Rich Homie Quan talked the talk, but John Dwyer walks the walk: The man will never stop going in"
- Stereogum
"OSEES keep shedding their skin and changing shape."
- Brooklyn VeganThe ever prolific and constantly frenetic OSEES recently announced details for their forthcoming LP, Intercepted Message , due August 18 via In The Red. Following the release of the record's first single and title track, " Intercepted Message " (alongside an accompanying video), today, the band shares another new track entitled " Goon ," also with its own video (starring Zack Palmisano).
On their forthcoming album, John Dwyer wrote the following:
A pop record for tired times.
Sugared with bits of shatterproof glass to put more crack in your strap.
At long last, Verse / chorus
A weathered thesaurus
This is Osees bookend sound
Early grade garage pop meets proto-synth punk suicide-repellant
Have a whack at the grass or listen while flat on your ass
Heaps of electronic whirling accelerants to gum up your cheapskate broadband
Social media toilet scrapers unite!
Allow your 24 hour news cycle eyes to squint at this smiling abattoir doorman
You can find your place here at long last
All are welcome
From the get go to the finale …. A distant crackling transmission of 80s synth last-dance-of-the-night tune for your lost loves
Suffering from Politic amnesia?
Bored of AI-generated pop slop?
Then this one is for you, our friends
Wasteland wanderer, stick around.
Love y’all
For fans of Teutonic synth punk and Thee Oh Sees (who the fuck are they?)
Stay tuned for the full-length Intercepted Message LP, out August 18.
OSEES - "Goon" [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
"Goon" - Video Credits
:A Bad People / Bad Taste Co-Production
Starring Zack Palmisano
Directed by Jordan Harris & Andrew Schrader & Jack Bishop & Justin Nijm
Produced by Andrew Schrader
Shot by Jack Bishop & Justin Nijm
Edited / Color by Jordan Harris
VFX by John Brown
Filmed at Dr. LeRoy Perry’s International Sportscience Institute, Los Angeles
Camera and lenses provided by Old Fast Glass
Gear provided by CypherBlu
Props provided by ISS Props
Additional gear provided by Rickey Mizuno
Intercepted Message LP - TRACKLISTING:
01. Stunner
02. Blank Chems
03. Intercepted Message
04. Die Laughing
05. Unusual & Cruel
06. The Fish Needs A Bike
07. Goon
08. Chaos Heart
09. Submerged Building
10. Sleazoid Psycho
11. Always At Night
12. Ladwp HoldIn addition to their forthcoming LP, a 2012 LEVITATION performance by Thee Oh Sees has been revisited for a new series of vinyl releases, Live at LEVITATION , immortalizing it on glorious 12" colored wax, mixed by John Dwyer and mastered for vinyl by JJ Golden. The release is out in stores today, May 19 It is available for purchase HERE. To preview the LP, the band also shared live videos for " Block of Ice " and " Devil Again ."
To celebrate their new LEVITATION release, 5 classic OSEES records — Dog Poison (2009), Floating Coffin (2013), Mutilator Defeated at Last (2015), Orc (2017), and A Foul Form (2022) — have also been repressed, each in two new vinyl colorways and only available at Levitation.fm.
OSEES are also in the midst of a lengthy run of 2023 tour dates, including stops throughout North America, the UK, and more. Tickets and more information can be found HERE. Full routing below.
OSEES LIVE
6/22 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
6/23 - Calgary, AB - Sled Island Music & Arts Festival
6/25 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda w/ Hot Garbage and Tha Retail Simp$
8/11 - Düdingen, CH - Bad Bonn
8/12 - Val de Bagnes, CH - Palp Festival
8/14 - Vienna, AT - Arena
8/16 - Rotterdam, NL - Maassilo
8/18 - Saint-Malo, FR - La Route Du Rock
8/19 - Hasselt, BE - Pukkelpop
8/20 - Gueret, FR - Check In Party
8/22 - Bordeaux, FR - Square Dom Bedos
8/23 - Biarritz, FR - Atabal
8/25 - Málaga, ES - Canela Party
9/3 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
9/4- San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
9/5 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
9/6 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
9/8 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
9/9 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
9/10 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
9/14 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
9/15 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
9/16 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
9/17 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
9/18 - Detroit, MI - El Club
9/20 - Boston, MA - Royale
9/22 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
9/23 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
9/25 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
9/26 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
9/30 - Austin, TX - Hotel Vegas
10/1 - Austin, TX - Hotel Vegas
10/3 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister Bar
11/9 - Los Angeles, CA - The Globe Theater - Substance FestivalOSEES LINKS
Website | Bandcamp
Dexys (fka Dexys Midnight Runners) Share "Coming Home" Single | 'The Feminine Divine' LP Due 7/28
Share "Coming Home" Single
September UK & IRE Headlining Tour, Tickets Available Now
The Feminine Divine LP Due 7/28 via 100% Records,
First New LP of Original Material in Over a Decade
Photo by Sandra VijandiLISTEN & SHARE: Dexys - "Coming Home"Stream / YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Dexys - "The Feminine Divine"
Stream / YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Dexys - "I'm Going To Get Free"
Stream / YouTube"Deeply impassioned vocalist and smartly emotive songwriter Kevin Rowland has made lyrical intensity and melodic contagion with dramatic flair (and a dress sense of sartorial splendor) his calling card"
- FLOOD Magazine
"Rowland — as singer and songwriter with Dexys Midnight Runners — gave us some of the great pop moments. From the bolshy vision of Searching for the Young Soul Rebels through the celtic-gumbo of Too-Rye-Ay and '85's neglected masterpiece, Don't Stand Me Down, his is a towering contribution to British music, both visually and musically."
- UNCUT Magazine
"Dexys, the band who confound you with their strangeness – and then their brilliance."
- The Guardian
"Dexys are one of the greatest groups to emerge from the United Kingdom and in Kevin Rowland they have one of the most intelligent songwriters and charismatic frontmen that ever graced a stage."
- PopMatters
"A timely reminder of Kevin Rowland’s and Dexys' impact and importance"
- The Quietus
Read the Stereogum + Brooklyn Vegan Features
Storied English pop-rock band Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners) — who are perhaps best known for their Brit Award-winning commercial smash-hit "Come On Eileen," which reached number one in 8 countries and became the best-selling single in the UK and US in 1982 — are finally returning in full swing with their first new record of original material in over a decade, The Feminine Divine, due July 28 via 100% Records.
To introduce the record, they recently shared its first two singles, "I'm Going To Get Free" and "The Feminine Divine." In continuation of the album rollout, today, Dexys share the record's third single, a superb track entitled "Coming Home." Capping off the first half of the new record, "Coming Home" is yet another song written in the early ‘90s with Big Jim Paterson, and is a triumphant declaration of frontman Kevin Rowland’s return to his true self.
Speaking on the track, Rowland wrote: "'Coming Home' is about rising up out of a slump. In the album narrative, the protagonist has passed through some very dark times but he is now enjoying positivity and peace. He’s embracing a new-found connectedness: to the universe, to other people, and to his true self."
Dexys - "Coming Home" [OFFICIAL AUDIO]Led by musician Kevin Rowland, Dexys is regarded as one of the more prominent British bands to arise in the 80s, with over 1B streams worldwide, 4.5M monthly listeners on Spotify, 49k subscribers on YouTube, and 71K followers on Facebook. Their debut album
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
is widely considered one of the best albums of all time (by outlets such as BBC,
The Guardian
,
The Quietus
, and
Uncut
), and their subsequent album
Too-Rye-Ay
is multi-platinum in the UK and Australia and charted in the top 20 in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Their music has appeared on the soundtracks of countless TV shows and films including
High Fidelity
(TV), The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Jane The Virgin, What We Do In The Shadows, Preachers, Superstore, Firefly Lane, and Get Him To The Greek.The Feminine Divine is Dexys’ fifth album of original material produced once again by Pete Schwier, along with acclaimed session musician and producer Toby Chapman. After taking some time out to refocus his energy, Kevin Rowland came back to music with a fresh perspective and new-found positivity. A personal, if not strictly autobiographical, record portraying a man whose views have evolved over time. Not just on women, but the whole concept of masculinity he had been raised with: an education and an un-learning that is traced across the arc of The Feminine Divine with dizzying effect.
To support their new LP, Dexys recently announced a full UK and European tour for September / October. They've now added a special run of in-stores signings and performances where Kevin Rowland and Mike Timothy will perform tracks from the new album plus some old favourites. Full dates below and tickets on-sale HERE.
Stay tuned for The Feminine Divine, out this July via 100% Records.DEXYS LINKS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
JJUUJJUU Share "No Way In" | Experimental Collective Fronted By Desert Daze Co-Founder Phil Pirrone
JJUUJJUU SHARE NEW SINGLE “NO WAY IN”
STREAM / DOWNLOAD “NO WAY IN” HERE &
WATCH PSYCHEDELIC ANIMATED VIDEO CREATED BY MICAH BUZAN HERE
JJUUJJUU & FRIENDS
EXPERIMENTAL COLLECTIVE FRONTED BY DESERT DAZE CO-FOUNDER PHIL PIRRONE RETURN TO LA’S GOLD DIGGERS FOR MONTHLY RESIDENCY
JJUUJJUU Photo by David Uzzardi
Today, the Los Angeles-based experimental collective JJUUJJUU, led by Desert Daze co-founder Phil Pirrone, released their new single, “No Way In.” It’s their latest in a series of recent singles including “Nowhere,” “Daisy Chain” and “Crappy New Year” and, note Pirrone, “This is what would happen if JJUUJJUU was the soundtrack of 90s video game ToeJam & Earl.” Listen to the track and watch the animated video from frequent collaborator Micah Buzan (Adult Swim, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Flaming Lips, The Claypool Lennon Delirium) here: https://youtu.be/il7Pw6kcyWM.
Recently, the collective performed in New York City, at London’s Wide Awake Festival, the San Diego Freakout Fest and more, and they launched their JJUUJJUU & Friends monthly residency at Los Angeles’ Gold Diggers which runs through September. Recreating the annual closing ceremonies tradition of Desert Daze featuring explorations in improvisational music with special guests and surprises, each show will feature friends of the band and Desert Daze mainstays including John Dwyer & Tomas Dolas (OSEES), L.A. Witch, Morgan Delt, Kelli Scott (Failure), Bonnie & Larry of Death Valley Girls, Art Feynman, comedy From UCB’s Cardinal Redbird, KCRW DJs including Travis Holcolmbe and Tyler Boudreaux, a first ever pop-up gallery from Marquee Marauders Club, and much much more including surprise guests at each show. JJUUJJUU & Friends is free with RSVP (see rsvp links below) and will also feature Desert Daze and Marquee Marauders Club giveaways.
See all JJUUJJUU tour dates below and look for more soon.
JJUUJJUU TOUR DATES
6.29 Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room *w/ Protomartyr
6.30 Los Angeles, CA - JJUUJJUU & Friends @ Gold Diggers w /Art Feynman - RSVP
7.27 Los Angeles, CA - JJUUJJUU & Friends @ Gold Diggers w/ John Dwyer + Tomas Dolas of OSEES - RSVP
8.31 Los Angeles, CA - JUUJJUU & Friends @ Gold Diggers w/ Death Valley Girls - RSVP
9.28 Los Angeles, CA - JUUJJUU & Friends @ Gold Diggers w/ LA Witch - RSVP
WATCH & SHARE "NO WAY IN"
ABOUT JJUUJJUU
In 2011, after ten years of touring as a bass player, Pirrone borrowed an SG and a DL4, and began his exploration of recording looped based music. JJUUJJUU’s debut release, 2013’s FRST EP, and subsequent stand alone single, “Bleck,” began to build excitement about the project. Throughout this period the lineup and instrumentation of JJUUJJUU moved in step with the project’s ethos of ephemera and flux, as JJUUJJUU continued to tour in several different configurations with Pirrone at their center, sharing stages with Claypool Lennon Delirium, Tortoise, Allah-Las, Temples, Tinariwen and others.
Over the next several years, Pirrone recorded in various spaces around California to document the songs that would eventually make up JJUUJJUU’s debut LP, Zionic Mud. Sessions included collaborations with Vinyl Williams, members of Lumerians, Dahga Bloom, and more. The album’s release was accompanied by alternate versions of the tracks remixed or reimagined by many of the band’s notable supporters including J Mascis, jennylee of Warpaint, Liars, Metz and Autolux. In support of Zionic Mud, JJUUJJUU toured opening for Primus, Mastodon, Kikagaku Moyo, Earthless and festivals including Pickathon, Nelsonville, M3F, and more.
Pirrone and company recorded two follow ups to 2018's Zionic Mud in spring of 2020 at home during the first wave of the pandemic. With extra time on his hands, Pirrone taught himself how to record and then sent tracks to long time band members Ian Gibbs and Joseph Assef. The tracks were sent around to Boogarins, Alex Edkins (Metz), and additional friends to be revealed soon. The band eventually wound up at Rancho De La Luna and put finishing touches on the record with Dave Catching and Jon Russo.
FOLLOW JJUUJJUU
MUTOID MAN DROPS NEW SONG + VIDEO
MUTOID MAN DROPS NEW SONG + VIDEO “SIREN SONG”; WATCH
MUTANTS OUT JULY 28TH
Punk Rock and Metal superheroes Mutoid Man, the venerable trio consisting of Cave In vocalist/guitarist Steven Brodsky, Converge drummer Ben Koller and the newly added High on Fire bassist Jeff Matz have a new album on the way, and today they’ve dropped the next single “Siren Song.” The song, which arrives with an animated video, is a straight-up rock n’ roll song, peppered with triumphant bass, stunning guitar runs, and bottom-heavy tones. Watch the video here. The band announced their first new album in six years, Mutants, last month with its first single, “Call of the Void,” which came with a Two Minutes to Late Night directed video.
Brodsky and Koller, who possess an almost telepathic chemistry, have always excelled at crafting their own unique brand of frenzied, hyper-focused, dynamic, and excessive fretboard-savvy metal. When you take two players who were raised in the hardcore world and who quickly surpassed the technical requirements for playing even the more sophisticated spins on that sound, and then make them playfully push each other into more outrageous and catchy territories, you have a rough approximation of the Mutoid Man sound. But with new bassist Jeff Matz in tow, you now have a trifecta of prog-level players approaching metal with punk irreverence on Mutants, an album that stands to be their most accomplished and most mindboggling effort yet.
Riding on the success of their debut EP Helium Head (2013), the band took on a manic work ethic over the next four years, cranking out two full-lengths, Bleeder (2015) and War Moans (2017), touring relentlessly across the US and Europe, and becoming something of a de facto house band for esteemed New York metal venue Saint Vitus along the way. With tour dates supporting acts like Mastodon and Danzig, it appeared that Mutoid Man’s entry into the upper echelon of heavy metal heroes was inevitable. However, between line-up changes, an exodus from Brooklyn, a slew of other musical projects, and a pandemic, the band was put on hold in the midst of their ascendancy. But after a six-year recording hiatus, Mutoid Man are back to reclaim their throne.
“Siren Song” is streaming here: https://found.ee/MM-SirenSong
MUTANTS tracklisting:
Call of the Void
Frozen Hearts
Broken Glass Ceiling
Siren Song
Graveyard Love
Unborn
Siphon
Demons
Memory Hole
Setting Sun
ALL THINGS MUTOID MAN
June 14, 2023
SBTRKT live @ El Rey TUESDAY, 13 JUN 2023
All photos taken by Martin Worster
Laufey's new album Bewitched coming Sept 8 / "Promise" out today!
Album artwork: Gemma Warren“Laufey’s timeless, low-and-slow style warmly blends jazz, classical and pop, vividly soundtracking the young Icelander’s own tender age.”
June 14, 2023—Bewitched, the highly anticipated new album from acclaimed Los Angeles-based Icelandic-Chinese artist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Laufey, is set for release September 8 via AWAL Recordings. The album’s first single, “From The Start,” has amassed 20 million global streams since its release last month, with over 1 million release-day streams on Spotify.Today, Laufey shares “Promise,” another new song from Bewitched. “Promise” was written by Laufey and celebrated songwriter/producer Dan Wilson (Adele, Taylor Swift). Of the track, Laufey explains, “‘Promise’ is a song about that one person you can’t quite let go of—the person you promise yourself you’ll stop communicating with but always go back to. It’s a piano ballad written in the form of a story that develops with every verse. Starting with a promise to cut ties with a lover and ending with the inevitable return to the lover.” Listen / share “Promise” HERE. Bewitched is available for pre-order HERE.The new album follows Laufey’s 2022 debut full-length, Everything I Know About Love, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Album chart and featured hit single, “Valentine,” that peaked at #1 on the Spotify Jazz Chart. Everything I Know About Love was praised by The Fader who said, “Mixing pop with classical flourishes, Laufey captures everyday emotions, like falling in love, and elevates them with a degree of musicality and flair that is anything but ordinary,” while Consequence furthers, “Laufey deftly melds new elements of modern music with more traditional sounds of classic jazz, articulating the push and pull of love and loss with distinct eloquence.”While Everything I Know About Love shows what Laufey calls her “hopeless romantic” side, Bewitched has a more mature outlook, although it’s still in love with love. Laufey notes, “This is a love album, whether it be a love towards a friend or a lover or life. The first album also touched a lot on things like moving out of my childhood home and moving into a new city for the first time—being an adult. With this one, I’ve experienced a little bit more of that, and I’m writing about the magic in the love of being young.”Bewitched was co-produced by Laufey and Spencer Stewart, with all songs written by Laufey, apart from jazz standard “Misty.” Additionally, the London-based Philharmonia Orchestra played on tracks “Bewitched” and “California and Me.”Additionally, Laufey will celebrate the album on the road this fall with ‘The Bewitched Tour,’ which sold out in minutes. The tour will make stops at iconic venues throughout North America including two nights at San Francisco’s Fillmore, Chicago’s Thalia Hall, New York City’s Town Hall, and Los Angeles’ Theatre at the Ace Hotel. Full tour routing below.More recently, Laufey was featured on breakout singer-songwriter d4vd’s new single “This Is How It Feels.” Listen HERE.Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) is looking to bridge the gap between the past and the present, the history books and social media, the Reykjavik concert hall Harpa and the Los Angeles rock dive Troubadour, by writing, recording, and performing songs that are truly timeless, inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a point of view that could only be conveyed by a 21st-century twentysomething. Laufey explains, “As a musician, my goal is to bring jazz and classical music to my generation through a more accessible road.” Raised between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C. with annual visits to Beijing, the Icelandic-Chinese artist grew up playing cello as well as piano and became hooked on the jazz standards of Ella Fitzgerald after digging through her father’s record collection. In 2020, while still a student at Berklee College of Music, Laufey released her debut single “Street by Street,” which went on to top the Icelandic radio charts. Following the release of her 2021 Typical of Me EP, Laufey was named Best New Artist in Jazz and Blues at the Icelandic Music Awards and hosted her own show on BBC Radio 3/BBC Sounds. By 2022 Laufey was the most streamed jazz artist on Spotify, with 450 million streams across all platforms. LAUFEY LIVEMay 30, 2023—Manila—The Filinvest Tent SOLD OUTMay 31, 2023—Taipei—Clapper Studio SOLD OUTJune 2, 2023—Jakarta—Java Jazz Festival June 3, 2023—Singapore—Alex Blake Charlie Sessions SOLD OUT
June 5, 2023—Tokyo—Blue Note Tokyo (Two shows) SOLD OUT June 8, 2023—Sydney, NSW—Oxford Art Factory SOLD OUT
June 9, 2023—Melbourne, VIC—Howler SOLD OUTJune 10, 2023—Melbourne, VIC—Howler SOLD OUT
June 26, 2023—Ottawa, CA—Ottawa Jazz Festival SOLD OUTJune 27, 2023—Ottawa, CA—Ottawa Jazz FestivalJuly 8, 2023—Ghent, BE—Gent Jazz Festival SOLD OUTJuly 9, 2023—Rotterdam, NL—North Sea Jazz Festival July 11, 2023—Montreux, Switzerland—Montreux Jazz FestivalJuly 13, 2023—Elstree, UK—Home Farm Glamping July 15, 2023—Pori, FI—Pori JazzAugust 2, 2023—Caroga Lake, NY—Caroga Lake Music Festival
August 26, 2023—Port Townsend, WA—THINGSeptember 16, 2023—Los Angeles, CA—The Ford* SOLD OUTSeptember 20, 2023—Hong Kong—KITEC MusicZone SOLD OUTSeptember 21, 2023—Hong Kong—KITEC MusicZone SOLD OUTOctober 8, 2023—San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore SOLD OUTOctober 9, 2023—San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore SOLD OUTOctober 11, 2023—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall SOLD OUTOctober 13, 2023—Vancouver, BC—Hollywood Theatre SOLD OUTOctober 14, 2023—Vancouver, BC—Hollywood Theatre SOLD OUTOctober 17, 2023—Salt Lake City, UT—The Depot SOLD OUTOctober 18, 2023—Englewood, CO—Gothic Theatre SOLD OUTOctober 20, 2023—St. Paul, MN—The Fitzgerald Theater SOLD OUTOctober 21, 2023—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall SOLD OUTOctober 22, 2023—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall SOLD OUTOctober 24, 2023—Cleveland, OH—House of Blues SOLD OUTOctober 25, 2023—Detroit, MI—Majestic Theatre SOLD OUTOctober 27, 2023—Toronto, ON—Danforth Music Hall SOLD OUTOctober 28, 2023—Montreal, QC—Corona Theatre SOLD OUTOctober 29, 2023—Boston, MA—The Wilbur SOLD OUTNovember 1, 2023—New York, NY—The Town Hall SOLD OUTNovember 2, 2023—New York, NY—The Town Hall SOLD OUTNovember 3, 2023—Philadelphia, PA—Theatre of the Living Arts SOLD OUTNovember 4, 2023—Washington, DC—Lincoln Theatre SOLD OUTNovember 6, 2023—Nashville, TN—Riverside Revival Nashville SOLD OUTNovember 7, 2023—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse SOLD OUTNovember 9, 2023—Houston, TX—White Oak Music Hall SOLD OUTNovember 10, 2023—Austin, TX—The Paramount Theatre SOLD OUTNovember 11, 2023—Dallas, TX—The Echo Lounge & Music Hall SOLD OUTNovember 13, 2023—Phoenix, AZ—The Van Buren SOLD OUTNovember 15, 2023—San Diego, CA—The Magnolia SOLD OUTNovember 17, 2023—Santa Ana, CA—The Observatory SOLD OUTNovember 18, 2023—Los Angeles, CA—The Theatre at The Ace Hotel SOLD OUT November 19, 2023—Los Angeles, CA—The Theatre at The Ace Hotel SOLD OUT *with Los Angeles Philharmonic Website | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter
GRETA VAN FLEET UNVEIL “MEETING THE MASTER” VIDEO NEW ALBUM STARCATCHER DUE JULY 21 ON LAVA/REPUBLIC RECORDS
GRETA VAN FLEET UNVEIL “MEETING THE MASTER” VIDEO
NEW ALBUM STARCATCHER DUE JULY 21 ON LAVA/REPUBLIC RECORDS
STARCATCHER WORLD TOUR KICKS OFF JULY 24 IN NASHVILLE, TICKETS ON SALE NOW
“Greta Van Fleet aim to bust down old walls.”—Rolling Stone
“[Greta Van Fleet is] the strongest piece of evidence that the elusive spirit of 1970s rock and roll [is] back.”—Vanity Fair
“There’s something winning about the members’ earnest intentions, as well as their unwavering commitment to them. Their sincere love for the history of rock shows in the depth of their knowledge about it.”—The Guardian
Grammy-winning rock band Greta Van Fleet is unveiling the new video for their critically acclaimed track “Meeting The Master,” directed by the band alongside Gus Black; watch/share HERE. The song hails from the band’s forthcoming third studio album Starcatcher, out July 21 on Lava/Republic Records. Pre-save/pre-order the record HERE.
Of collaborating with the band to direct the video, Black shares, “the final shot of the video is as close to magic as anything I’ve ever been a part of creating. It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with these fine humans.” Josh adds, “beauty cloaked in darkness is still beauty. I love you Gus Black.”
Of the first single off the forthcoming album, Consequence raves that the song “[digs] deeper into their mythical lore by revisiting concepts from their previous work,” while Uproxx notes that “‘Meeting the Master’ [is] an existential new single on which lead vocalist Josh Kiszka embarks on a spiritual journey.”
In celebration of the new music, the band is set to kick off their Starcatcher World Tour on July 24 in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena. The tour includes stops at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York and The Forum in Los Angeles as well as London’s OVO Arena Wembley and more; see below for a complete list of dates. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE. The Starcatcher World Tour includes support from special guests Kaleo, Surf Curse, Mt. Joy and Black Honey.
Greta Van Fleet will also be touring throughout Europe, starting in Hamburg, Germany on November 6 with further international stops in Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and more.
Starcatcher is written and recorded by the band—lead singer Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner—alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.
“We didn’t really have to force or be intense about writing, because everything that happened was very instinctual,” Jake says. “If anything, the record is our perspective, and sums up where we are as a group and individually as musicians.”
Throughout the ten-song collection the band explores the duality of fantasy versus reality and the contrast between light and darkness. “We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe,” says Wagner. “We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world.”
The band took multiple concepts from critically acclaimed sophomore album The Battle at Garden’s Gate and brought them into Starcatcher, although Sam’s take on the new record’s big ideas hint instead at new beginnings. “When I imagine the world of Starcatcher, I think of the cosmos,” he says. “It makes me ask a lot of questions, like ‘Where did we come from?’ or ‘What are we doing here?’ But it’s also questions like, ‘What is this consciousness that we have, and where did it come from?’”
The band is best known for their renowned live performances, selling over one million tickets worldwide. They sold out their entire 2022 arena tour, holding a special energy between them and their devoted fans. With Starcatcher the band aims to capture that energy in the recording studio.
Most recently, the band performed at the inaugural Lollapalooza Mumbai and completed an extensive U.S. arena tour in March. Greta Van Fleet returns to the road this month for the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta and Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis.
Starcatcher follows their acclaimed sophomore album The Battle at Garden’s Gate, released in 2021 to extensive chart and critical success. The album debuted at #1 Billboard Rock Album, #1 Billboard Hard Rock Album, #1 Billboard Vinyl Album, #2 Billboard Top Album Sales and in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. Their From The Fires EP, released in 2017, won Best Rock Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.
Forming in Frankenmuth, Michigan in 2012, Greta Van Fleet consists of three brothers—vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka and bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka—as well as drummer Danny Wagner. Together they have performed across multiple continents, sold over 3.5 million records worldwide and performed on late night television shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
For more information, please contact Joe Cohen, Samantha Tillman, Kate Rakvic or Carla Sacks 212.741.1000 at Sacks & Co.
GRETA VAN FLEET—STARCATCHER
1. Fate Of The Faithful
2. Waited All Your Life
3. The Falling Sky
4. Sacred The Thread
5. Runway Blues
6. The Indigo Streak
7. Frozen Light
8. The Archer
9. Meeting The Master
10. Farewell For Now
GRETA VAN FLEET TOUR DATES
May 5-7 /// Atlanta, GA /// Shaky Knees Festival
May 5-7 /// Memphis, TN /// Beale Street Music Festival
July 24 /// Nashville, TN /// Bridgestone Arena*
July 27 /// Fort Worth, TX /// Dickies Arena*
July 28 /// Houston, TX /// Toyota Center*
July 31 /// Denver, CO /// Ball Arena*
August 2 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// Vivint Arena*
August 4 /// Seattle, WA /// Climate Pledge Arena*
August 5 /// Portland, OR /// Veterans Memorial Coliseum*
August 8 /// Oakland, CA /// Oakland Arena*
August 10 /// Los Angeles, CA /// The Kia Forum*
August 12 /// Las Vegas, NV /// T-Mobile Arena*
September 3 /// St. Paul, MN /// Xcel Energy Center†
September 6 /// Chicago, IL /// Allstate Arena†
September 8 /// Detroit, MI /// Little Caesars Arena†
September 11 /// Washington DC /// Capital One Arena†
September 12 /// New York, NY /// Madison Square Garden†
September 15 /// Boston, MA /// TD Garden†
September 16-17 /// Asbury Park, NJ /// Sea Hear Now Festival 2023
September 19 /// Philadelphia, PA /// Wells Fargo Center†
September 22 /// Indianapolis, IN /// Gainbridge Fieldhouse†
September 23 /// Cleveland, OH /// Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse†
November 6 /// Hamburg, Germany /// Sporthalle‡
November 8 /// Amsterdam, Netherlands /// Ziggo Dome‡
November 9 /// Paris, France /// Accor Arena‡
November 12 /// Brussels, Belgium /// Forest National‡
November 14 /// London, UK /// OVO Arena Wembley‡
November 16 /// Dublin, Ireland /// 3Arena‡
November 19 /// Manchester, UK /// AO Arena‡
November 20 /// Glasgow, UK /// OVO Hydro‡
November 26 /// Copenhagen, Denmark /// Forum§
November 28 /// Munich, Germany /// Zenith§
November 30 /// Bologna, Italy /// Unipol Arena§
December 3 /// Barcelona, Spain /// Sant Jordi Club§
December 4 /// Madrid, Spain /// WiZink Center§
December 6 /// Lisbon, Portugal /// Campo Pequeno§
September 20, 2024 /// Mexico City, Mexico /// Foro Sol**
September 27, 2024 /// Mexico City, Mexico /// Foro Sol**
*with Kaleo
†with Surf Curse
‡with Mt. Joy
§with Black Honey
**as part of Metallica: M72 World Tour
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The Regrettes Share The New Music Video For Their Cover Of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own”
THE REGRETTES SHARE THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR THEIR COVER OF ROBYN’S “DANCING ON MY OWN”
FURTHER JOY DELUXE EDITION OUT NOW VIA WARNER RECORDS
TOUR WITH YUNGBLUD KICKS OFF IN JUNE
Photo Credit Lissyelle Laricchia (@lissyellelaricchia)
The Regrettes recently released the deluxe edition of their celebrated third studio album, Further Joy, via Warner Records. Rolling Stone says the album “…captures the Regrettes’ effortless transformation from teenage punks into pop powerhouses” and Consequence says the album is “halfway between Gwen Stefani’s modern pop era and No Doubt’s Rock Steady phase.” Further Joy Deluxe includes the three new songs, "Dummy", "Shapeshifter", and "Answer." The band shared about the new, expanded edition: “We are SO excited about these three new songs that we recorded while creating Further Joy. Each one feels incredibly special to us and expands the world of further joy even deeper. We hope you love them as much as we do :’)” Further Joy Deluxe is available digitally here.
The band recently announced that they will support Yungblud on his headlining tour of North America in 2023. The band will perform in cities including Atlanta, New York, Toronto, and Nashville. Tickets for all dates are on sale now here.
With Further Joy, The Regrettes, consisting of singer and songwriter, Lydia Night, as well as Genessa Gariano (guitar), Brooke Dickson (bass) and Drew Thomsen (drums), have written a manual for living in these times, replete with highly personalized songs about things we’re all going through. Night shares, “that phrase, ‘further joy,’ summarized what it meant to be on the hamster wheel of constantly chasing happiness, but in turn, that’s what makes you unhappy. I was stuck in a loop of wanting to be better, wanting to be good, and therefore I couldn’t be here. I couldn’t be present.” The desire to break free of that cycle is what the band’s third album, Further Joy, is all about: a joyous and self-aware soundtrack for those interested in what Lydia refers to as “dancing the pain away.” The original version of Further Joy is available here in formats including digital/streaming, CD, and vinyl.
The Regrettes Tour Dates w/ Yungblud
JUN 27, 2023 JANNUS LIVE ST.PETERSBURG, FL
JUN 29, 2023 PIER SIX PAVILION BALTIMORE, MD
JUN 30, 2023 THE MET PHILADELPHIA, PA
JUL 1, 2023 THE DOME AT TOYOTA OAKDALE THEATRE WALLINGFORD, CT
JUL 3, 2023 MTELUS MONTREAL, QC
JUL 4, 2023 HISTORY TORONTO, ON
JULY 6, 2023 SUMMERFEST MILWAUKEE, WI*
JUL 7, 2023 MICHIGAN LOTTERY AMPHITHEATRE AT FREEDOM HILL STERLING HEIGHTS, MI
JUL 8, 2023 TCU AMPHITHEATRE AT WHITE RIVER STATE PARK INDIANAPOLIS, IN
JUL 11, 2023 JACOBS PAVILION AT NAUTICA CLEVELAND, OH
JUL 12, 2023 STAGE AE PITTSBURGH, PA
JUL 14, 2023 THE ROOFTOP AT PIER 17 NEW YORK, NY
JUL 15, 2023 STONE PONY SUMMER STAGE ASBURY PARK, NJ
JUL 16, 2023 MGM MUSIC HALL AT FENWAY BOSTON, MA
JUL 18, 2023 RED HAT AMPHITHEATER RALEIGH, NC
JUL 19, 2023 ASCEND AMPHITHEATER NASHVILLE, TN
JUL 21, 2023 SAINT LOUIS MUSIC PARK MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO
JUL 22, 2023 THE ARMORY MINNEAPOLIS, MN
JUL 24, 2023 THE CRITERION OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
JUL 25, 2023 UPTOWN THEATER KANSAS CITY, MO
JUL 27, 2023 COCA-COLA ROXY ATLANTA, GA
July 28, 2023 Fountain Square Summer Series Cincinnati, OH
JULY 28 – JULY 30 WICKER PARK FESTIVAL CHICAGO, IL*
AUG 4, 2023 HINTERLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL SAINT CHARLES, IA*
JULY 30, 2023 THE PYRAMID SCHEME (HEADLINE) GRAND RAPIDS, MI
AUG 1, 2023 THE BURL (HEADLINE) LEXINGTON, KY
AUG 3, 2023 SLOWDOWN (HEADLINE) OMAHA, NE
AUG 4, 2023 HINTERLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL SAINT CHARLES, IA
SEP 22, 2023 LEVITT PAVILION (HEADLINE) DENVER, CO
SEP 24, 2023 FLIPSIDE FESTIVAL GARDEN CITY, ID*
*Festival Date
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