On March 13 South African artist Spoek Mathambo is releasing his Sub Pop Debut Father Creeper. You can check the first offering entitled “Let Them Talk” by clicking on the track name. Spoek has announced a slew of US dates, kicking of in March around the release of his Sub Pop debut & SXSW. See below for a full list of shows. Because we learned the importance of sharing at an early age, see above for a look into the life of Spoek Mathambo, and making of Father Creeper.
Spoek Mathambo Tour Dates
Mar 22 SOB’S New York, NY
Mar 23 The Great Hall Toronto, ON
Mar 24 La Tulipe Montreal QC
Mar 25 TT the Bears Cambridge, MA
Stockholm’s Niki & The Dove, a/k/a Malin Dahlstroem and Gustaf Karloef, have announced a handful of US dates in early March surrounding SXSW. To support this batch of shows, we thought we would share with you a new video for the track “The Fox” which was directed by the folks at WINTR You can watch above. Like what you see & hear? Click here to download the MP3.
Niki & The Dove Tour Dates:
Mar 8 U Street Music Hall Washington, DC
Mar 10 Knitting Factory Brooklyn, NY
Mar 20 Soda Bar San Diego, CA
Mar 21 Bootleg Theater Los Angeles, CA
What people have been saying about Niki & The Dove:
…the combinations of confident, drum machine-fused hooks and Dahlstoem’s mystical lyrics, similar to a Bjork-esque fairy tale, leave you an eerie sense of menace. (Vogue, track review “The Fox” 2011)
“The Fox” is the titular, earthquaking single from Swedish pop duo Niki & the Dove. (Pitchfork, track review “The Fox” 2011)
The band’s promising distinctive electronic pop overlays should be held accountable for the earworm syndrome with Niki & The Dove. Their songs are full of magic and light but with an unsettling darkness hidden beneath the surface. Take a listen for yourself, below. (Filter, “The Drummer” EP review 2012)
Click on this for more information on Niki & The Dove.
awE naturalE, the debut full-length from Seattle’s THEESatisfaction comes out March 27th. You can download, listen to, own, and otherwise enjoy the track “QueenS” from that album through the clever media delivery device (“widget”) above.
THEESatisfaction will soon tour the U.S., Europe and the UK, with more stateside dates to be announced in the near-ish future. See below for a full list of confirmed shows.
THEESatisfaction Tour:
02-18 Seattle, WA – Town Hall
03-09 Brooklyn, NY – Cameo Gallery
03-27 Seattle, WA – Easy Street
03-29 Seattle, WA – Neumos
04-04 Nantes, France – Stereolux
04-05 Amiens, France – La Lune Des Pirates
04-06 Lille, France – Aeronef
04-09 Lyon, France – TBA
04-11 Angers, France – Chabada
04-12 Tours, France – Temps Machine
04-13 Poitiers, France – Confort Moderne
04-15 Madrid, Spain – Festival Electronica
04-17 Lisbon, Portugal – ZDB
04-20 Bristol, England – Start the Bus
04-21 Glasgow, Scotland – Arches
04-23 Brighton, England – Hope
04-24 London, England – White Heat
On May 1st we are releasing the debut effort from Father John Misty. You can watch the new video for the track “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” starring Aubrey Plaza of NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Sundance Film Festival Hit “Safety Not Guaranteed” and the upcoming “A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III” by clicking here. The video was directed by Noel Paul.
Like what you hear & see? You can chat with frontman Josh Tillman talk about his music, live today at 3 pm PST.
Tour Dates
Feb 29 – new parish – oakland
March 3 grass valley – center for the arts
March 4 santa cruz – crepe place
Read About Fear Fun
When discussing ‘Father John Misty’, Tillman paraphrases Philip Roth: ’It’s all of me and none of me, if you can’t see that, you won’t get it’. What I call it is totally arbitrary, but I like the name. You’ve got to have a name. I never got to choose mine."
He goes on, “‘People who make records are afforded this assumption by the culture that their music is coming from an exclusively personal place, but more often than not what you hear are actually the affectations of an ’alter-ego’ or a cartoon of an emotionally heightened persona,” says Josh Tillman, who has been recording/releasing solo albums since 2003 and who recently left Seattle’s Fleet Foxes after playing drums from 2008-2011. “That kind of emotional quotient isn’t sustainable if your concern is portraying a human-being made up of more than just chest-beating pathos. I see a lot of rampant, sexless, male-fantasy everywhere in the music around me. I didn’t want any alter-egos, any vagaries, fantasy, escapism, any over-wrought sentimentality. I like humor and sex and mischief. So when you think about it, it’s kind of mischievous to write about yourself in a plain-spoken, kind of explicitly obvious way and call it something like ‘Misty’. I mean, I may as well have called it ‘Steve’”.
Musically, “Fear Fun” consists of such disparate elements as Waylon Jennings, Harry Nilsson, Arthur Russell, “All Things Must Pass,” and “Physical Graffiti,” often within the same song. Tillman’s voice has never been better and often sounds like Roy Orbison, “The Caruso of Rock”, at his most joyous, while the music maintains a dark, mysterious and yet conversely playful, almost Dionysian quality. Lyrically, his absurdist fever dreams of pain and pleasure elicit, in equal measures, the blunt descriptive power of Bukowski or Brautigan, the hedonist-philosophy of Oscar Wilde and the dried-out wit of Loudon Wainwright III.
The album began gestating during what Tillman describes as an “immobilizing period of depression”, in his former Seattle home. “Songwriting for me had always only been interesting and necessary because I saw it as this vehicle for truth, but I had this realization that all I had really done with it was lick my wounds for years and years, and become more and more isolated from people and experiences. I don’t even like wound-licking music, I want to listen to someone rip their arm off and beat themselves with it. I don’t believe that until now I’ve ever put anything at risk in my music. I was hell-bent on putting my preciousness at stake in order to find something worth singing about.”
He continues, "I lost all interest in writing music, or identifying as a ‘songwriter’. I got into my van with enough mushrooms to choke a horse and started driving down the coast with nowhere to go. After a few weeks, I was writing a novel, which is where I finally found…
2011 was a stellar year for Shabazz Palaces, the sonic movement of Palaceer Lazaro (Ishmael Butler). The debut release, Black Up, was one of the most critically celebrated records of 2011, landing on the best of lists at SPIN, LA Times, The New Yorker, Pitchfork and more. Shabazz Palaces has no plans to slow down in 2012, announcing the group’s first official stateside touring, kicking off on April 3 in Minneapolis, with European dates preceding their North American tour.
To remind you how truly awesome Shabazz Palaces really is, we thought we would share with you the new video for the groups song “Are You… Can You… Were You…? (Felt)”, which was directed by Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes. You can watch the video above.
Shabazz Palaces Tour Dates:
Saturday, February 18, 2012 La Cave aux poetes, Roubaix France
Sunday, February 19, 2012 Stereolux, Nantes France
Monday February 20, 2012 Les Trinitaires, Metz France
Tuesday February 21, 2012 Strasbourg La Laiterie, France
Friday February 24, 2012 Palace, St Gallen Switzerland
Saturday, February 25, 2012 Stall 6, Zurich Switzerland
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Astoria, Turin Italy
Thursday, March 01, 2012 Circolo degli Artisti, Rome Italy
Friday, March 02, 2012 Bronson, Ravenna Italy
Saturday, March 03, 2012 Studio 2, Vigonovo (Venezia) Italy
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 The Whole, Minneapolis MN (All Ages Show)
Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Mad Planet, Milwaukee WI
Thursday, April 5, 2012 Lincoln Hall, Chicago IL
Friday, April 6, 2012 Magic Stick, Detroit MI
Saturday, April 7, 2012 The Horn Gallery, Gambier OH
Sunday, April 2012 The Shadow Lounge, East Liberty PA
Tuesday, April 10, 2012 Lee’s Palace, Toronto ON
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 II Motore, Montreal QC
Thursday, April 12, 2012 Iron Horse, Northampton MA
Friday, April 13 2012 SOB’s, New York NY
Saturday, April 14, 2012 Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn NY
On February 28th, Memoryhouse are releasing their debut record, The Slideshow Effect, and will be kicking off a 15-date North American tour, with a handful of European shows to follow. Because sharing is our middle name, you can listen to the new track “Walk With Me” by inserting your email in the widget above. Pre-order The Slideshow Effect by February 28th via subpop.com, and you’ll receive a limited edition photo scrapbook put together by the band! Click here to find more information on this release and pre-order.
On March 13, South African artist Spoek Mathambo will release his Sophomore effort & Sub Pop debut, Father Creeper. You can check out his first offering by inserting your email address into the widget above. Stay tuned for more goodies from Spoek Mathambo in the coming weeks, including videos, tour dates and more sonic jams.
Beginning April 10th, Sub Pop recording artists Low will serve as main support for the first 12 dates of Death Cab for Cutie’s upcoming North American spring tour. These dates will bring the bands to intimate venues and historic theaters across much of the United States, as Death Cab for Cutie performs with San Francisco’s innovative Magik*Magik Orchestra. Low was specially selected by Death Cab for Cutie as main support for these dates.
Low are touring in support of their 2011 release, C’mon, which was recorded in an old church in Duluth, MN and mixed in Hollywood, CA with producer Matt Beckley working alongside the band. C’mon received warm accolades from such places as: SPIN, Blurt, Entertainment Weekly, The Boston Globe, Washington Post, and NPR, who had this to say about their latest release:
Lush and beautiful in its simplicity… Longtime fans who’ve lived with Low will no doubt appreciate the return to form, while newcomers ought to fall in love with these songs and want to dig into the rest of the band’s 18 years of passionate restraint.
Alan Sparhawk describes C’mon simply as: “Warm, pretty, large like Nashville without the country. Mim and I are talking to each other in the lyrics, sometimes it’s not pretty, but it’s as honest as love.”
See below for a full list of tour dates. Click here for more information on Low.
Low Tour Dates
Jan 27 First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Mar 09 All Tomorrow’s Parties, Minehead, United Kingdom
Mar 26 Teatro Central, Sevilla, Spain
Mar 27 Apolo, Barcelona, Spain
Mar 28 Teatro Kapital, Madrid, Spain
Mar 29 Sala Capitol , Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Mar 30 Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain
Mar 31 Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, Spain
Mar 31 Circulo de Arte de Toledo, Toledo, Spain
Apr 02 Glee Club (UK), Birmingham, United Kingdom
Apr 03 Royal Festival Hall, London, United Kingdom
w/ Death Cab for Cutie
04/10/12 Denver CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
04/11/12 Omaha NE @ Omaha Music Hall
04/13/12 Louisville KY @ Louisville Palace
04/14/12 Grand Rapids MI @ Covenant Fine Arts Center / Calvin College
04/15/12 Milwaukee WI @ Riverside Theatre
04/16/12 Chicago IL @ Chicago Theatre
04/19/12 Toronto ON @ Massey Hall
04/20/12 Montreal QC @ St Jean Baptiste Church
04/21/12 Boston MA @ Citi Performing Arts Center / Wang Theatre
04/23/12 Providence RI @ Veterans Memorial Auditorium
04/24/12 Buffalo NY @ Kleinhan’s Music Hall
04/25/12 Philadelphia PA @ Tower Theatre
We, the people who make Sub Pop Records run (it’s a filthy, filthy job), are feeling very fortunate to be able to say that on February 14th, we are releasing Shearwater’s Sub Pop debut, Animal Joy, on CD and LP. As we often like to do, we shower those who pre-order records through the Sub Pop webstore with modestly lavish gifts, and in the case of Animal Joy, things will be no different. If you pre-order the record, you’ll receive instant access to download five exclusive demos from the forthcoming record, AND we’ll donate $2 from the purchase to the Audubon Society on behalf of Shearwater! That’s a lot of goodwill moving around, and we want you to get in on the action. Also, if you pre-order the LP, you’ll receive the limited “Loser Edition”, colored vinyl version of the record—in this case, a lovely blood red. Oh, and stickers!
On March 27, THEESatisfaction will release their Sub Pop debut, awE naturalE and we could not be more pumped. THEESatisfaction are Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White. Stas was born and raised in Tacoma, Cat in Seattle and Hawaii. The pair live/laugh/love/dance and create in Seattle, WA. They write, produce and perform their own material, funk-psychedelic feminista sci-fi epics with the warmth and depth of Black Jazz and Sunday morning soul, frosted with icy raps that evoke equal parts Elaine Brown, Ursula Rucker and Q-Tip. They met by what was clearly cosmic happenstance at the University of Washington and haven’t stopped the flow since.
You can find out more information on awE naturalE by clicking on the album title, and stay tuned to SubPop.com to hear music off the ladies upcoming album.
This past February we were shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic death of Rick Kulwicki. Kulwicki was best known as the guitarist for The Fluid, Sub Pop’s first non-Seattle signing, and had been a mainstay on the Colorado music scene for more than 25 years. While his passing left a big hole in the music world, it left an even bigger hole in his family.
Rick was a proud single father and his life revolved around his sons, Richard and Roman, whose well-being and happiness were important to him above all else. He was proud of their academic achievements, their band Purple Fluid, and their profound kindness. The fact that they were growing up to be individuals who were wonderful beyond his imagination filled him with happiness.
While the pain of something like this can be unbearable for the family, the financial strain of losing a sole parent and provider is also a great hardship and the boys’ basic needs should not be threatened because Rick died unexpectedly. These are teenagers with very bright futures and together we can help lessen the strain by giving generously in memory of their dad.
Which is why Mudhoney has teamed with the Denver-based organization Prints For a Cause to offer signed, limited-edition photographs taken during their mesmerizing performance at The Kulwicki Twins Benefit show in Denver on January 6th, 2012. Proceeds from the sale of the signed prints will be donated directly to The Kulwicki Twins Foundation in the name of Mudhoney.
Mudhoney jumped at the opportunity to take part in the benefit. “Rick is an old friend of ours and we want to do whatever we can to help his boys out,” Mark Arm said before the show. “We met Rick and the rest of The Fluid back in ‘88. In fact, we played with them at a small club in Denver on our first tour in October of that year. It’s a fucking tragedy that we even have to do this.”
Poor Moon is Christian Wargo (Fleet Foxes, Crystal Skulls) Casey Wescott (Fleet Foxes, Crystal Skulls) and brothers Ian and Peter Murray (The Christmas Cards). The band, named for frontman and primary songwriter Christian Wargo’s favorite Canned Heat song, began four years ago as a long-distance project with demos being created and sent back and forth while Wargo and Wescott were touring in support of the Fleet Foxes 2008 self-titled debut and Ian and Peter living in the Bay area. Their first shows were at intimate Seattle house parties where they used playful throwaway monikers like Rabbit Kingdom and Cookie Mask. It wasn’t until the band opened up for Deakin at Seattle’s Neumos (under the name Peppermint Majesty) that things began to really take form. Recording began and the four longtime friends became a band and Sub Pop didn’t hesitate to pursue them with unabashed enthusiasm. And it worked.
Illusion was recorded in a variety of bedrooms, practice spaces, the Murray residence, as well as AVAST! and Fastback studios in Seattle, Washington with the help of engineer Jared Hankins with guest performances by many a musician friend.
Poor Moon 2012 US Tour Dates
03/20 La Jolla CA @ UCSD – The Loft w/ Lost in the Trees
03/22 Los Angeles CA@ The Echo w/ Lost in the Trees
03/23 San Francisco CA @ Bottom of The Hill w/ Lost in the Trees
03/24 Arcata CA @ Arcata Playhouse w/ Lost in the Trees
03/25 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Lounge w/ Lost in the Trees
03/27 Seattle WA @ Tractor Tavern w/ Lost in the Trees
03/28 Boise ID @ Neurolux w/ Lost in the Trees
03/29 Salt Lake City UT @ The State Room w/ Lost in the Trees
03/30 Denver CO @ Hi Dive w/ Lost in the Trees
03/31 Omaha NE @ Slowdown Jr. w/ Lost in the Trees
04/02 Minneapolis MN @ Cedar Cultural Centre w/ Lost in the Trees
04/03 Chicago IL @ Schubas w/ Lost in the Trees
04/04 Evanston IL @ Space w/ Lost in the Trees
04/05 Columbus OH @ Wexner Center w/ Lost in the Trees
04/06 Toronto ON @ The Drake Hotel w/ Lost in the Trees
04/07 Montreal QC @ Il Motore w/ Lost in the Trees
04/09 Burling VT @ Burlington City Arts Center w/ Lost in the Trees
04/10 Portland ME @ Space w/ Lost in the Trees
04/11New York NY @ Le Poisson Rouge w/ Lost in the Trees
04/13 Boston MA @ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston w/ Lost in the Trees
04/14 Washington DC @ Black Cat Backstage w/ Lost in the Trees
04/16 Cleveland OH @ Beachland Tavern
4/18 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
4/20 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
On March 13 we’re reissuing the first four long out-of-print albums from Australia’s feedtime in the form of both a 4 CD box set and a 4 LP box set. We’re calling it the Aberrant years. You can learn more about the band by clicking here. Listen to your new favorite feedtime songs according to Mark Arm in the player above.
2011 was an amazing year for The Head and the Heart and, though it is difficult to even imagine, 2012 is looking like it will be even more amazing-er. They just announced another headlining run of US tour dates starting March 3rd in Avon, CO (Full list of dates here) and will be featured on the legendary TV music program Austin City Limits (ACL), this Saturday, January 7th. In other AACL news (that’s “Amazing Austin City Limits news” not “Alcoholics Anonymous City Limits news”…): Fleet Foxes will appear on the January 21st episode of the show! We’ll have more info on that closer to the 21st. You can find your local PBS channel and schedule here!
First of all, Happy New Year! You guys are the best. Seriously. 2012 really feels like it’s going to be a good one, or at least an okay one. But, we’re really feeling optimistic. The optimism I was just saying about stems from the fact that the first couple of months of 2012 we’re putting out some pretty awesome records, and if it’s any indication of the rest of the year, we’re in for a great year (at least until the Mayan calendar proves true, and we all part from our mortal vessels, or whatever).
On February 14th, we’ve got Animal Joy, the Sub Pop debut from Shearwater, a record we’re very proud and excited to be releasing. Then, we’ve got the debut LP from Memoryhouse, called The Slideshow Effect, and it’s a very strong debut. On March 13th, we’ve got the debut LP from South Africa’s Spoek Mathambo, called Father Creeper. It’s impossible to pin this record down genre-wise, which is part of what makes it destined to be one of the coolest sounding records of the year. Also on March 13th, we’re releasing a long-awaited collection of the long out-of-print first four albums from Australia’s feedtime—all remastered and with bonus material. We’re rounding out an action-packed March with the debut record from Seattle’s THEESatisfaction, and a 7" from Retribution Gospel Choir, both on the 27th.
Yep, 2012 is definitely shaping up to be at least as pretty great as 2011.
As the subject of this post says, we’re on a holiday-style hiatus until January 3rd, 2012 celebrating whatever it is we’re celebrating (mainly, time off). When we return, we’ll be getting online orders out, answering emails, voice mails, and snail mails as fast as we can, and generally looking forward to another year of some really, really (really!) good records.
Happy holidays,
The loving staff of Sub Pop Records
After enjoying this excellent playlist, we invite you to look to our artist pages for more information (and incidentally, products available for purchase) for all these fine musicians.
Here is the final post in our top 10 of 2011 series, and, let’s be honest, it’s the one you came to see. Ever wonder what Robin Pecknold jams in between tweets? Curious about what caught Ernest Greene’s ear this year? Do you and Dulli watch the same shit on TV? Wonder how much sex will be in Alexei Perry Cox’s list? You will find out the answers to all this and more below, plus you’ll be able to listen to playlists by each artist while you do so!
If you can’t get enough lists please check out our staff top 10 lists here and lists made by friends of Sub Pop here.
As our loveable VP Megan Jasper STILL says on a seemingly daily basis, “See you on the flippity flop.” We’re hoping she finally lets go of the Grunge Lexicon in 2012, but I don’t know how we’re going to get that laminated New York Times article out of her purse. 2011, over and out.
xo
Top ten clothing purchases this year, ranked by stunningness:
10. Damir Doma asymmetrical t-shirt
09. Boris Bidjan Saberi sewn-sleeve t-shirt
08. Ann Demeulemeester pinstripe cropped pants
07. Rick Owens sleeveless tee
06. Faliero Sarti cotton scarf
05. Lumen et Umbra painted silk sweater
04. Maison Martin Margiela gladiator sandals
03. Boris Bidjan Saberi waxed druid-neck hoodie
02. Ann Demeulemeester Berlin jacket
01. Lost & Found leather/shearling coat
Araabmuzik – “Streetz Tonight”
Atlas Sound – “Terra Incognita”
Chairlift – “Amanaemonesia”
Cut Copy – “Hanging on to Every Heartbeat”
The Horrors – “Still Life”
John Maus – “The Believer”
Panda Bear – “Last Night At the Jetty”
Real Estate – “It’s Real”
Toro y Moi – “Go With You”
Tycho – “Hours”
1. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo & Bill Callahan – Apocalypse – “I got… runner ups… YEEEAAH!” and the part in “Universal Applicant” where Bill does the flare gun sound effects.
2. The license plate that said “SNUTS”
3. The section of “Codex” by Radiohead where he sings “Jump off the end” and the piano ascends but the vocal melody descends. And the drum sound that’s like tapping your finger on a chair at the airport.
4. Portishead in Poznan, Poland & Bill Callahan in Chorzow, Poland.
5. The Walkmen playing horns together in the basement of the Masonic Temple in Cleveland, recording it on my phone, and then watching it all the time.
6. Van Dyke Parks’ business card
7. The album “To My Long Lost Love” by an anonymous Portland musician. Easily the new album I’ve listened to most.
8. The show Breaking Bad
9. Etta James’ version of “God’s Song (That’s Why I Love Mankind)” by Randy Newman
10. William Tyler, BEHOLDTHESPIRIT! So awesome.
The Wiz
Coming To America
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows
Meteor Man
Mary Poppins
Bedknobs & Broomsticks
Lady Sings the Blues
Whatever Happened To Baby Jane
I’m Gonna Get You Sucka
The Nutty Professor
1.belaynesh
2.all american/Weekend
3.kola boof
4.toyin odutola all her work
5.lob stop sta (feat Coco o.)
6.nov 5
7.black bean burger zippy’s
8.the view from saul’s rooftop
9.the mavs
10.the alien i saw working in a kebab shop in berlin. he looked like a slightly melting arab gary shandling. i knew something was funny watching him move something in the way it poured the…
A few months back, the very good rock band Obits welcomed Alexis Fleisig as their new drummer. (Previous drummer and all-around excellent human Scott Gursky, decided to hang it up a few months before that.) Alexis is in or has been in about 500 bands (Girls Against Boys, Paramount Styles, Bellini, Soulside…) so it’s understandable that he did not realize that as a part of his employment at Obits Music, Filmworks and Probate, Inc., he is now contractually required to make music videos for the band as well. He is, after all, a busy guy. Owing to his respect for a legal, binding contract (it’s all right there, in black and white) and what turns out to be a genuine knack for making music videos, Alexis made a video for the song “Killer” from Obits’ 2011 album Moody, Standard and Poor (which, by the by, Exclaim! recently featured as one of their best punk records of 2011).
—Obits will be performing live at The Bell House in Brooklyn on Friday, December 30th. This, of course, is New Year’s Eve Eve, the new and much cooler celebratory event that is, we are right now pretending, ALLTHERAGE among many of the trend-setting young people of that borough.
—We recently received and are now offering for sale some more of the popular Les Obits t-shirts!
—Did you know that these same Obits participate in and are very funny in the use of the internet’s seemingly quite popular social media thingamajigs? While that former thing might be surprising and the latter not at all, they do! Like this: Obits on Facebook Obits on Twitter
Thank you for what we might as well assume to be your time and indulgence here.
