Noisey had this to say of “Brass Not Rash”:“A catchy post-punk gem that dips in and out of its own melody when it damn well sees fit. It comes off like a petulant nod to Les Savy Fav: shouty, affirmative and brainy (see track premiere April 27th).”
The Gotobeds have scheduled North American shows from April 28th through July 17th to support of Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic. These dates will include stops in Detroit, Brooklyn, Toronto, Montreal, DC, Boston, and more. Additional live dates to be announced soon. (Tour dates below.)
The Gotobeds’ Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic will be available on CD/LP/DL/CASS worldwide June 10th through Sub Pop, and is available for preorder now at Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play,Bandcamp, and independent retailers near you. LP preorders will receive the limited “Loser” edition on baby poop yellow vinyl.
The 11-track album, featuring “Real Maths/Too Much” and the aforementioned “Brass Not Rash,” was produced by the band and Matt Schor in their friend My War Matt’s basement, and mastered by Matthew Barnhart at Chicago Mastering.
More on The Gotobeds by Protomartyr’ Joe Casey: Hey, what’s this? Well that, my friend, is the newest album from The Gotobeds, entitled Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic. It’s their second full-length LP and their first for Sub Pop. Whoa, whoa, please slow down. I’m already completely lost. What you just said sounded like a stream of complete gibberish. Okay, I’ll lay it out for you and if you have any questions could you yell them at me? SOUNDS GOOD. The Gotobeds formed vaguely around 2009 in Pittsburgh and play a mutant strain of rock music that is often filed under punk, indie rock, or 99-cent discount bin. WAIT, THE GOTOBEDS? I HEARD THEY WERE KNUCKLEHEADS! Only if the knuckle is the part of the human body that contains the brains. Much like their previous releases on underground stalwart labels like Mind Cure and 12XU, this new album artfully slips intelligence and experimentation into a dying art form. It’s a harder feat than you’d think. [read at Sub Pop].
Tour Dates Apr. 28 - Columbus, OH - Big Room Bar Apr. 29 - Detroit, MI - Donovan’s Pub Jun. 11 - Brooklyn, NY - Northside Festival Jun.18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox Jul. 06 - Bloomington, IN - the Bishop Bar Jul. 08 - Madison, WI - the Frequency Jul. 11 - Toronto, ON - Drake Hotel Jul. 12 - Montreal, QC - Le Divan Orange Jul. 13 - Allston, MA - Great Scott Jul. 14 - Portsmouth, NH - 3s Artspace Jul. 15 - Providence, RI - Aurora Jul. 17 - Washington, DC - DC9
[Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill / Icebox Project Space at Crane Arts Philadelphia]
Beach House’s previously announced “Installation Shows” for April and May will go on sale Thursday, April 7th at 11am (local time) and will be available from the band’s website right over here. These unique shows are interspersed throughout the group’s 2016 headlining spring tour in support of Thank Your Lucky Stars and Depression Cherry.
The remaining “Installation Shows” will be held in art spaces, galleries, community centers, and various alternative venues in the following cities: Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Venues will be announced 24-48 hours before each show for those who have purchased tickets.
Each show will have Beach House performing in their original formation (as a duo), within a special installation the band created for this tour. A majority of the material will focus on tracks from Thank Your Lucky Stars, Devotion, and their self-titled debut. Images from previous installations shows can be viewed here: http://nyti.ms/1N5mKF9.
Beach House’s 2016 North American and European tour schedule resumes Saturday, April 9th in Dallas at the Bomb Factory and has now been extended through August 27th-28th at FYF Music Fest in Los Angeles.
Depression Cherry (released Aug. 28, 2015) is the second consecutive top 10 album for Beach House, coming in at #8 on theBillboard Top 200 chart, and spent 5 weeks at #1 on the CMJ Top 200.
Thank Your Lucky Stars (released October 16th, 2015) entered at #38 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and peaked at #5 on the CMJTop 200 chart.
2016 Tour Dates
Installation Shows (All venues TBA) Tickets on sale Thursday, April 7th at 11am (local time) Apr. 10 - Austin, TX Apr. 21 - Los Angeles, CA Apr. 26 - San Francisco, CA Apr. 29 - Portland, OR May 03 - Seattle, WA
For links and more on the “Installation Shows,” please visit beachhousebaltimore.com. Theatre / Club Performances Apr. 09 - Dallas, TX - Bomb Factory Apr. 11 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at Moody Theatre [Sold Out] Apr. 13 - El Paso, TX - Tricky Falls Apr. 14 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre [Sold Out] Apr. 17 - Indio, CA - Coachella [Sold Out] Apr. 19 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy &Hariett’s [Sold Out]* Apr. 20 - San Pedro, CA - Warner Grand Theatre [Sold Out] Apr. 24 - Indio, CA - Coachella [Sold Out] Apr. 28 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom [Sold Out] Apr. 30 - Vancouver, BC - The Vogue [Sold Out] May 04 - Seattle, WA - The Paramount Jun. 01 - Bordeaux, FR - Theatre Barbey Jun. 03 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound Jun. 05 - Nimes, FR This Is Not a Love Song Jun. 06 - Nantes, FR - Stereolux Jun. 07 - Toulouse, FR - Bikini Jun. 10 - Porto, PT - Primavera Sound Jun. 12 - London, UK - Victoria Park Jun. 13 - Bexhill, UK - De La Warr Pavillion Jun. 14 - Paris, FR - Casino de Paris Jun. 17 - Hilvarenbeek, NL - Best Kept Secret Jun. 18 - Aarhus, DK - Northside Jul. 15 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival Jul. 16 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival Jul. 17 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival Aug. 05 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon Aug. 06 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon Aug. 07 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon Aug. 12 - Eau Claire, WI - Eaux Claires Music Festival Aug. 13 - Eau Claire, WI - Eaux Claires Music Festival Aug. 27 - Los Angeles, CA - FYF Festival Aug. 28 - Los Angeles, CA - FYF Festival * w/ J. Mascis
Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop’s Love Letter for Fire is out today, worldwide from Sub Pop/Black Cricket Recording Co.
Their beautiful new video for “Every Songbird Says” was directed by Nacho Rodriguez and Sara Lopez (www.mistercoo.com). Stereogum says of the animated visual, “The clip…segues from rapidly shifting illustrations of Beam and Hoop into a range of colorful, earthy animations, all culminating in a joyous fireside celebration (see video premiere April 14th).”
Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop’s previously announced 2016 North American and European headlining tour (with full band) spans May 17th-September 11th. Preceding the tour, the duo has scheduled a few instore performances: A solo appearance by Jesca Hoop on April 16th in Brooklyn at Rough Trade Records, and as a duo on May 2nd in Long Beach, CA at Fingerprints. (complete tour dates below.)
Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop have also scheduled radio performances including New York’s WFUV (airdate TBA), KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” (May 2nd) and KCSN (May 3rd) in Los Angeles, “The Current” in Minneapolis (June 9th), and “Acoustic Cafe” (airdate TBA).
Love Letter for Fire is available on CD / LP / DL / CASS via Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp and at an independent retailer near you. The limited Loser edition on Smoke-colored vinyl is available from the duo on tour and at independent retailers near you (while supplies last, and we’re almost out of Losers!).
The thirteen-track album was produced, recorded and mixed by Tucker Martine (Modest Mouse, Decemberists, Neko Case) at Flora Recording & Playback in Portland, and mastered by Richard Dodd in Nashville. Love Letter for Fire features Beam and Hoop on vocals and guitar along with Robert Burger (keys), Eyvind Kang (violin, viola), Glenn Kotche (drums, percussion), Sebastian Steinberg (bass) and Edward Rankin-Parker (cello).
What people are saying about Love Letter for Fire: “Love Letter for Fire was, at least in part, inspired by the pair’s desire to make songs that function as conversations rather than soliloquies, and their work backs that up…With the help of producer Tucker Martine and a smart, subtle band, the two achieve a fine balance — of songwriting sensibilities, of time in the spotlight — in the service of songs that feel at once fresh and timeless [“First Listen’] - NPR Music
“The musical magnetism between first-time collaborators Jesca Hoop, California songwriter and adopted Manchester resident, and cult folk artist Sam Beam of Iron and Wine, allows for space and nuance, more two friends lamenting late into the night than tussling theatrics.” [4/5 stars] - The Guardian
“The result is Beam’s best release since In The Reins, with a far more dynamic batch of songs, and a wider introduction to Hoop’s compelling and naturally chameleonic songwriting style.” [B+] - The AV Club
“This pairing of Iron And Wine’s Sam Beam with Jesca Hoop is indie music’s most intriguingly fruitful alliance since Isobel Campbell got in touch with Mark Lanegan…There’s a curious congruence to the duo’s harmonies that brings their songs to unique life.” [4/5 stars] -The Independent
“Love Letter for Fire shows what can happen when two near-strangers explore each other’s deepest emotions and private pains in song: They may still ultimately remain strangers, but they’ve created something profound in the process.” - American Songwriter
“Love Letter for Fire is a triumph of rustic minimalism and unforced, chamber-pop poise, with charm by the skipload” [8/10] - Uncut
“Beam and Santa Rosa folk singer Jesca Hoop pass the love-stricken vocal baton with real charm, typically trading individual lines before converging for stirring harmonies” - Q Magazine
“Duets naturally arrive at a conversational, kinetic charm that solo songs can’t. With Love Letter for Fire, Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam and singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop aim to channel the rapport of Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton or George Jones/Tammy Wynette classics—where two singular voices merge in a dialogue that deepens the atmosphere. Each musician boasts a skill the other doesn’t—with Hoop’s vivacious, multi-hued sweetness brightening Beam’s smoky rumble and croon. Blending their voices in harmony, call-and-response and unison, they sing of love, spirituality and world-weary perseverance, often all at once…Love Letter for Fire is built on this elegant give-and-take—it’s the rare A-list collaboration more compelling than the sum of its parts.” - Relix
“Their musical tastes overlap, as their former collaboration on Hoop’s “Hunting My Dress” song from her last album showed, so there was no reason to doubt that a full-length album between them would be nothing short of excellent. However, not only do Beam and Hoop meet those high expectations, they shatter them on Love Letter for Fire by crafting some of their best songs to date.” [9/10 stars] - PopMatters
“Two vocalists creating openhearted love songs could prove to be a risk for unlistenable, saccharine material....Beam and Hoop convey their emotions sweetly, offering their own imperfect glimpses of an old theme told in new ways.” - Consequence of Sound
Tour Dates May 17 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark* May 18 - Toronto, ON - The Danforth Music Hall* May 20 - New York, NY - The Town Hall* May 21 - Washington, DC - The Lincoln Theatre* May 22 - Boston, MA - The Wilbur Theatre* May 24 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* May 26 - Atlanta, GA - The Buckhead Theatre* May 27 - New Orleans, LA - The Civic Theatre* May 28 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler Theater* May 30 - Tucson, AZ - The Rialto Theatre* May 31 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre* Jun. 02 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall* Jun. 03 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater* Jun. 04 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre* Jun. 05 - Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre* Jun. 07 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater* Jun. 08 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown* Jun. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater* Jun. 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom* Jun. 11 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall* Aug. 28 - Edinburgh, UK - Edinburgh International Festival Aug. 29 - Bangor, UK - Marine Court Aug. 30 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre Aug 31 - Manchester, UK - Royal Northern College of Music Sep. 01 - London, UK - Union Chapel Sep. 02-04 - Salisbury, Larmer Tree Gardens, UK - End of the Road Festival Sep. 07 - Berlin, DE - Passionskirche Sep. 08 - Cologne, DE - Kulturkirche Sep. 09 - Brussels, BE - Botanique-Orangerie Sep. 10 - Groningen, NL - Take Root Festival Sep. 11 - Amsterdam, NL - De Duif * w/ Marlon Williams
Georgian rippers Arbor Labor Union’s “Mr Birdsong” is a 7-minute, psychedelic, joyful rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut that opens I Hear You, their forthcoming Sub Pop debut.
London’s NME premiered the track and had this to say, “It’s seven-plus minutes of stodgy desert rock delivered with a southern drawl that recalls QOTSA’s more groove-based moments, as well as cult Swede act The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. “Go ahead and say out loud: ‘I AM NOT INSANE!!!’” screams singer/guitarist Bo Orr at one point, sounding both insane and hell-bent on alerting the white coat brigade. It’s a swirling, motorik and wilfully heavy beast (see premiere April 25th).”
Arbor Labor Union’s previously announced U.S. tour in support of I Hear You, begins May 14th in West Columbia, SC at New Brookland Tavern and ends June 17th in Athens, GA at the 40 Watt. (Complete tour dates below.)
I Hear You will be available worldwide May 13th on CD/LP/DL/CASS through Sub Pop, and is available for preorder now via Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp and independent retailers near you. LP preorders via megamart.subpop.comwill receive the limited “Loser” edition on pink vinyl.
The album features highlights “Radiant Mountain Road,” “Belief’d,” the aforementioned “Mr. Birdsong” and “Volume Peaks.” I Hear You was produced and recorded by Randall Dunn and Arbor Labor Union in the fall of 2015 at Avast Studio in Seattle, WA and mastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering.
Tour Dates May 14 - West Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern May 15 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Back Room May 16 - Washington, DC - DC9 May 18 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie May 19 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge May 20 - Cambridge, MA - Club Bohemia May 21 - Buffalo, NY - The Leopard Lounge at Town Ballroom May 22 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop May 24 - Chicago, IL - Schubas May 25 - Madison, WI - The Frequency May 26 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry May 27 - Iowa City, IA - The Mill May 28 - Omaha, NE - Milk Run May 29 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake Lounge May 31 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Jun. 02 - Nampa, ID - Flying M Coffee Jun. 03 - Seattle, WA - Barboza Jun. 04 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios Jun. 06 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop Jun. 07 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room Jun. 08 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Hi-Fi Jun. 10 - San Diego, CA - Hideout Jun. 11 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar Jun. 13 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk Jun. 14 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada Jun. 15 - Houston, TX - Rudyard’s Jun. 17 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt
Kristin Kontrol - aka Dee Dee, leader of internationally acclaimed rock outfit Dum Dum Girls - released a new song today. “Show Me,” with all its synth-sax flourishes and minimal groove, premiered on i-D here.
The track, produced by Kurt Feldman with Danny Meyer on saxophone, is off her debut album, X-Communicate, coming out on May 27 via Sub Pop Records. The album pre-order is underway HERE. Fans who pre-order X-Communicate digitally will instantly receive the title track ”X-Communicate,” as well. Additionally, the limited, blue-vinyl Loser Edition is available to pre-order customers at megamart.subpop.com, and at select independent record stores (while supplies last).
“Show Me” follows the release of the album’s title track ”X-Communicate,” of which Cosmopolitan said “her voice…remains as smoldering as it’s always been,” and Pitchfork noted “the springy cushion of bass arpeggios, synth pads, and ringing guitars smartly borrows from Hi-NRG acts like Evelyn Thomas and Bananarama as well as sleek, wavy brooders like New Order and Pet Shop Boys. But the results are far too opulent to scan as merely retro. If “X-Communicate” were a look on “Project Runway,” it’d find Nina Garcia gushing about how expensive it sounds.”
Kristin also announced her first set of tour dates here, including stops in Brooklyn and Boston – more dates will be announced soon.
Kristin tells her stories using a sonic palette splashed with bold pop melodies, her vocals showcasing a range hitherto unexplored by Kristin. The album was produced by Kurt Feldman (of Ice Choir and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart) and Andrew Miller (who played guitar in the Dum Dum Girls’ last incarnation). Longtime Dum Dum Girls producer Richard Gottehrer (Blondie, The Go-Go’s) provided “sonic consultation,” giving Kristin feedback on the new songs and inspiring her to continually push further. Kristin spoke more about the upcoming album in her recent Sirius XMU interview with Jenny Eliscu HERE.
Dum Dum Girls was Kristin’s guise for the best part of a decade. After posting her bedroom recordings online, she caught the ears of Sub Pop. From there she assembled her group of badass, black-clad cadets and toured the world. Over the course of three albums, four EPs and a bold brace of singles, Dum Dum Girls morphed from the girl group-gone-bad moves of debut album I Will Be (2010), to the comparatively plush noir-pop of 2014’s Too True. At the top of 2015, Kristin decided to shed her Dum Dum Girls skin, ditching Dee Dee for her real name, Kristin, and adding Kontrol (a bit of an inside joke between old friends). Inspired by some words of wisdom from Karen O, it may be a leap into the unknown, but little risk means little reward.
You can now hear Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop’s Love Letter for Fire, their forthcoming duets record, in it’s entirety via NPR Music’s “First Listen”.
NPR Music says of the album, “Love Letter for Fire was, at least in part, inspired by the pair’s desire to make songs that function as conversations rather than soliloquies, and their work backs that up…With the help of producer Tucker Martine and a smart, subtle band, the two achieve a fine balance — of songwriting sensibilities, of time in the spotlight — in the service of songs that feel at once fresh and timeless (see “First Listen” April 7th-15th).”
Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop’s 2016 headlining tour schedule in support of Love Letter for Fire has been extended through September. This includes a North American trek with support from Marlon Williams (May 17th-June 11th) and a European run (August 28th-September 11th). Sam and Jesca will also appear at End of the Road Festival weekender September 2nd-4th. (complete tour dates below.) Sam and Jesca recently released a short film on the making of Love Letter for Fire. The two discuss the process of how their collaborative album came to fruition and how two people not in love wrote an entire album of love songs. The clip also features exclusive performances of the two in a stripped down and intimate setting [watch it here].
Love Letter for Firewill be available on CD / LP / DL / CASS worldwide April 15th through Sub Pop/Black Crickett Recording Co., and is now available for preorder at Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Bandcamp. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited Loser edition on Smoke-colored vinyl (while supplies last - we’re almost out as of 4/7/16).
Tour Dates May 17 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark* May 18 - Toronto, ON - The Danforth Music Hall* May 20 - New York, NY - The Town Hall* May 21 - Washington, DC - The Lincoln Theatre* May 22 - Boston, MA - The Wilbur Theatre* May 24 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* May 26 - Atlanta, GA - The Buckhead Theatre* May 27 - New Orleans, LA - The Civic Theatre* May 28 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler Theater* May 30 - Tucson, AZ - The Rialto Theatre* May 31 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre* Jun. 02 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall* Jun. 03 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater* Jun. 04 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre* Jun. 05 - Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre* Jun. 07 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater* Jun. 08 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown* Jun. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater* Jun. 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom* Jun. 11 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall* Aug. 28 - Edinburgh, UK - Edinburgh International Festival Aug. 29 - Bangor, UK - Marine Court Aug. 30 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre Aug 31 - Manchester, UK - Royal Northern College of Music Sep. 01 - London, UK - Union Chapel Sep. 02-04 - Salisbury, Larmer Tree Gardens, UK - End of the Road Festival Sep. 07 - Berlin, DE - Passionskirche Sep. 08 - Cologne, DE - Kulturkirche Sep. 09 - Brussels, BE - Botanique-Orangerie Sep. 10 - Groningen, NL - Take Root Festival Sep. 11 - Amsterdam, NL - De Duif * w/ Marlon Williams
