The Afghan Whigs’ spellbinding new album, In Spadesis out worldwide this Friday May 5th.
[Photo Credit: Chris Cuffaro]
This morning the band announced a new 28-city tour of North America for this fall which will begin on September 6th in Orlando, FL. Har Mar Superstar will support on all shows, and tickets go on sale this Friday morning. The tour will include three Canadian shows (Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver) and the band will be playing several markets they haven’t visited in years (Richmond, Birmingham, Kansas City, Houston).
The Afghan Whigs will also visit 17 countries overseas this summer in support of the new album including performances at Primavera Sound, Northside Festival and Way Out West. Ed Harcourt will be supporting on all European headline shows. (Tour dates and ticket links are below.)
As if that weren’t enough good news for a Monday… You can now stream all of In Spades via the good music listeners of Stereogum, right over here.
In Spades is now available for preorder from Sub Pop, The Afghan Whigs official website, and select independent retailers. LP pre-orders will receive the “Loser” edition on 180-gram, white-chocolate vinyl (while supplies last). A new T-shirt design, along with cassette versions of The Afghan Whigs classic Sub Pop albums Up In It and Congregation, will also be available.
Led by the singles “Demon In Profile,” “Oriole,” and “Arabian Heights” along with standouts “Copernicus,” and “Toy Automatic,” ’In Spades’ is the follow-up to the band’s internationally acclaimed Do to the Beast. The albumwas recorded in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Memphis and Joshua Tree and written and produced by Greg Dulli.
The early reviews of In Spades have been stellar:
“Demonic pain experienced in the midnight hours suits both him (Dulli) and his band. No wonder then that this matches some of their best work.” [4/5 stars] -Q Magazine
‘A thrilling impassioned addition to their catalogue.’ [8/10] - UNCUT
“Back to their dark, soulful best.” [4/5 stars] – MOJO
“Forever raising goosebumps where you didn’t even know you had them.” - [5/5 stars] – Record Collector
The Afghan Whigs have released two videos from the album so far: “Demon In Profile,” directed by longtime collaborator Phil Harder[link here] and “Oriole” helmed by erotic art director Amy Nicole Hood [link here].
The first show in support of In Spades will take place later this month at a sold out Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York on May 23rd.
The Afghan Whigs North American Tour w/Har Mar Superstar
May 23 - Harlem, NY - The Apollo Theater (Sold Out) Sep. 06 - Orlando, FL - The Social Sep. 07 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West Sep. 09 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club Sep. 11 - Richmond, VA - The National Sep. 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer Sep. 14 - Boston, MA - Paradise Sep. 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel Sep. 18 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount Sep. 19 - Toronto, ON - Opera House Sep. 21 - Minneapolis, MN - First Ave Sep. 23 - Chicago, IL - Metro Sep. 24 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Sep. 26 - Detroit, MI - St Andrews Sep. 28 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts Sep. 29 - Nashville, TN - Exit IN Sep. 30 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn Oct. 12 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up Oct. 13 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre Oct. 14 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore Oct. 16 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom Oct. 17 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre Oct. 18 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Oct. 19 - Salt Lake, UT - Urban Lounge Oct. 21 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre Oct. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar Oct. 24 - Austin, TX - Mohawk Oct. 25 - Dallas, TX - Trees Oct. 26 - Houston, TX - Heights Theater
The Afghan Whigs European Tour w/Ed Harcourt May 26 - Manchester, UK - Cathedral May 27 - Glasgow, UK - ABC May 28 - Dublin, IE - Academy May 30 - London, UK - Koko Jun. 01 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound Festival Jun. 03 - Bologna, IT - Zona Roveri Jun. 04 - Zagreb, HR - Tvornica Kulture Jun. 06 - Warsaw, PL - Palladium Jun. 07 - Berlin, DE - Kesselhaus Jun. 09 - Aarhus, DK - Northside Festival Jun.10 - Oslo, NO - Vulkan Jun.12 - Hamburg, DE - Gruenspan Jun.13 - Frankfurt, DE - Batschkapp Jun.14 - Antwerp, BE - Trix (Sold Out) Jun.15 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique (Sold Out) Aug. 04 - Vienna, AT - WUK Aug. 05 - Prague, CZ - Lucerna Music Bar Aug. 06 - Zurich, CH - Mascotte Aug. 08 - Munich, DE - Backstage Halle Aug. 09 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Aug. 10-12 - Gothenburg, SE - Way Out West Festival Aug. 13 - Helsinki, FL - Flow Festival
Now listen to previously unreleased track. “Chariot”.
[Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill]
Cry those tears of joy, because on Friday, June 30th, Beach House will release the B-Sides and Rarities album (pre-order here!), a 14-track compilation of songs from throughout their career. The album features 2 previously unreleased tracks “Chariot” (as seen above) and “Baseball Diamond,” which were recorded during the Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars sessions (both Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars were released, 2 months apart, in 2015)
Beach House says of the release, “When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, ‘B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.’ This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our 6 LPs, it wasn’t the ‘best’ or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making.”
“The idea for a B-sides record came when we realized just how many non-album songs had been made over the years, and how hard it was to find and hear many of them. This compilation contains every song we have ever made that does not exist on one of our records. There are 14 songs in total.”
Beach House’s B-Sides and Rarities will be released on CD / LP / CASS / DL and is available for pre-order now here. LP pre-orders in North America through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and select independent retailers will receive the Loser Edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last), and a new T-shirt design will also be available to bundle with the album.
B-Sides and Rarities Tracklisting: 1. Chariot 2. Baby 3. Equal Mind 4. Used to Be (2008 Single Version) 5. White Moon (iTunes Session Remix) 6. Baseball Diamond 7. Norway (iTunes Session Remix) 8. Play the Game 9. The Arrangement 10. Saturn Song 11. Rain in Numbers 12. I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun 13. 10 Mile Stereo (Cough Syrup Remix) 14. Wherever You Go
About the B Sides and Rarities album:
When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, “B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.” This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our 6 LPs, it wasn’t the “best” or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making.
The idea for a B-sides record came when we realized just how many non-album songs had been made over the years, and how hard it was to find and hear many of them. This compilation contains every song we have ever made that does not exist on one of our records. There are 14 songs in total.
The oldest song is “Rain in Numbers” and was recorded in 2005, during the summer we formed the band. We didn’t have a piano, so we asked our friend if we could use his, which was pretty out of tune. We used the mic that was on the four-track machine to record the piano and vocals. It was originally the secret song on our self-titled debut.
Sequentially, the next couple of songs are from late 2008. We were so excited about “Used to Be,” that we recorded it right after writing it so that we could have it as a 7” single for our fall tour with the Baltimore Round Robin. We recorded our cover of Queen’s “Play the Game” in the same session. It was for a charity compilation benefiting AIDS research and we will continue to donate all profits from the song to that charity. As fans of Queen, we thought it would be fun and ridiculous to try to adapt their high-powered pop song into our realm. These songs were recorded at the same studio where we made Devotion.
There are a bunch of songs written and recorded in the 2009-2010 window. This period of time, as well as 2014, was our most prolific to date. “Baby” was written and recorded in October 2009 with our friend Jason Quever. “10 Mile Stereo” was recorded during the Teen Dream session in July 2009. Since we used tape, we often slowed the tape way down to create effects while recording. When we were doing that for “10 Mile Stereo” we decided we wanted to make an alternate version where the whole song was slowed down, hence the “10 Mile Stereo (Cough Syrup Remix).”
“White Moon” and “The Arrangement” were both songs that we didn’t believe fit on Teen Dream. “White Moon” originally appeared on our iTunes live session. Since that was recorded and mixed very hastily, we have remixed it to better match our current aesthetics. We have also remixed and included the version of “Norway” we did at that same session. The main reason we wanted to include “Norway” is that it features a very different bridge from the original version.
After the insane year of touring we had in 2010, we felt incredibly grateful to our fans for all that had happened. We wrote and recorded “I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun” during a break between tours and released it on the internet for free, unmastered. Well, it’s finally been mastered…
“Wherever You Go” Is another song from that era. We always loved this song but thought it sounded too much like our old music. We paused writing it and didn’t finish it until 2011 during the Bloom recording session. It appeared originally as a secret song on Bloom.
“Equal Mind” was also recorded during the Bloom session. We really like this song, but pulled it from the record when we realized it had the exact same tempo as “Other People.” They are like twins.
The Bloom sessions led to “Saturn Song” as well. This song is built on a piano loop we wrote while recording Bloom. It also contains sounds recorded in deep space. It originally appeared on a compilation of songs incorporating space sounds that was released in 2014.
Finally, there are two previously unreleased songs from the Depression Cherry/Thank Your Lucky Stars sessions. They are called “Chariot” and “Baseball Diamond.”
Beach House has also added new dates to their 2017 international headlining and festival tour schedule. Highlights include: August 13th in Castelbuono, IT at Ypsigrock, August 16th in Sestri Levante, IT for an appearance at Mojotic Festival, and a string of September dates with friends and former labelmates Fleet Foxes (with stops at the Hollywood Bowl and Red Rocks Amphitheatre among those).
Beach House will also appear at New York’s Governor’s Ball the weekend of June 2nd-4th.
May 24 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre May 26 - Orlando, FL - Beacham Theatre May 27 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - The Revolution May 28 - Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall May 30 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre May 31 - Knoxville, TN - Mill & Mine Jun. 02 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball Jun. 03 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball Jun. 04 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball Aug. 11 - Copenhagen, DK - Haven Aug. 13 - Castelbuono, IT - Ypsigrock Aug. 16 - Sestri Levante, IT - Mojotic Festival Aug. 18 - Parades de Coura, PT - Parades de Coura Festival Sep. 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl* Sep. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre* Sep. 25 - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Opera* Sep. 27 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre* *w/ Fleet Foxes
National Tour Dates Incl. Pitchfork’s Northside Showcase, Riot Fest, House Of Vans, Made In America Festival.
Downtown Boys use their ferocious energy and powerhouse live shows to unite crowds in the struggle to smash racism, queerphobia, capitalism, fascism, boredom, and all things people use to try to close our minds, eyes and hearts. The Providence, RI band have announced their third album, Cost of Living, to be released (Preorder here now) August 11 on Sub Pop. The new album - the follow-up to their critically-acclaimed sophomore album, 2015’s Full Communism - is at once incendiary, cathartic, and fun, melding the band’s revolutionary ideals with boundless energy. Produced by Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto, one of indie-rock’s most mythological figures (he also produced Blonde Redhead, The Gossip, and others), Cost of Living shows a sense of maturity without compromising the band’s righteous assault and captivating presence.
“… wild, bilingual, no-filler, can-still-throw-down punk rock.” - NPR
“Accompanied by production from Greg Norman and Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto, Downtown Boys sound sharper than ever, their urgency tightened into a raging storm. The band understands that for a song to be political, it needs to be more than just than a temporary rebellion: It has to dig into the essence of an identity with relentless honesty.” - Pitchfork, Best New Track
“… Downtown Boys are a beam of radical energy” – Rookie
“ …the politically-minded Rhode Island punk crew Downtown Boys slam bullying hardcore guitars, X-Ray Spex-y horns and radical lyrical fury together into a moshpit utopia.” – Rolling Stone
Cost of Living is Downtown Boys’ first record for storied indie label Sub Pop, and the band is using this new platform as a megaphone for their protest music, amplifying and centering Chicana, queer, and Latino voices in the far-too-whitewashed world of rock. t Lyrically inspired by Assata Shakur’s poem “i believe in living,” album-opener “A Wall” rides the feel-good power that drove so many tunes by The Clash and Wire, calling out the idea that a wall could ever succeed in snuffing the humanity and spirit of those it’s designed to crush. “Promissory Note” is a bold self-introduction to the exclusive clubs that either ignore Downtown Boys’ existence, or worse, feign appreciation: “So what’s the matter, you don’t like what you see? / I can’t believe you’re even talking to me!” Ruiz shouts. “Tonta,” one of the three songs written and sung primarily in Spanish, is an introspective and emotional portrait of anguish which calls to mind the mighty scrum of Huasipungo at an ABC No Rio matinee.
The position of Downtown Boys has been clear since they started storming through basements and DIY spaces with their radically-minded, indefatigable rock music: they are here to topple the white-cis-het hegemony and draft a new history. This is how Downtown Boys began, and their resolve has only strengthened as both their sound and audience have grown. Like the socially conscious groups of years past, from Public Enemy to Rage Against the Machine, Downtown Boys harness powerful sloganeering, repetitive grooves, and earworm hooks to create one of the most necessary musical statements of today.
[Photo Credit: Miguel Rosario]
The time is now for you to follow Downtown Boys everywhere over the known internets via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp.
Cost of Living
Downtown Boys’ new album, Cost of Living, will be released on CD / LP / CASS / DL, and is available for pre-order here now. LP pre-orders in North America through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and select independent retailers will receive the Loser Edition on marbled gold vinyl while supplies last. Plus, a new T-shirt design will also be available.
Cost of Living :: Tracklist
1. A Wall 2. I’m Enough (I Want More) 3. Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas) 4. Promissory Note 5. Because You 6. Violent Complicity 7. It Can’t Wait 8. Tonta 9. Heroes (Interlude) 10. Lips That Bite 11. Clara Rancia 12. Bulletproof (Outro)
6/9: Brooklyn, NY @ Pitchfork Northside Fest Showcase @ St. Vitus 6/16: Ashfield, MA @ The Ashfield Lake House 6/17: Providence, RI @ Aurora 7/12: Brooklyn, NY @ House of Vans 8/19: Omaha, NE @ Maha Festival 9/2 - 9/3: Philadelphia, PA @ Made In America Festival 9/15 - 9/17: Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest 9/23: Los Angeles, CA @ Summer Happenings at The Broad 10/9: Leffinge, Belgium @ Cafe De Zwerver 10/10: Paris, France @ Le Point Ephemere 10/11: Brighton, UK @ The Haunt 10/12: Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club 10/13: Edinburgh, UK @ Sneaky Pete’s 10/14: Glasgow, UK @ Stereo 10/16: Dublin, Ireland @ The Workman’s Club 10/17: Liverpool, UK @ The Shipping Forecast 10/18: London, UK @ Dome Tufnell Park 10/19: Sheffield, UK @ Picture House Social Club 10/20: Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute 10/21: Bristol, UK @ Simple Things Festival 10/22: Birmingham, UK @ All Years Leaving Festival 10/24: Munster, Germany @ Gleis 22 10/25: Berlin, Germany @ Urban Spree 10/26: Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang
Sub Pop Records is seeking a
full-time Receptionist at our world headquarters in Seattle, WA. The
candidate must be:
able to
multi-task
able to work
as part of a team, sharing common goals
self-motivated
and goal-oriented
detailed and
organized
in possession
of strong communication and writing skills
comfortable
using MS Office suite and be internet savvy
accommodating
and outgoing with office visitors
The closing date to apply for this position is Friday, May 26th, 2017.
Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities
The Receptionist at
Sub Pop has a variety of responsibilities, including attending to visitors and
phone calls. In addition, our receptionist provides information regarding the
company to the general public and the people we work with, and serves as a
general facilities manager and marketing assistant, whose main focus within
marketing is tour promotions.
answer telephone; screen and direct calls; take and relay messages
provide basic company policies, Sub Pop history, and
information to the public
keep
track of employee schedules and in/out calendars
receive and sort mail and deliveries daily
oversee general cleanliness and organization of common
areas/kitchen/conference room
order and maintain stock of office and kitchen supplies
oversee office maintenance and act as liaison to building
management
provide
venues and promoters promotional tour supplies for Sub Pop bands
update
listings for tour merchandise accounting system AtVenu
assist Marketing Director in preparing for meetings with artists and their managers; assist with project report distribution as nec.
receive, sort, and provide intern applications for
employees, specifically the marketing staff
manage special projects
provide
administrative support as needed
provide
Sub Pop materials as set dressing for television and motion pictures
update
and maintain front desk operator’s manual\
Please send resume and cover letter to Derek Erdman (dereke@subpop.com).
Watch a live performance of “Violet” direct from Marika’s bedroom, right over here.
Marika Hackman’s “Violet” is a provocative new track from I’m Not Your Man, her forthcoming album, and Sub Pop Debut, preceded last week by her a romantic (and creepy) new video for “My Lover Cindy,” another standout track from I’m Not Your Man. The video was directed by Sam Bailey, and stars Marika as a butler working in the home of a young couple who begin a fencing match. As the match progresses, the masks come off and the sword fighting intensifies and things get…weird. Watch it here and see through thine own eyes.
Tour Dates + Ticket Links
Marika Hackman’s previously announced co-headlining tour with The Big Moon begins July 29th in Los Angeles at the Bootleg Theatre and ends August 16th in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right. The Big Moon, will act as her backing band for this trek (and are the studio musicians with whom she recorded I’m Not Your Man). The 14-city tour will also visit Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Denver, Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more. The Big Moon are currently supporting Love in the 4th Dimension, out now on Columbia Records.
Jul. 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg* Jul. 31 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club* Aug. 02 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios* Aug. 03 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret* Aug. 04 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern* Aug. 06 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court* Aug. 07 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake* Aug. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry* Aug. 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Collectivo* Aug. 11 - Chicago, IL - Schubas* Aug. 13 - Toronto, ON - The Drake* Aug. 14 - Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo* Aug. 15 - Boston, MA - Great Scott* Aug. 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right* *w/ The Big Moon
I’m Not Your Man will be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and is now available to preorder (please) in North and South America from Sub Pop. and Marika Hackman’s official website here. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on green and orange swirled vinyl with a bonus 7” (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available. I’m Not Your Man is also available in rest of the world via from AMF Records.
Things aren’t what they seem in Marika Hackman’s romantic and creepy new video for “My Lover Cindy,” one of the standouts from I’m Not Your Man, her forthcoming album (out 6/2).
“My Lover Cindy” was directed by Sam Bailey, and stars Marika as a butler working at the home of a young couple who begin a fencing match. Pretty sure you’ll never think of fencing the same way after this…
Marika Hackman’s forthcoming co-headlining tour with The Big Moon) begins July 29th in Los Angeles at the Bootleg Theatre and ends August 16th in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right. The Big Moon,will act as her backing band for this trek (and are the studio musicians with whom she recorded I’m Not Your Man). The 14-city tour will also visit Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Denver, Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more. The Big Moon are currently supporting Love in the 4th Dimension, out now on Columbia Records.
Jul. 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg* Jul. 31 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club* Aug. 02 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios* Aug. 03 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret* Aug. 04 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern* Aug. 06 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court* Aug. 07 Denver, CO - Lost Lake* Aug. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry* Aug. 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Collectivo* Aug. 11 - Chicago, IL - Schubas* Aug. 13 - Toronto, ON - The Drake* Aug. 14 - Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo* Aug. 15 - Boston, MA - Great Scott* Aug. 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right* *w/ The Big Moon
Marika Hackman’s I’m Not Your Man includes the highlights “Boyfriend,” [watch here], “My Lover Cindy” [listen here / watch live here], “Violet” and “Cigarette,” and was produced and mixed by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J) at various locales throughout London.
I’m Not Your Man will be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and is now available to preorder in North and South America from Sub Pop and Marika Hackman’s official website over here. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on green and orange swirled vinyl with a bonus 7” (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available. I’m Not Your Man is also available in rest of the world via from AMF Records.
There’s an open-ended nature toI’m Not Your Man: the discussions within, conversations on femininity, sex and sexual identity, millennial ennui, the pressures of living in a social media bubble and the perils of being young in a fast-paced industry. Says Marika, “The record’s all about female relationships, romance and breakdowns, but there’s also a dim worldview going on. I’m Not Your Man can either mean, ‘I’m not your man, I’m your woman’, or it can mean, ‘I’m not a part of this…’,” explains Marika.It’s a fiery statement from a songwriter who no longer wants to be shackled to limiting descriptions…To help channel this fervid female energy, Hackman recruited her best mates – London quartet The Big Moon to play as her backing band. They all met at a gig once and an immediate friend crush ensued. “They really captured the soul of what it all meant to me and brought a lot of fun and creativity,” says Hackman. “A lot of messing about and cuddling.” There was no concern that bringing in a much-hyped band to play on a number of tracks would take the shine off her own project. “I just wanna make the right record and if that’s involving people who can fucking smash it then that’s what I’m gonna do. Bands coming together is so important, particularly for women [read more at Sub Pop].”
