This one’s not for the faint of heart, people. Masters of making you squirm, Clipping have teamed up with director Anna Zlokovic for the disturbing new “Back Up” video [feat. Antwon and Signor Benedick the Moor], a highlight from the group’s Wriggle EP.  
 
Zlokovic says of the visual, “Through the perspective of an unnamed filmmaker, we stumble upon an accidental and horrifying discovery. What begins as a curious exploration of an abandoned warehouse quickly devolves into the uncovering and filming of an underground, cult-like society—one where adults have baby faces and milk is the drug of choice.”

The “Back Up” video marks another collaboration between Anna, Aporkalypse and Clipping’s members (most specifically, Jonathan Snipes recently contributed sound design for the film, Shorty). Additionally, Zlokovic’s films (based in the psychological sci-fi, psychological horror, body horror genre) and music videos have screened internationally at festivals including SXSW, Santa Barbara Int’l Film Festival, and Fantasia Int’l Film Festival. Her perspective often finds itself joining the cerebral and humanistic, hanging out in a realm where a more fantastical reality meets the mundane.

“Back Up” was also filmed at The Smell––an all-ages DIY music venue in Los Angeles. The Smell has remained a pillar of the LA underground music scene since its founding in the 90’s and is now set for demolition––which has incited a bevy of support for the venue amongst LA musicians/fans. Clipping has played at the The Smell many times & has a long-standing relationship with co-founder Jim Smith. It seemed like a particularly apt place to film––both for aesthetic and sentimental purposes, and in service of the current #savethesmell campaign.

[Please find a full list of production credits below.]

 
Clipping’s previously announced 2017 North American headline and support dates begin February 17th in Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory runs through April 4th in St. Petersburg, FL at Jannus Live. Highlights for the tour include headline shows (February 17th-24th; March 10th, March 16th, April 3rd), appearances at the Noise Pop Festival (February 24th-25th) and a direct support run opening for the Flaming Lips (March 3rd-14th; March 29th-April 4th). Tour dates are below.

Splendor & Misery is available on CD/LP/DL/CASS worldwide from Sub Pop right over here and Deathbomb Arc here.  The album features the highlights “Baby Don’t Sleep,” “A Better Place,” and “Air ‘Em Out,” was produced by the band, and mixed by Steve Kaplan in Los Angeles.  The Wriggle EP is also available from Sub Pop, here.

Tour Dates
Feb. 17 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory^ [Sold Out]
Feb. 18 - Los Angeles, CA - The Broad^ [Sold Out]
Feb. 20 - Portland, OR - Holocene^ [Sold Out]
Feb. 21 - The, Seattle, WA - The Crocodile^ [Sold Out]
Feb. 22 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret^
Feb. 24 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club (Noise Pop!)^ [Sold Out]
Feb. 25 - San Francisco, CA - Brick & Mortar Club (Noise Pop!) ^ [Sold Out]
Mar. 03 - Boston, MA - House of Blues *
Mar. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore *
Mar. 05 - Washington, DC - 930 Club *
Mar. 06 - Washington, DC - 930 Club *
Mar. 09 - New York City, NY - Terminal 5 *
Mar. 10 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC ^^
Mar. 11 - Westbury, NY - The Space at Westbury *
Mar. 13 - Toronto, ON - Rebel *
Mar. 14 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Theater *
Mar. 16 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
Mar. 29 - Nashville, TN - War Memorial Auditorium *
Mar. 30 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore *
Mar. 31 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz *
Apr. 02 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle *
Apr. 03 - Orlando, FL - The Social **
Apr. 04 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live *
* w/ The Flaming Lips
^ w/Baseck

** w/ They Hate Change

^^ w/ Jason Forrest

*“Back Up” credits:
Directed by Anna Zlokovic
Produced by Simona Kessler, Alex Familian & Anna Zlokovic
AD: Rene Gannon-O’Gara
Cinematography by Powell Robinson
VFX by Alex Familian
Production Designed by Devin Cheney
Set Decorator: Sydney Marquez
Costuming and HMU by Nadine Sondej-Robinson
Editing by Anna Zlokovic & Powell Robinson
Sound Design by Jonathan Snipes
Additional Casting by Luka Fisher
1st AC: Carter Ross
Colorist: Powell Robinson
Production Manager: Alex Lark
Production Coordinator: Chase Niesner
PAs and Costuming Assistants: Andy Riviera & Jordan Vazcones
 
Starring the bodies of:  Daveed Diggs, Antwon, Signor Benedick the Moor, Andrew Varenhorst, Dani Goffstein, Evita Castine, Patrick Robert Young, Evanne Friedmann, Yazmin Watkins, Nadine L. Robinson, Daniel Crook, Jared Michael Degado, Ivo Buhles, Genevieve Munroe, Peter Kalisch, Devin Cheney, & Carter Ross.
 
Special thanks to all the baby parents & chaperones:  Jill Fogel, Karla Garcia, Amyre Rachal-Carter, Adriana Benvenuto, Emily Rubio, Natasha Oiye, Dorian Gray, Ena Fleming, Afton Adams, & Leslie Adams.
 
A very special thanks to: Jim Smith & Michael Fierstein of The Smell, Jack Kovacs and Ember the cat, Theo Pappas at Santa Monica Video, Youth Talent Connection, Sasha Venn, Jules Bruff, Sage Lewis, Spitz, The Blue Cube, Co-Opportunity Market + Deli, & Jeremy McLennan.
 
Aporkalypse Productions
aporkalypseproductions.com
facebook.com/aporkalypseproductions

Listen now on Spotify / You Tube. North American tour begins July 29th in Los Angeles.

Marika Hackman’s I’m Not Your Man, her internationally acclaimed new album (and Sub Pop debut!), is out now on CD / LP / DL / CS in North & South America from Sub Pop and the rest of the world via AMF Records. The album includes the highlights “Boyfriend,” [watch here], “My Lover Cindy” [watch here], “Violet” and “Cigarette,” and was produced and mixed by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J) at various locales throughout London.

LP purchases through megamart.subpop.com and finer independent retailers throughout North America will receive the Loser Edition on green and orange swirled vinyl with a bonus 7” (while supplies last). Oh, and there’s a companion t-shirt design available too.

[Photo by Steve Gullick]
 
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.
 

Tour Dates + Ticket Links

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

What The People are saying about I’m Not Your Man:

“A collection of unabashedly real songs…Hackman’s greatest weapon is her words, and she uses her dark wit to lure you in while conveying strong messages about her life and society.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Stereogum
 
“‘I’m Not Your Man’ is not afraid to call out the big questions around femininity, sexual identity, millennial ennui, the pressures of living in a social media bubble and the perils of being young in a fast-paced world.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Vents Magazine

“The transition Marika makes on this album is a bit like the one Angel Olsen made on Burn Your Fire for No Witness and Mitski made on Bury Me at Makeout Creek. Like those two artists, Marika transitions to driving rock without abandoning the delicacy of her softer material. Her haunting delivery makes rock songs like “Boyfriend” and “Time’s Been Reckless” stand out from the pack of today’s grungy indie rock bands. And she’s got still a handful of softer songs on I’m Not Your Man. “Violet,” “Cigarette,” “Apple Tree,” and “I’d Rather Be With Them” are as arresting as anything on her debut.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Brooklyn Vegan
 
“It’s a statement that this album roundly contradicts, being warm-hearted and emotionally liberated throughout.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Loud and Quiet
 
“More than anything ‘I’m Not Your Man’ is the sound of Marika Hackman making a statement. A statement that pushes her to the forefront with an album that dazzles and welcomes anyone in with open arms, and lays out a path for the artist and role she’s destined to become.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Dork
 
“I’m Not Your Man proves an emotional and sonic progression for Hackman, a record that at its best is affecting and fun. It shows her to be an artist growing in her stride, increasing her capacity to be more artful and at once more true.” [4/5, I’m Not Your Man] - The Skinny
 
“Describing the genesis of the album, Hackman explained that the title can mean “I’m not your man, I’m your woman” or even “I’m not a part of this.” The latter hits hard on the still outsider nature of a female singer-songwriter in the modern music industry. I’m Not Your Man is an unapologetically lengthy rejection of all of that, and one that goes a long way to show the tone and range of Hackman’s music beyond dark acoustics and into a world of electric guitars that can lilt and rage along with the shamelessly blunt singer. It’s less of a reinvention and more of a defiant resolve to create the music she wants to create, genre pigeonholing be damned.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Spectrum Culture

“Wary, unsparing post-modern fairy-tales gilded in silky will and sugar-coated thrills, “Man,” fans cozy smoldering love-potions into rampant vampire fires; sensuous gender-politics slipped into breezy indie-pop hospitality explores coy detours enticing ulterior queries from brazen phrases. A fertile mind bursting with intrepid methods, Hackman tactfully reels from servant to serpent, engaging both sides to pit and outwit her divided desires.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Maximum Ink

REAL NEWS:  Sub Pop has signed the politically charged Downtown Boys to a universe-wide record deal! The Providence, RI-based band is currently at work on their label debut, which will be released later this year. While we wait for details on the new album, the band will play a series of U.S. tour dates beginning March 6th in Baltimore at Ottobar and ending March 24th in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right. 

Highlights for the tour include a series of shows at SXSW March 14-17. These dates are bookended by two stand-alone performances: February 3rd in Washington, DC at the Black Cat and a sold-out April 20th show at Philadelphia’s First Unitarian Church. (Current tour dates listed below.
 
About Downtown Boys:
Now that the United States has a despot instead of a president, Downtown Boys are that much more driven to use their anger and their joy to drill away at the walls of white supremacy’s brain. Based in Providence, RI, the band released their acclaimed debut album, Full Communism, in 2015, and they have been touring their powerful live show throughout North America and Europe since 2012. They bring an aggressive dissonance to make a harmonious message against the erasure of people of color, queer people, femmes, and those of us who have always been in the center of the pit whether you knew it or not.
 
The band is currently working with Greg Norman and Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto on their second LP, and they join the countless people filling streets and airports around the country to loudly proclaim #NoBan, #NoRegistry, #FuckWhiteSupremacy.
 
“Those who still defend the supremacy of white male hetero-patriarchy had better watch out.” – Angela Davis, inauguration day speech, 2017.

Tour Dates + Ticket Links
 
Feb. 03 - Washington, DC - The Freedom Fair @ Black Cat*
Mar. 06 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar**
Mar. 07 - Raleigh, NC - Duke Coffeehouse**
Mar. 08 - Nashville, TN - Third Man Records**
Mar. 09 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia**
Mar. 10 - Houston, TX - Walter’s**
Mar. 11 - McAllen, TX - Yerberia Cultura**
Mar. 13 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger**
Mar. 14-17 - Austin, TX - SXSW
Mar. 18 - Dallas, TX - Not So Fun Weekend @ Club Dada #
Mar. 19 - Hot Springs, AR - Valley of Vapors**
Mar. 20 - Chattanooga, TN - JJ’s Bohemia**
Mar. 21 - Asheville, NC - The Mothlight**
Mar. 23 - Philadelphia, PA - Everybody Hits**
Mar. 24 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right**
Apr. 20 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church [SOLD OUT]^
 
* w/ Two Inch Astronaut, Loi Loi, and Kosi & Free Thyme
** w/ Sneaks
# w/ Chastity Belt, Weaves, and Flasher
^ w/ Paint It Black, Praise, Gouge Away, and Soul Glo

At last, winter is finally nearing its conclusion! After what feels like an eternity (can you believe the Summer Olympic Games were less than a year ago? Me neither…), spring is finally close enough to talk about without sobbing. While reasonable people may know spring as the time when temperatures rise, plants bloom, and insects reemerge from Hell where they belong, we here in the bowels of the music industry know it exclusively as the beginning of “festival season.” During this time, seemingly every city around the world sets aside a weekend or two for great gaggles of wide-eyed music fans to gather to watch and listen to as much music as possible, and also pay too much for bottled water. In addition to all that music and predatorily-priced potable water, there’s the eating, the drinking, the art appreciating and, of course, so many sunburns.

“This is all too much,” you might hypothetically say, “there are just too many festivals.” If you are inexperienced with the full wonder of music festivals, you might even say, “I don’t know if I’ll survive even one of these.” And though, clearly, that is hyperbolic, I am not here to judge you. No, instead, I am here to help. And, to that end, I’ve prepared a pseudo-survival guide for your trek to one (or all!) of the very cool festivals listed below, complete with a brief summary of each, a list of cool bands to see, other things to do in the area, and some optional, recommended items to make your festival experience a truly luxurious, Sub Pop-approved one.

Happy (almost) Festival Season!

BUKU

New Orleans, Louisiana

March 10-11

Bands to see: Washed Out, Clams Casino, Run the Jewels, Young Thug

Situated between the Mississippi river and some railroad tracks, BUKU is an intimate music and arts festival with plenty of great electronic and hip-hop music. One of the stages is located inside a warehouse used to build Mardi Gras floats, and it’s only a short walk from the French Quarter, ensuring that there’s plenty to do while you’re in town. I’d highly recommend some sunglasses, however. Protecting your eyes is important - not only from the sun, but also from the flying cockroaches I’ve been told exist in the southern parts of the United States.

SXSW

Austin, Texas

March 10-19

Bands to see: LVL UP, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Downtown Boys, Chastity Belt, IAN SWEET, Dude York, Colleen Green

A yearly tradition during which downtown Austin, Texas is overrun for 9 (nine!) whole days, SXSW is a smorgasbord of music and pop culture, where you can take in practically innumerable performances by bands, plus art, informational panels, comedy, and just about anything else you might want to see. You will almost certainly need a very attractive bag to carry all the swag you acquire.

Ceremonia

Toluca, Mexico

April 1st

Bands to see: Beach House, Bjork, James Blake, M.I.A.

Is there a better way to welcome spring back into your life than by going to Mexico? I’ve yet to hear a compelling opposing argument, and set for only one day in the beautiful city of Toluca, the Ceremonia Festival boasts an impressive lineup full of heavy-hitters. Fun fact: Toluca is the region from which Chorizo originates. so I’d suggest something to keep your drink cold while you’re busy stuffing your face.

Coachella

Indio, California

April 14-16/21-23

Bands to see: Father John Misty, Tacocat, Beyonce, Radiohead, Downtown Boys, Shannon & the Clams

Coachella is a huge festival, occupying two weekends in an otherwise scarcely populated valley in central California. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Indio, but the organizers of this festival have you covered, as every year they seem to try to go even bigger than they did the prior year. More bands than you can name, food, art, and interactive exhibits abound at this staple of the festival scene. You’re probably going to be camping if you go. Please bring soap.

Fortress

Fort Worth, Texas

April 29-30

Bands to see: Wolf Parade, Slowdive, Alvvays

Fortress is a brand spankin’ new festival marking its inaugural edition. Presented by the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, it also includes a boatload of art by multidisciplinary artists across several venues. I’d recommend that you bring a water bottle that won’t let you down, as you’ll need to stay hydrated for all three days. Fort Worth is also home to the renowned Kimbell Art Museum and the world’s first and largest indoor rodeo, if such things tickle your fancy.

Shaky Knees

Atlanta, Georgia

May 12-14

Bands to see: The Shins, Wolf Parade, Fruit Bats, The xx, Warpaint

Some festivals seek to find a location off the beaten trail, removed from the city and the hustle and bustle. Shaky Knees is not that festival, as it takes place smack-dab in the middle of Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. Food is a big draw at this festival (it’s in the South, so this is to be expected). And, should you seek respite from the sun beyond that provided by this hat that I dutifully recommend as a source of shade, the excellent Center for Civil and Human Rights is a short walk away (as is the World of Coca-Cola museum and the Georgia Aquarium).

Hangout

Gulf Shores, Alabama

May 19-21

Bands to see: Band of Horses, The Head and The Heart, Frank Ocean, White Reaper

Is there anything more picture-perfect than a white sand beach? This is a question asked by many Washingtonians (mostly out of ignorance, as our beaches feature no sand, only rocks, driftwood, and disappointment), and attending Hangout Festival, located directly on the beaches of Gulf Shores, would provide the obvious answer. What could possibly be better than listening to your favorite bands WITH the ability to jump straight into the ocean at any time you choose? Bring a towel, no one likes being wet once they’re done swimming. 

Sasquatch!

George, Washington

May 26–29

Bands to see: Kyle Craft, Porter Ray, Thee Oh Sees, Kaytranada

And so we arrive at the end of spring, the beginning of June and the barrier I have arbitrarily decided on for this survival guide. Sasquatch takes places at a venue called The Gorge, and it is hands-down the most beautiful place to see live music in Washington. There’s a breathtaking view behind the main stage, it’s a not-too-long drive from Seattle, and there are plenty of lakes to swim in before you hit the festival. Room for camping is ample and comfortable; just make sure to bring a blanket, because it cools off pretty quickly at night and you don’t want to be the chump freezing your ass off on the lawn.

We’re shocked and heartbroken at the news about Chris Cornell. Our thoughts are with his family and the Soundgarden team.

[Photo by Lance Mercer]