The Beths – “Dying To Believe” [Video]

The Beths announce their new album, Jump Rope Gazers, out July 10th via Carpark Records, and share its lead single/video, “Dying to Believe.” Jump Rope Gazers is the follow-up to Future Me Hates Me.

After touring non-stop for a year and a half, playing to crowds of devoted fans and opening for acts like Pixies and Death Cab for Cutie, The Beths regrouped to write and record Jump Rope Gazers. The band – composed of Elizabeth Stokes (vocals/guitar), Jonathan Pearce (guitar), Benjamin Sinclair (bass), and Tristan Deck (drums) – settled down at Pearce’s Auckland studio, where he recorded and produced the album.

Stokes’s writing on Jump Rope Gazers grapples with the uneasy proposition of leaving everything and everyone you know behind on another continent, chasing your dreams while struggling to stay close with loved ones back home. Rambunctious lead single “Dying to Believe” reckons with the distance that life necessarily drives between people over time: “I’m sorry for the way that I can’t hold conversations // They’re such a fragile thing to try to support the weight of,” Stokes sings. The accompanying visual is an eccentric four-step “How to be the Beths” instructional video featuring the band.

Touring far from home, The Beths committed to taking care of each other while simultaneously trying to take care of friends living thousands of miles away. That care and attention shines through on Jump Rope Gazers, where the quartet sounds more locked in than ever. Jump Rope Gazers stares down all the hard parts of living in communion with other people, even at a distance, while celebrating the ferocious joy that makes it all worth it.

Pre-Order Jump Rope Gazers: HERE

Jump Rope Gazers Tracklist:

  1. I’m Not Getting Excited
  2. Dying to Believe
  3. Jump Rope Gazers
  4. Acrid
  5. Do You Want Me Now
  6. Out of Sight
  7. Don’t Go Away
  8. Mars, the God of War
  9. You Are a Beam of Light
  10. Just Shy of Sure

The Beths Tour Dates:
Sun. Nov 8 – Perth, WA @ HBF Park*
Wed. Nov. 11 – Melbourne, VIC @ Marvel Stadium*
Sat. Nov. 14 – Sydney, NSW @ Bankwest Stadium*
Tue. Nov. 17 – Brisbane, QLD @ QSAC Stadium*
Fri. Nov. 20 – Dunedin, NZ @ Forsyth Barr Stadium*
Sun. Nov. 22 – Auckland, NZ @ Mt Smart Stadium*

*w/ Green Day, Weezer and Fall Out Boy

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – “She’s There” [Video]

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever announce their second record, Sideways to New Italy, out June 5th on Sub Pop, and today present a new single, “She’s There.” For the five-piece, returning to Melbourne after long stretches looking out at the world through the windows of airplanes and tour vans lead to a dislocation, like being the knot in the middle of a game of tug-o-war. Sideways to New Italy sees the band interrogate their individual pasts and the places that inform them.  In clicking the scattered pieces back into place, they have crafted for themselves a new totem of home to carry with them no matter where they end up.

Lead by singer-songwriter-guitarists Tom RussoJoe WhiteFran Keaney, and rounded out by bassist Joe Russo and drummer Marcel Tussie, the band began grasping for something reliable after emerging from relentlessly touring their critically regarded debut Hope Downs. Rather than dwell in the displacement, Keaney was determined to channel how he was feeling into something optimistic. The album is inspired by New Italy – a village near New South Wales’s Northern Rivers – the area Tussie is from. A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pit-stop of a place with fewer than 200 residents, it was founded by Venetian immigrants in the late-1800s and now serves as something of a living monument to Italians’ contribution to Australia, with replica Roman statues dotted like souvenirs on the otherwise rural landscape.

I wanted to write songs that I could use as some sort of bedrock of hopefulness to stand on, something to be proud of,” says Keaney. “A lot of the songs on the new record are reaching forward and trying to imagine an idyll of home and love.” This is the bulk of Sideways to New Italy, which boasts love songs, and familiar voices and characters, grounding the band’s stories in their personal histories.

“She’s There” is about love and heavy delusions. Over pummeling guitar and fundamental percussion, White sings: “I should’ve done better but the time rolls on // Open the window, in the air, in a mirror, she’s there // Every time I speak her name there’s a cold shiver in my veins.” The accompanying video was directed by Nick McKinlay at Melbourne’s Coburg Motor Inn. “We tried to convey that feeling in a dream where you need to be somewhere, and you don’t really know why, but you are determined to overcome every obstacle to get there,” says the band.

“We tried to make these little nods to our friends and loved ones, to stay loyal to our old selves,” Russo explains. There’s something comforting, too, in knowing the next time they’re buffeted from stage to stage around the world, they’ll be taking the voices of their loved ones with them, following cues from their neighbours and ancestors and anyone else who responded to their newfound displacement by crafting a utopia in their own backyard.

Sideways to New Italy is now available for preorder from Sub Pop. Preorders of the LP through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America, the U.K., and Europe, will receive the limited Loser edition (while supplies last). There will also be a new T-shirt design available. 


Sideways to New Italy Tracklist:
1.The Second Of The First
2. Falling Thunder
3. She’s There
4. Beautiful Steven
5. The Only One
6. Cars In Space
7. Cameo
8. Not Tonight
9. Sunglasses At The Wedding
10. The Cool Change

Video Premiere: Rick Rude – “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”

TFN is excited today to premiere this new video from New Hampshire’s Rick Rude. The track is their version of Neil Young’s “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,” which can be found on the new release Look Out For My Love: A Neil Young Covers Album to Benefit RAICES. Their track is a highlight from the compilation and should also get you geared up to hear some more new music from the band!

The compilation features 18 tracks from different indie musicians, that not only includes Rick Rude but Lung, Halfsour and Adult Mom (which contributed an excellent version of “Harvest Moon.”) All funds raised by this compilation will be donated to RAICES which is a nonprofit that provides free and low-cost legal and social services for immigrants.

You can find more information on RAICES at their website: www.raicestexas.org If you like what you see and hear make sure you skip over to Bandcamp and grab this compilation.

Rick Rude Website
Rick Rude Facebook

the black watch – “Brilliant Failures” [Video]

John Andrew Fredrick has written and released seventeen the black watch albums of quality indie rock since the LA band’s inception in 1988. For this record Fredrick had the idea of letting producer-friends Scott Campbell, Rob Campanella, and Andy Creighton be his band and record the album. “I have had, I think, too much control, musically speaking, in the past.’ Fredrick says, “And the thought of experimenting this way was really thrilling.” The result may have yielded TBW’s best album in years.

Brilliant Failures is the title of the new record and it is out this Friday, March 27th 2020 on A Turntable Friend Records. Highly recommend checking this one out!

the black watch Facebook
A Turntable Friend Records

Shasta – “Roaming Hearts” [Video]

San Francisco’s Shasta supports an indie all-star cast featuring Micayla Grace (Albert Hammond Jr, Bleached), Jennifer Duardo, Jon Sortland (The Shins) and Cecilia Della Perruti (Gothic Tropic, Beck). You can hear this well skilled ensemble in their new single and video “Roaming Hearts.”

The song is from their new EP on Dowd Records and will be released on March 13th. “Roaming Hearts” gives you the full laid back West Coast experience with its catchy slow groove and floating harmonies that hook you in quickly as its story is about the up and down emotions of relationships.

There is a nice limited white vinyl copy 7″ of the single that contains two of the tracks and will you give you a digital download of the entire 3 song EP. You can pick up a copy HERE.

Track Premiere: Joseph Airport – “Escape Velocity”

TFN is excited to share this new and explosive track today from Joseph Airport. “Escape Velocity” is off their forthcoming sci-fi epic full length, COSMOSIS, which will be available at their Bandcamp page March 14, 2020 via Joseph Airport Records. “Escape Velocity” is just one short piece to this bigger adventure as the song launches … Read more

Tonne – “Catalina”

Former singer and songwriter of Austin’s Black Forest Fire, Jay Tonne, has a new indie project simply titled Tonne. The fresh rock, now out of Denver, has just released released our first listen from the project with “Catalina.” The track is our first listen from their upcoming EP, Bridey Murphy, which will be self-released on March 13th. … Read more

Artists Of The Week: Discover, Support, Share

Today’s music discovery captures psychedelic rock from Denmark, excellent softer indie rock from Canada and some quality bedroom pop from Virginia.  Discover, Support & Share! The Sonic Dawn Copenhagen, Denmark Enter the Mirage is The Sonic Dawn’s fourth full-length from the psychedelic band from Denmark. The band is known for their psych blend of styles, … Read more

Waxahatchee – “Fire” [Video]

Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) has announced her new album, Saint Cloud, to be released on March 27 via Merge Records. Along with the album news, Waxahatchee has also released this new video and a slew of spring tour dates which you can find below.

Saint Cloud is available for pre-order on CD, standard LP in a single jacket, and coke bottle-clear Peak Vinyl housed in a gatefold jacket (both vinyl editions include a large full-color poster) in the Merge store, HERE.

TOUR DATES:
4/10 – Detroit, MI @ Jam Handy *
4/11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater *
4/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
4/15 – Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts *
4/16 – Boston, MA @ Royale
4/17 – Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre *
4/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere ^
4/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere ~
4/23 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
4/24 – Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom *
4/25 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
4/26 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *
4/27 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn *
4/29 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Mid City Ballroom *
4/30 – Houston, TX @ The Satellite *
5/1 – Dallas, TX @ Sons of Hermann Hall *
5/2 – Austin, TX @ Scholz Garten *
5/4 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress +
5/7 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriet’s +
5/8 – Los Angeles, CA @ First Congregational Church of LA +
5/9 – San Francisco, CA @ The Castro Theatre
5/10 – Sonoma, CA @ Gundlach Bundschu Winery +
5/12 – Portland, OR @ The Old Church +
5/13 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater +
5/14 – Vancouver, BC @ Christ Church Cathedral +
5/15 – Seattle, WA @ The Neptune Theatre +
5/20 – Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish Hollow Barn
5/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe *
5/22 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre *

* w/ Ohmme
^ w/ Radiator Hospital
~ w/ Bonny Doon & Shamir
+ w/ Mirah

Black Lips – “Rumbler” [Video]

Black Lips have just released their new LP Sing In A World That’s Falling Apart on Vice/Fire. In Fact, TFN just featured the Black Lips HERE as Bandcamp Artist of the Week. To go along with the release of the country twang filled record here is the single and video for “Rumbler.”

The band is also hitting the road to support the album and the current dates can be found below.

BLACK LIPS TOUR DATES
Feb. 19 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle Back Room
Feb. 20 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
Feb. 21 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
Feb. 22 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
Feb. 23 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
Feb. 24 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Feb. 26 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
Feb. 27 – Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artspace
Feb 28 – Montreal, QC – Foufounes Electriques
Feb 29 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
March 1 – Detroit, MI – Deluxx Fluxx
March 3 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
March 4 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
March 5 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
March 6 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
March 7 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
March 8 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
March 10 – St. Louis, MO – Duck Room, Blueberry Hill
March 11 – Memphis, TN – Growlers
March 12 – East Nashville, TN – The Basement East
March 13 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
March 14 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl

Kiwi Jr. – “Gimme More” [Video]

The world-wide release of Kiwi Jr’s infectious debut album Football Money, the band has a new video for “Gimme More.”

Of the video the Toronto-based band say, “it was shot mostly at our favourite bar in Toronto – Black Dice Cafe. It’s a rockabilly bar and though Kiwi Jr is very unhip to that scene, we tried to pay it justice by wearing leather jackets. We’ve had probably every band meeting we’ve ever had at that bar, and the owner Hidecki was nice enough to let us shoot there as long as we didn’t break anything (which we did during load in before we even started shooting).” It was directed by Sean Foreman who states, “we wanted the video to feel like it was based off dream logic. Things don’t make sense, the band keeps popping up, rooms are oddly connected somehow, it’s nonsense but at the same time there seems to be some undercurrent of reason guiding things.”

Greg Dulli – “Pantomima” [Video]

Greg Dulli, frontman of The Afghan Whigs and The Twilight Singers, recently announced his first-ever solo record, Random Desire out February 21st via Royal Cream/BMG. Dulli has now shared the music video for the single, “Pantomima,” directed by long-time Whigs collaborator Philip Harder who also stars in the video. “The video is an homage to the movie All That Jazz,” said Dulli. “‘Pantomima’ feels like a show tune to me.”

Dulli also announced a full slate of North American tour dates to follow his previously announced European tour. The run kicks off in Minneapolis on April 24th and concludes in Los Angeles on May 28th. Other highlights include Metro in Chicago on April 25th, Webster Hall in New York City on May 6th and The Showbox in Seattle on May 23rd. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 24th. Full tour dates below.

You can pre-order Random Desire HERE.

Greg Dulli / 2020 Tour Dates:
March 19 – Róisín Dubh – Galway, IRELAND
March 20 – Whelans – Dublin, IRELAND
March 22 – SWG3 Warehouse – Glasgow, UK
March 23 – Gorilla – Manchester, UK
March 24 – Islington Assembly Hall – London, UK
March 26 – Paradiso Noord – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
March 27 – Muziekodroom – Hasselt, BELGIUM
March 28 – Trix – Antwerp, BELGIUM
March 30 – Luxor – Cologne, GERMANY
March 31 – Lido – Berlin, GERMANY
April 02 – Hotel Cecil – Copenhagen, DENMARK
April 03 – Debaser Strand – Stockholm, SWEDEN
April 04 – Parkteatret – Oslo, NORWAY
April 24 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN
April 25 – Metro – Chicago, IL
April 26 – St. Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI
April 28 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
April 29 – Woodward Theater – Cincinnati. OH
April 30 – Mr. Smalls – Pittsburgh, PA
May 01 – The Great Hall – Toronto, ON CANADA
May 03 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
May 05 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
May 06 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
May 07 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
May 09 – The Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC
May 10 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
May 12 – The Loft – Atlanta, GA
May 15 – One Eyed Jacks – New Orleans, LA
May 16 – 3Ten @ ACL Live – Austin, TX
May 17 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
May 19 – Bluebird Theatre – Denver, CO
May 22 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
May 23 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
May 26 – August Hall – San Francisco, CA
May 28 – Palace Theater – Los Angeles, CA

Cable Ties – “Sandcastles” [Video]

Australia’s Cable Ties (that’s Jenny McKechnie, Shauna Boyle, and Nick Brown) have a killer new second album titled Far Enough out March 27.2020 via Merge Records (Poision City in Australia/New Zealand). The band also has has shows on the calendar which you can find below and this music video for Far Enough’s “Sandcastles.” Directed and shot on film by Danny Cohen (Courtney Barnett, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Mac DeMarco), it matches Cable Ties’ perfectly elemental approach to punk rock.

Cable Ties on tour:
Jan 18 Melbourne, AU – Fitz Ritz
Feb 14 Yarra Valley, AU – Gaytimes
Feb 15 Darebin, AU – Something Unlimited 2020
Feb 28 Sydney, AU – Vic On The Park
Feb 29 Wollongong, AU – Farmer and the Owl Festival
Mar 12 Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
Mar 17–21 Austin, TX – SXSW
Mar 26 Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool
Apr 03 Glasgow, UK – Glad Cafe
Apr 04 Manchester, UK – The Castle Hotel
Apr 05 Brighton, UK – The Hope & Ruin
Apr 07 London, UK – Old Blue Last
Apr 09 Paris, FR – L’Espace B
Apr 10 Rotterdam, NL – V11
Apr 13 Hamburg, DE – Hafenklang
Apr 14 Berlin, DE – Zukunft

Okay Kaya – “Psych Ward” [Video]

Okay Kaya – the project of Norwegian-born, New York-based Kaya Wilkins – has shared the new single/video, “Psych Ward,” from Watch This Liquid Pour Itself, her forthcoming album out January 24th on Jagjaguwar. She also announces initial performances in support of Watch This Liquid Pour Itself. A full list of dates can be found below.

“Psych Ward,” produced by Kaya with co-production from Christoph Andersson (Cautious Clay), follows previously released singles/videos “Asexual Wellbeing,” “Baby Little Tween,” and “Ascend and Try Again.” On “Psych Ward,” Kaya’s scene of nurses making rounds is based on her personal experience of time spent in a hospital.

Okay Kaya Tour Dates:
Mon. Jan. 27 – Brooklyn, NY @ Van Leeuwen Ice Cream (RSVP)
Tue. Jan. 28 – New York, NY @ Whitney Museum of American Art (DJ Set)
Thu. Feb. 13 – Brooklyn, NY @ National Sawdust
Fri. Feb. 28 – Oslo, NO @ By:Larm
Mon. March 2 – Paris, FR @ Pop Up
Wed. March 4 – London, UK @ SET
Sun. March 8 – San Diego, CA @ CRSSD
Mon. March 9 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
Tue. March 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
Tue. March 17 – Sat. March 21 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
Fri. May 8 – Berlin, DE @ Pitchfork Festival

King Krule – “(Don’t Let The Dragon) Draag On” [Video]

King Krule has announced the release of his forthcoming album Man Alive! with Archy Marshall’s first ever self-directed video. Man Alive! is set for release on February 21, 2020 via True Panther/Matador Records and will be the third King Krule titled studio album.

Marshall’s longstanding love of cinema seeps out in his first foray into directing, with a video for “(Don’t Let The Dragon) Draag On” that pulls influences from Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic The Passion Of Joan Of Arc while still creating a typically wry King Krule visual.

You catch King Krule on tour in support of the album throughout Europe and the U.S this Spring. Find the full tour dates and up-to-date artist biography below.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
3/3 – Brussels, Belgium @ A.B
3/4 – Paris, France @ L’Olympia
3/5 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
3/7 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ K.B Hall
3/8 – Berlin, Germany @ Columbiahalle
3/19 – Dublin, Ireland @ Olympia
3/21 – Glasgow, Scotland @ Barrowland
3/22 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
3/24 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
3/25 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton

4/2 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
4/3 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
4/4 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs Waller Creek
4/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
4/8 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
4/10 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo
4/11 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
4/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
4/15 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
4/17 – Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
4/18 – Montreal, QC @ Mtelus
4/19 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
4/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
4/22 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
4/24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre

Nick Kizirnis – “Slipping Away” [Video]

Nick Kizirnis has been a staple on the Dayton, Ohio music scene dating back to the late 80’s. From indie rock to surf to rockabilly and beyond, Nick has covered a multitude of genres and been included in a multitude of projects. That musical road has now arrived at his new solo album The Distance which is out February 1 via Atom Records. “Slipping Away” is the first video from the record which was directed by Sam Manavis.

The Distance features Kate Wakefield (Lung) and Mark Patterson (Son Volt) as well as Tod Weidner (Shrug, Motel Beds), Crazy Joe and Patrick Himes (Bribing Senators). The best description of the album comes straight from Nick in his own words:

“The Distance is a collection of songs about heartbreak and heartache from different points of view. The album began as a personal songwriting challenge, and when I found that I had a large set of songs but was having trouble finishing them, I tried to imagine what they would sound like if I DIDN’T sing them, or even play them. How would they change? It was something I had never done before and it opened up all sorts of possibilities, especially the chance to work with It was a completely new experience and the most rewarding one I’ve had in all these years of making music.”

Disq – “Daily Routine” [Video]

TFN is excited for this new indie rock out of Madison, Wisconsin. Disq have officially signed to Saddle Creek Records, and announced their debut album Collector. Collector, will out March 6th, and you can pre-order HERE.

As you might expect, Disq is hitting the road to support the new record and you can check out their current dates below.

Tour Dates:
1/14 – London, UK @ The Lexington (Five Day Forecast)
1/15 – London, UK @ The Old Blue Last *
3/16-22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
4/3 – Iowa City, IA @ Mission Creek Festival
4/4 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas ^
4/6 – Detroit, MI @ PJ’s Lager House ^
4/7 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake ^
4/9 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott ^
4/10 – New York, NY @ Rough Trade ^
4/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle ^
4/12 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd ^
4/14 – Nashville, TN @ High Watt
4/15 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
4/17 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
4/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
4/20 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar ~
4/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo ~
4/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord ~
4/24 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza ~
4/25 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir ~
4/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
5/1 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon

* w/ The Districts
^ w/ Pom Pom Squad
~ w/ Girl Friday

The Fire Note Writer Edition Top Albums of 2019

The Fire Note would not be possible without the talented writers that share their educated thoughts and true enjoyment of music with our readers. The time and commitment that goes into writing consistently is appreciated by TFN and taken for granted by everyone else! Our official year end Top 50 is coming soon but clearly … Read more