The Fire Note Writer Edition Top Albums of 2016

The Fire Note wouldn’t 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 year end Top 50 is coming soon but clearly everyone has … Read more

The Gift feat. Brian Eno – “Love Without Violins” [Video]

If you get Brian Eno to work on your album I would say you are doing quite well. The Gift have done just that and return with a new single, “Love Without Violins,” featuring Eno, who co-wrote, produced and sings on the track.
The single offers the first taste of The Gift’s newly developed experimental sound with Eno. And, with a new album in the pipeline for next spring, they’re set to be heard in 2017.

Circus Devils Say Farewell with Pair of Releases in 2017: Tracklists Included

All good things must come to an end. The longest running Robert Pollard “side project,” Circus Devils, will see its last recording of new material released on February 24th, 2017. Not only will we hear their 14th and final LP but a compilation containing 30 tracks. Not so much of a greatest hits but a … Read more

OK Go – “The One Moment” [Video]

“The One Moment,” OK Go’s new video, is incredibly intricate and elaborate, but it only took one moment to shoot. Directed by OK Go singer Damian Kulash, Jr., “The One Moment” has short periods of real time at the beginning and end, but the bulk of it was captured in a mere 4.2 seconds. During the film, band members create and interact with hundreds of synchronized, high-speed events, choreographed to the cathartic song about the most important moments in life, those moments when everything changes. Coming at this time of great change around the world, the song underscores the opportunity and need for people to step up, step out and make a difference.

If this video would have been released during the MTV days, OK Go would be an unstoppable phenomenon as a band right now just based on the incredible detail within “The One Moment.” Even if you are not a big fan of OK Go or the song, you should check out the video becuase it is a true art.

Young Mammals – “Jaguar” [Video]

Houston, TX’s Young Mammals have been a band since they were a middle school group in the early 2000s.
Fast-forward to 2016 and the Young Mammals have just released their new record, Jaguar, on Odd Hours Records and have shared dates with Parquet Courts and Ringo Deathstarr.

The group also has this new video for the title track and it gives you a good sense of their upbeat jangle. Dancing in the bar and the beach has never hurt anyone!

Brother O’ Brother – “Wolf In Sheeps Clothing” [Video]

Brother O’ Brother’s live performance has been dubbed some of the best live shows in all of Indianapolis by multiple press outlets. Mix MC5 with early Black Keys and you’ve got it.

Based out Indianapolis, Indiana, Brother O’ Brother has toured heavily to the tune of about 100 shows in 2016 including Festivals, played at both Third Man Records locations, and opened for AWOLNATION, Kongos, and Blue October among larger nationals.

This is their new video for “Wolf In Sheeps Clothing,” which you can find on their excellent 2015 record Show Pony. The band always has some great looking vinyl pressings with quality labels like Fonoflo, Shedhouse, Grimtale, Romanus, and Jett Plastic so make sure to search them out. The band is set to release a new full length LP in 2017.

Until then – check out the new video and heed caution – never answer a business card left on your car at a gas station!

Japandroids Announce New Album

Japandroids last record, Celebration Rock, was our top pick of 2012 so we are excited to hear that the duo have a new record slated for 2017. Its title is Near To The Wild Heart Of Life and the full length will be out via ANTI- Records on January 27. You can order an exclusive … Read more

Company Man – “Cheap Boots Of Leather” [Video]

Millionaires are the new Middle Class. Trillionaires who own their own island nation and know the **power of synergy** are the new cool kids. Company Man can show you how $5 x 5 years = $5,000,000,000,000 *guaranteed* The math is simple!

Seems easy, right? Seems a little crazy, right? Are you asking yourself – what the hell is this? Is there a timeshare involved? All legitimate questions but there is only one answer.

Company Man is an upcoming rock n roll band comprised of some veteran artists out of Dayton, Ohio. If this track doesn’t get you a little excited, your 401(k) might be in the toilet! Start screaming now “All she wants is cheap boots of leather” and you are well on your way to Trillionaire status!

Company Man Facebook

M Ross Perkins – “Ever Ever Ever” [Video]

Dayton, OH native M Ross Perkins has a new self-titled debut via Sofaburn Records that if full of effortless California psych grooves seasoned with British invasion guitars. Perkins warm vintage sound will take you back but his timeless approach works perfect for today.

Perkins plays every instrument on this new record which gives the album a very personal vibe and is easy to connect with. We recommend that you pick up a limited gold vinyl at Sofaburn HERE and catch M Ross on tour at the dates below.

M ROSS PERKINS TOUR DATES:
11/04 – Lexington, KY – Common Ground
11/05 – Louisville, KY – The New Vintage
11/11 – Dayton, OH – Yellow Cab Tavern
11/12 – Columbus, OH – Big Room Bar
01/28 – Nashville, TN – The 5 Spot
(more dates to be announced soon)

Priests – “JJ” [Video]

Washington, DC’s Priests have announced their first full-length, Nothing Feels Natural, which will be released January 27th via their own label Sister Polygon Records. Following the release of Bodies and Control and Money and Power, Priests began to tweak their songwriting process – concentrating more deeply on melody, dialing down the distortion, and experimenting with dynamics.

Today, you can hear some new material off the full length with the lean and melodic “JJ.” It is a song that erupts as it moves forward. We think you will like it!

Ani DiFranco – “Play God” [Video]

Ani DiFranco continues to advocate for women as the November election approaches. Today she released her powerful new song “Play God” off her forthcoming full-length, the first new music from DiFranco since 2014’s Allergic To Water.

The official video for the track was shot and edited by Shervin Lainez and features clips from women’s rights protests around the country shot by women’s rights organization Lady Parts Justice, founded by comedian, political writer, and producer Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show and Air America Radio.

In light of the current political climate in the United States, DiFranco is using her 2016 VOTE DAMMIT! tour and her music to encourage fans to vote on Election Day and have their voices be heard. The tour dates are below.

Ani DiFranco VOTE DAMMIT! tour schedule:
10/7 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre*
10/8 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore*
10/9 – Arcata, CA – John Van Duzer Theatre*
10/11 –Redding, CA – Cascade Theatre*
10/12 – Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre*
10/14 – Garden City, ID – Revolution Concert House*
10/15 -Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot*
11/8 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground*
11/9 – Albany, NY – The Egg*
11/11 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg*
11/12 – Port Washington, NY – Landmark on Main Street*
11/14 –Boston, MA – Berklee Performance Center*
11/15 –Portland, ME – State Theater*
11/17 – Northampton, MA – Calvin Theatre*
11/18 – NYC – Concert Hall at NY Society for Ethical Culture (w/ Lizz Winstead)
11/19 – NYC – Concert Hall at NY Society for Ethical Culture (w/ Lizz Winstead)

* with Chastity Brown

The Dandy Warhols – “Catcher In The Rye” [Video]

The Dandy Warhols have a new video for their single “Catcher In The Rye.” The video was directed by Mike Bruce whose upcoming film Treasure Of The Black Jaguar is being released in January. The video stars Duke Nicholson (Jack Nicholson’s grandson) as Holden Caulfield and Caitlin Carmichael as the young woman. The Dandy Warhols currently are on tour to support Distortland.

The Dandy Warhols Live Dates:
October 6: Atlanta, GA – Terminal West *
October 7: Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge *
October 8: St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall *
October 10: Birmingham, AL – Saturn *
October 11: New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s Uptown *
October 12: Dallas, TX – Granada Theater *
October 13: Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall *
October 14: Austin, TX – The Scoot Inn *
October 15: Austin, TX – The Scoot Inn *
December 6 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
December 7 – Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
December 10 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
December 13 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theater
December 14 – San Luis Obispo, CA – The Fremont Theater
December 15 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
December 16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
Devember 17 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

AUSTRALIA
October 26 – Perth – Metro City
October 27 – Adelaide – HQ
October 29 – Brisbane – Eatons Hill Hotel
October 30 – Gold Coast – Parkwood Tavern
November 3 – Canberra – ANU Bar
November 4 – Sydney – Big Top
November 5 – Melbourne – Palais Theatre

EUROPE
February 10 – Madrid – Joy Eslava
February 11 – Barcelona – Sala Apolo
February 13 – Clermont-Ferrand – La Cooperative de Mai
February 14 – Lyon – Epicerie Moderne
February 15 – Geneva – Festival Antigel
February 17 – Rome – Monk Club
February 18 – Milan – Magnolia
February 19 – Lucerne – Schuur
February 20 – Strasbourg – La Laiterie
February 22 – Prague 1 – Lucerna Music Bar
February 23 – Dresden – Beatpol
February 24 – Berlin – Lido
February 25 – Copenhagen – Amager Bio
February 27 – Den Haag – Paard van Troje
February 28 – Nijmegen – Doornroosje
March 2 – Caen – Le BBC
March 3 – Angers – Le Chabada
March 4 – London – Roundhouse

Sad13 – “Less Than 2” [Video]

I can see the vision here and without hearing a note could believe that Sadie Dupuis, a.ka. Sad13, of indie band Speedy Ortiz could make a more pop sounding record. Her fun side debut solo album Slugger will be out on November 11th via Carpark Records.

Check out the first video and tell us what you think. The next Gwen Stefani? We shall see. You can pre-order the record HERE.

Kal Marks – “Coffee” [Video]

Boston’s Kal Marks released their latest album Life Is Alright, Everybody Dies (TFN Headphone Approved Review) back in February via Exploding In Sound and Midnight Werewolf Records, and today they have their first music video from the album for their single “Coffee”. Directed by Sheree Chen, the clip captures both the pain and joy that come together with the struggles of commitment!

Kal Marks will be hitting the road, together with new drummer Adam Berkowitz (formerly of Ex-Breathers), for a US tour in support of Life Is Alright, Everybody Dies with dates throughout September and October. All dates can be found below.

TOUR DATES:
09/22 – Boston, MA @ Allston Hot Dog City w/ Watcher, Sallow, Big Mess & Cloud Cover
09/29 – Manchester, NH @ Fuzz Hut w/ Shifty & Charles
09/30 – Montreal, QC @ La Plante w/ Dollys & Stevenson
10/01 – Toronto, ON @ Smiling Budha
10/02 – Oberlin, OH @ Big Blue
10/03 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Louies
10/04 – Chicago, IL @ Subtereanean (Downstairs) w/ Yeesh & Spooky Action Space Captain
10/05 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Turkey Lounge w/ Soul Low
10/06 – St Louis, MO @ Cookie Tree Mansion
10/07 – Nashville, TN @ Blackbird Tatoo
10/08 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Comet
10/09 – Blacksburg, VA @ Robin Williams Arts Center
10/10 – Charlottesville, VA @ Magnolia House w/ Basmati & Ing
10/11 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong
10/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ All Night Diner w/ Left & Right, Blue Smiley & Caffeine
10/13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium w/ Washer, Jackal Onasis, Youth Expire & Laila
10/14 – Providence, RI @ Funky Jungle
10/21 – Worcester, MA @ Firehouse w/ Vagabon, Loone, & Bethlehem Steel
10/22 – Boston, MA @ O’Brien’s Pub w/ Warehouse, DiCaprio & Birthing Hips
11/11 – Hamden, CT @ The Space

Beck – “Wow” [Video]

Can’t really get enough of this new Beck tune and now “Wow,” has a great video to go with it! Beck also had some help as the artist contributors to the “Wow” video are Sam Cannon, Randy Cano, Andy Gregg, David McLeod, John McLaughlin, Jess Rona, and Steve Smith.

In addition to heading out on a September 15-24 mini-tour, Beck is currently putting finishing touches on his forthcoming follow-up to last year’s Album of the Year GRAMMY winner Morning Phase. Co-produced by his Sea Change-era bandmate Greg Kurstin and Beck and to be released on Capitol Records, Beck’s 13th studio opus will feature both “Wow” and last year’s summer smash “Dreams.”

The Friday Fire Track: Low Culture – “Comfort Zones”

For those unfamiliar, Low Culture features members of Shang-A-Lang and Marked Men and they released their debut, Screens, in 2013. The band members keep up a busy schedule outside the group so it is exciting to hear new music from their sophomore effort, Places To Hide, which is out today via Dirtnap Records. Things to … Read more