FEELS: FEELS [Album Review]

FEELS FEELS Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Oh how LA can always seem to bring a gritty rock to the scene. That is exactly what we get on the Ty Segall produced debut from FEELS. The four piece from the City of Angels is led by singer Laena Geronimo, that brings a … Read more

Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place: You’re Doomed. Be Nice. [Album Review]

Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place You’re Doomed. Be Nice. Temporary Residence Ltd. [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I think everyone collectively sighed when Pinback’s Rob Crow publicly withdrew from music early last year but let’s pretend that did not happen because one of indie rock’s best vocals is back with a new band respectfully titled his … Read more

Black Mountain – “Mothers Of The Sun” [Video]

Black Mountain has returned with the thunderous “Mothers of the Sun,” video. The debut single off their forthcoming album, IV (out 4/1 on Jagjaguwar) comes to us in this wild video, one replete with a four-armed Stephen McBean, a ceremonial dagger, prisoners bound in chains, and too many expressions of insanity to list here.

Also don’t bail too early as this track is a slow burner and at about the 3:29 moment you will know what I mean. Check out Black Mountain’s upcoming tour dates below.

BLACK MOUNTAIN TOUR DATES:
3/19/16 – Azores, PT @ Tremor Festival
3/26/16 – Porto, PT @ Hard Club
3/28/16 – Lisbon, PT @ Musicbox
3/31/16 – Madrid, SP @ Sala Arena
4/1/16 – Barcelona, SP @ Bikini
4/2/16 – Bilbao, SP @ Kafe Antzoki
4/4/16 – Turin, IT @ Spazio 211
4/5/16 – Bologna, IT @ Lokomotiv
4/6/16 – Zurich, CH @ Bogen F
4/7/16 – Geneva, CH @ PTR Usine
4/8/16 – Paris, FR @ La Fleche D’Or
4/9/16 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
4/10/16 – Leeds @ Brudenell Social CLub
4/12/16 – London, UK @ Electric Ballroom
4/13/16 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique
4/14/16 – Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn Festival
4/15/16 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg Oud Zaal
4/16/16 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
4/21/16 – Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown
4/22/16 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
4/23/16 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
4/25/16 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
4/26/16 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
4/27/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
4/28/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
4/29/16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
4/29/16 – 5/01/16 – Austin, TX @ Levitation
5/03/16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
5/04/16 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
5/5/16 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
5/6/16 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
5/7/16 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
5/10/16 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
5/11/16 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
5/12/16 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
5/13/16 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
5/14/16 – Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
5/15/16 – Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret
5/17/16 – Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos
5/18/16 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
5/19/16 – Calgary, AB @ Marquee Beer Market + Stage
5/21/16 – Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore Ballroom

Holy Wave – “California Took My Bobby Away” [Video]

Holy Wave have a new video for the first single “California Took My Bobby Away” from their upcoming LP, Freaks of Nurture. Freaks of Nurture will be out March 11 on Reverberation Appreciation Society.

Freaks Of Nurture is the bands third LP. It was recorded at Cacophony Recorders in Austin, TX by Erik Wofford (Explosions In The Sky, The Black Angels, My Morning Jacket). The album is now up for pre-order HERE which gives you 160g clear cream vinyl + insert, and is limited to 500 copies.

Pete Astor – “Very Good Lock” [Video]

Pete Astor is previously of The Loft and The Weather Prophet which were on Creation Records back in the 80’s. Since then, he has released several solo records and some more experimental material, while also teaching at University of Westminsteras.

His new record, Spilt Milk, is out today and reviewed HERE. This video just captures his presence perfectly and highlights why you should check out his new album via Slumberland Records.

Hey Lover – “Nancy” [Video]

Portland garage pop mainstays, Hey Lover have announced the upcoming release of their third album, Sinking Ships. Justin and Terah Beth (husband and wife) formed Hey Lover nearly a decade ago, playing their first show on their wedding night.

Their new single, “Nancy,” comes accompanied with this catchy animated music video by Cain Hendricks which takes viewers on a strange and captivating journey that leaves them wanting more. The LP, Sinking Ships, will be released in May, after which the band will play a week-long west-coast tour and a two-week run in Spain + Portugal. Dates to be announced in the coming months.

R. Ring – “Loud Underneath” [Video]

R. Ring is a group that we have been quietly following since 2012 that is comprised of The Breeders’ Kelley Deal (Dayton, OH) and Ampline’s Mike Montgomery (Dayton, KY). From their first 7″ release to some of their most recent singles they have lived up to the under current of hype for what we have hoped would lead to a full length.

If fact, I actually had a chance to ask Kelley about that LP release several years ago and her polite response was ” it will be coming out when you write it.” Of course it was all in fun but now the group has recently recorded tracks for a full length that hopefully should see the light of day this year.

This track for sure shows their potential and you can catch them out on tour at the dates below.

Tour Dates
February 17 MOTR Cincinnati, OH
February 18 The Bishop Bloomington, IN
February 19 the end. Nashville, TN
February 20 Cosmic Charlies Lexington, KY
March Dates
Wed 3/16/2016 Louisville KY Haymarket Whiskey Bar
Thu 3/17/2016 Murray KY Terrapin Station
Fri 3/18/2016 Memphis TN Hi Tone
Sat 3/19/2016 Hot Springs AR The Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival (The VOV)
Sun 3/20/2016 Little Rock AR Vino’s Pizza-Pub-Brewery
Mon 3/21/2016 Chattanooga TN JJ’s Bohemia
Tue 3/22/2016 Charlotte NC Snug Harbor
Wed 3/23/2016 Raleigh NC @Neptunes with @fleshwounds
Thu 3/24/2016 Washington, DC IOTA Club & Cafe with Flesh Wounds
Fri 3/25/2016 Baltimore MD Reverb with Flesh Wounds
Sat 3/26/2016 Youngstown OH @Historian Session
Sun 3/27/2016 Akron, OH @Annabelles-Bar with RELAXER

Nada Surf – “Cold To See Clear” [Video]

Nada Surf has released the first video from their new album You Know Who You Are. The clip was directed by Spencer Gentz and features something a little different happening at the office. For those of us that have been there, I believe we only wish everyday was like a day with Nada Surf on the speakers!

Their eighth record is out March 4, and was produced by long-time buddy Tom Beaujour at Nuthouse Recording in Hoboken, NJ. The album marks the band’s first as an official quartet with the core unit – singer/ songwriter/guitarist Matthew Caws, bassist Daniel Lorca and drummer Ira Elliot – joined by Doug Gillard on guitar.

Nada Surf has confirmed the first leg of a North American tour that begins in Chicago, IL, on May 12, 2016 and ends in Boston, MA, on June 4. The complete tour dates are below.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

MAY
12 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
13 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
14 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
17 – Vancouver, BC – Venue
18 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
19 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
20 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
21 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram
22 – San Diego, CA – Irenic
24 – Denver, CO – Bluebird
25 – Kansas City, MO – Crossroads
27 – Austin, TX – Parish
28 – Dallas, TX – Granada
29 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall

JUNE
1 – Washington, DC – 930 Club
2 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
3 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
4 – Boston, MA – Paradise

face to face: “Disconnected” [Video Classic]

So face to face has a new record coming out March 4th on Fat Wreck Chords and the new track sounds fairly rocking. So rocking that it just might be a Friday Fire Track soon. Regardless of how the future turns out, we can tell you that you absolutely can not go wrong with their break out track “Disconnected.”

This is easily one of our favorite tracks from their 1992 record Don’t Turn Away and the early 90s punk movement and this video backs it up. Enjoy.

Half Japanese – “We Cannot Miss” [Video]

Founded by brothers Jad & David Fair in 1975, Half Japanese is credited with pioneering the DIY and lo-fi movements while influencing everyone from Sonic Youth and Neutral Milk Hotel to Daniel Johnston and Kurt Cobain (who had the band open Nirvana’s In Utero tour.)

Today, Half Japanese have just released their new LP, Perfect! “We Cannot Miss” is your chance to check out a track and enjoy the hand-drawn animations by Jad Fair that brings the band’s playful lyrics to life. You can order up a copy of the album HERE over at Joyful Noise Recordings.

Strange Faces: Stonerism [Album Review]

Strange Faces Stonerism Autumn Tone Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The first song you will hear from Chicago’s Strange Faces debut sounds like you are listening to a stereo at the far end of train tunnel. If you think that sounds odd, then you should excuse yourself from this review because the bands fuzzy … Read more

Baroness: Purple [Album Review]

Baroness Purple Abraxan Hymns [2015] Fire Note Says: Baroness is back stronger than ever! Album Review: You can talk about indie genres and bands all you want but when it comes down to it, all of us love a really good rock record from a bona fide rock band. Baroness is exactly that kind of … Read more

Father John Misty: Live At Rough Trade [Album Review]

Father John Misty Live At Rough Trade Rough Trade Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Back in February, Josh Tillman, aka Father John Misty, came out to promote the recent release of his excellent I Love You, Honeybear with just his voice and guitar. Rough Trade smartly recorded the event as FJM played eight stripped … Read more

Dave Segedy: Layup [Album Review]

Dave Segedy Layup Old Flame/Jurassic Pop Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Dave Segedy has been staying busy as Layup is his second release this year following his March debut Schrodego. With all this he is also prepping to start recording again with his Bloomington, IN band Sleeping Bag. I like when the drummer can … Read more

Foo Fighters: Saint Cecilia EP [Album Review]

Foo Fighters Saint Cecilia EP RCA Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Surprise, gratitude and free sum up the Foo Fighters latest EP Saint Cecilia. As a thank you to the fans and without warning, the Foo’s released this free download EP last week (with a pay vinyl option) to their continually growing fan base. … Read more