Melkbelly: Nothing Valley [Album Review]

Melkbelly Nothing Valley Wax Nine Records [2017] Who: Chicago quartet Melkbelly, comprised of Miranda Winters (vocals/guitar), brothers Bart (guitar) and Liam Winters (bass), and James Wetzel (drums)’ have just released their debut album, Nothing Valley, on Wax Nine Records, a sister label to Carpark Records headed by Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz. Sound: Melkbelly give … Read more

Buffalo Killers: Alive And Well In Ohio [Album Review]

Buffalo Killers Alive And Well In Ohio Alive Naturalsound Records [2017] Who: Alive And Well In Ohio marks the eighth album from Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers. This album was recorded at their Howler Hills Farm analog studio and mixed and mastered by Mike Montgomery (R. Ring, Ampline). Sound: Buffalo Killers offer up a laid back muscular … Read more

Prophets Of Rage: Prophets Of Rage [Album Review]

Prophets Of Rage Prophets Of Rage Fantasy Records [2017] Fire Note Says: This rap/rock supergroup converts the live energy and potent political lyrics of their past works into new rage-filled music for these challenging times. Album Review: One of the best live tours in the Fall of last year’s election season was the collaboration of … Read more

Racquet Club: Racquet Club [Album Review]

Racquet Club Racquet Club Rise Records [2017] Who: Racquet Club is a new veteran indie group that features members of Knapsack, The Jealous Sound, and Samiam. Sound: If you were fans of Knapsack and The Jealous Sound, Racquet Club follows suit with their style of indie emo rock lead by vocalist/guitarist Blair Shehan. TFN Final … Read more

Neil Finn: Out Of Silence [Album Review]

Neil Finn Out Of Silence Lester Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Neil Finn, late of Crowded House and Split Enz, delivers mature, intimate pop sounds focused by piano and an orchestra. Album Review: Face to face with terrorism, whether of the international kind that generates so much of the news and dialogue these days, or … Read more

A. Savage: Thawing Dawn [Album Review]

A. Savage Thawing Dawn Dull Tools [2017] Who: A. Savage is best known as one of the frontman for Parquet Courts. This is his first solo record, that was recorded between December 2016 and June 2017 by a group of Savage’s friends that included members of Woods, Ultimate Painting, PC Worship, EZTV, Sunwatchers, and Psychic … Read more

Alvvays: Antisocialites [Album Review]

Alvvays Antisocialites Polyvinyl Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Alvvays’s second album is an indie pop delight. Album Review: Alvvays made a splash three years ago with their self-titled debut. Their jangle pop was both interesting and fun, and it produced a couple of solid singles. The question is: will Alvvays be able to revisit those … Read more

Lydia Loveless: Boy Crazy And Single(s) [Album Review]

Lydia Loveless Boy Crazy And Single(s) Bloodshot Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Columbus native, Lydia Loveless combines her 2013 EP, Boy Crazy, with singles and covers recorded through 2015 to deliver her brand of Americana for the first time on CD and vinyl. Album Review: If you’re thinking it hasn’t even been a year since … Read more

Moral High Horses – “In Other Shoes” [Video]

Here is a new video from San Francisco’s Moral High Horses which just released their debut self-titled EP last Friday. You may be familiar with the group already, as they formed in 2016 under the name Foreign and already have built a fan base with several releases. “In Other Shoes” is a solid track so this re-branding to Moral High Horses has some momentum.

If you are interested in picking up the EP you can find it HERE. You can also check the band out live at the tour dates below.

Tour Dates:
October 13th // San Francisco, California – Neck of the Woods (EP Release Show)
October 25th // Seattle, Washington – The Rendezvous
October 27th // Portland, Oregon – The Firkin Tavern
October 28th // San Francisco, California – The Halloween Bash (Secret House Show)
November 4th // San Jose, California – Caravan Lounge

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile: Lotta Sea Lice [Album Review]

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile Lotta Sea Lice Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: You are invited to the conversation between Courtney and Kurt. Album Review: In today’s indie music scene I cannot think of that many pairings that have an equal rising momentum of Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett. Both successful singer/songwriters in their … Read more

Spirit Of The Beehive: Pleasure Suck [Album Review]

Spirit Of The Beehive Pleasure Suck Tiny Engines [2017] Who: Philadelphia-based Spirit of the Beehive deliver a superb album packed with lo-fi psychedelic charm. Sound: Pleasure Suck is a giant leap forward for the band. Their earlier LP and EP were good, but this album emits a warm druggy vibe that is part slacker rock, … Read more

LCD Soundsystem: American Dream [Album Review]

LCD Soundsystem American Dream DFA/Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: LCD Soundsystem’s take on the American Dream is far more realistic and delivers on its promises. Album Review: It would be easy to write off LCD Soundsystem, even convenient when you consider that many of their electronic dance tracks can feel repetitive and often run … Read more

Queens Of The Stone Age: Villains [Album Review]

Queens Of The Stone Age Villains Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: In a world of posers, Homme and Co. return to maintain the fact that rock can still be cool. Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age have been making records since 1998. In fact, frontman Josh Homme has been influencing music ever since … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: The Breeders – “Wait In The Car” [Video]

Anytime a band comes back together it is news. The quartet of Kim and Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs and Jim Macpherson, better known as The Breeders, made that happen in 2013 for the 20th anniversary of their 1993 classic Last Splash. Now, the Dayton band has a killer new two-minute track in “Wait In The Car” which proves they still have it. All we really need to say is “Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow.” The track is fun, energetic and ultra-catchy.

No news on an album yet but this single is part of a series of 7″ releases via 4AD. One will be available at the band’s upcoming tour dates, (pressed on orange vinyl, featuring a cover of Amon Düül II’s 1970 track “Archangel’s Thunderbird”, recorded with Steve Albini in Chicago). Another will be available exclusively at select independent record stores from October 27th (pressed on yellow vinyl and including a cover of Devo’s “Gates of Steel”). Details of a third version (featuring Kim’s reimagining of Mike Nesmith’s ‘Joanne’ and pressed on red vinyl) will be announced later in the year. Each version is limited to 1500 copies worldwide.

The Breeders will begin their previously announced 21 dates in Europe and North American starting later this month. They’ll also play a warm-up show for the tour in Newport, KY on October 10th and support Arcade Fire on two dates in St. Paul, MN and Chicago, IL at the end of the month, just before their US tour starts. All the dates are below and Enjoy your Friday!

October
10th – The Southgate House Revival, Newport, KY, US
15th – ABC, Glasgow, UK
16th – Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland
17th – Academy 2, Manchester, UK **SOLD OUT**
18th – Electric Ballroom, London, UK **SOLD OUT**
22nd – Melkweg Max, Amsterdam, Netherlands
23rd – Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
24th – Heimathafen, Berlin, Germany
25th – Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
27th – La Gaité Lyrique, Paris France **SOLD OUT**
29th – XCEL Energy Centre, St-Paul, MN, US #
30th – United Center, Chicago, IL, US #
November
1st – Magic Stick, Detroit, MI, US
3rd – The Sinclair, Boston, MA, US **SOLD OUT**
4th – Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC
5th – Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, US **SOLD OUT**
6th – Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
8th – Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR, US **SOLD OUT**
9th – Showbox at Market, Seattle, WA, US **SOLD OUT**
11th – The Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA **SOLD OUT**
12th – The Independent, San Francisco, CA **SOLD OUT**
13th – El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA **SOLD OUT**
# = with Arcade Fire

Richard Thompson: Acoustic Rarities [Album Review]

Richard Thompson Acoustic Rarities Beeswing/Proper Records [2017] Fire Note Says: These rare acoustic tracks reveal how deep and diverse are the talents of Richard Thompson. Album Review: Fifteen years or so back, Richard Thompson was touring solo offering up an acoustic concert, a musicological tutorial actually, titled “1000 Years of Popular Music.” It won’t surprise … Read more

ORB: Naturality [Album Review]

ORB Naturality Castle Face/Flightless Records [2017] Who: ORB hail from Australia and run around with label mates King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard which are both on Flightless and Castle Face Records. Naturality is their sophomore record. Sound: The band is known for their thunderous heavy sludge riffs. Naturality continues this muscle but now finds … Read more

Shagg: Shagg [Album Review]

Shagg Shagg Quality Time/Greenway Records [2017] Shagg should be on your radar. This Cleveland band will rock the crap out of you for this entire just over 14-minute record. Their arrangements are chaotic, the music is messy and they can blow your speakers out but all of those things are what I like about this … Read more