Arcade Fire: Everything Now [Album Review]

Arcade Fire Everything Now Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Arcade Fire beat to their own drum. Album Review: You probably think the new Arcade Fire sucks, right? Why wouldn’t you? It has been panned by multiple respected publications and seems to be everyone’s new favorite punching bag. It still was the number one record … Read more

Dove Lady: One [Album Review]

Dove Lady One DZ Tapes / Inflated Records [2017] Who: DC-based spastic noise rock duo. Sound: Dove Lady dish out a disarming array of influences and styles on One. ‘Debut of the Year’ honors should be a lock for this fantastic album. TFN Final Take: Dove Lady’s One is a wildly unpredictable debut album. Over … Read more

Manchester Orchestra: A Black Mile To The Surface [Album Review]

Manchester Orchestra A Black Mile To The Surface Loma Vista Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: A decade in, Adam Hull and Manchester Orchestra manage to stretch and grow their sound without losing connections to the passion and angst of their celebrated early work. Album Review: There’s an often unspoken challenge for artists that find a … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Black Beach – “Cluttered Head”

How about some plain and simple grinding indie rock? Boston, MA garage punks Black Beach have just what you are looking for. The band is set to release Play Loud Die, Vol. II EP on September 8th, which they recorded with Paul Kolderie (Dinosaur Jr., Hole, Pixies). Today’s Friday Fire Track, “Cluttered Head,” instantly hits … Read more

Goldfinger: The Knife [Album Review]

Goldfinger The Knife Rise Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Goldfinger storm back onto the scene. Album Review: Legendary ska punk band Goldfinger have returned. If you are not familiar, Goldfinger was part of the Third-Wave ska/punk movement of the late ’90s and The Knife picks back up on the same style. Their 1996 self-titled debut … Read more

En Route: Then Is A Song [Album Review]

En Route Then Is A Song Flower Girl Records [2017] Who: En Route is a collective of some of Philadelphia’s most accomplished underground punk musicians. Sound: In five drifting, heavy and quietly groundbreaking songs, En Route makes clear their intention to lead the slowcore revival. TFN Final Take: En Route’s first EP “then is a … Read more

Diesel Island: Diesel Island [Album Review]

Diesel Island Diesel Island Euclid Records [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Louis country cover band delivers an album of originals that stand-up alongside their take on Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. Album Review: For some ridiculous reason, I find it impossible to discuss authentic, old school country music without telling two jokes. A city dweller … Read more

Iron & Wine – “Thomas County Law” [Video]

Iron & Wine and returning director J. Austin Wilson (“Call It Dreaming”) have delivered an official video for “Thomas County Law” from the new album Beast Epic. The album is due out August 25th on Sub Pop.

Iron & Wine has scheduled an extensive U.S. tour with a full band in support of Beast Epic beginning with a two night stand in Chicago on October 12th and 13th (both at Thalia Hall), and ends with a two night stand in New York in November 13th (at Town Hall) and 14th (at Brooklyn Steel). The fall tour is preceded by a week long jaunt through the Southeastern U.S., which spans August 26th through August 30th. Dates are below. For up to date information on tickets, please visit HERE.

Summer 2017
Aug. 26 – Fayetteville, AR – Roots Festival – SOLD OUT
Aug. 27 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note %
Aug. 28 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre %
Aug. 29 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn % – SOLD OUT
Aug. 30 – Louisville, KY – WFPK on the Waterfront
Aug. 31 – Nashville, TN – Lightning 100’s Live On the Green

Fall 2017
Oct. 12 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall*
Oct. 13 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall # – SOLD OUT
Oct. 14 – StPaul,MN – Palace Theatre #
Oct. 15 – Lincoln, NE – Rococo Theatre #
Oct. 17 – Missoula, MT – Wilma Theater #
Oct. 18 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theater
Oct. 19 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theater #
Oct. 20 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater – SOLD OUT
Oct. 21 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre
Oct. 26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian*
Oct. 27 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s* – SOLD OUT
Oct. 28 – San Diego, CA – Balboa #
Oct. 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Van Buren #
Oct. 30 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey #
Nov. 01 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler # – SOLD OUT
Nov. 02 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater #
Nov. 03 – Houston, TX – The Heights # – SOLD OUT
Nov. 04 – New Orleans, LA – Joy Theater #
Nov. 06 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room#
Nov. 07 – Orlando, FL – The Beacham #
Nov. 09 – Washington DC – Lincoln Theatre #
Nov. 10 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall #
Nov. 11 – Boston, MA – Berklee Performance Center # – SOLD OUT
Nov. 12 – Northampton, MA – Calvin Theatre #
Nov. 13 – New York, NY – Town Hall #
Nov. 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel*

% w/Lydia Loveless
# w/John Moreland
* w/OHMME

Christian Fitness: Slap Bass Hunks [Album Review]

Christian Fitness Slap Bass Hunks Prescriptions Music [2017] Who: Andrew Falkous’ one man band project, Christian Fitness, is a vital off-shoot of his past work with Mclusky and Future of the Left . Sound: Slap Bass Hunks continues Christian Fitness’ trend of releasing creative post-hardcore noise rock. Four excellent albums in four years. TFN Final … Read more

Magnetix: Live In San Francisco [Album Review]

Magnetix Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2017] Who: Magnetix are a two-piece French garage-electro rock group with a catalog of singles and several albums that date back to 2002. Sound: Clearly being featured on Castle Face’s Live In San Francisco series, it is easy to hear some Oh Sees in the guitar and … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Walter TV – “Last Day”

Are you already familiar with Canada’s Walter TV? The band is Joe McMurray and Pierce McGarry, which are current members of Mac DeMarco’s group plus Simon Ankenman. Walter TV is set to release their third record, Carpe Diem, on September 9th via Sinderlyn. Today’s Friday Fire Track, “Last Day,” is a floating and flowing tune … Read more

Ricky Hamilton: Killed By Ricky [Album Review]

Ricky Hamilton Killed By Ricky Objectively Good Records & Tapes [2017] Who: Ricky Hamilton runs Quality Time Records and plays in a multitude of bands currently rocking Cleveland. Killed By Ricky is his sophomore solo effort. Sound: Ricky’s solo work continues along a similar noisy lo-fi punk mode of his bands. This effort has the … Read more

The Charlatans: Different Days [Album Review]

The Charlatans Different Days BMG [2017] Fire Note Says: Brit pop from Manchester’s The Charlatans, with some assistance from Paul Weller, Johnny Marr and Anton Newcombe. Album Review: With a band like The Charlatans, where they have overcome overwhelming odds while continuing to record music after 28 years, the fact that they are still at … Read more

Charly Bliss: Guppy [Album Review]

Charly Bliss Guppy Barsuk Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Charly Bliss’s debut LP Guppy finds the Brooklyn-based punks turning rock conventions on their heads and sewing together sugary-sweet grunge-pop rippers–and having a ton of fun doing it. Album Review: The grunge revival has long been underway, but until now, the Speedy Ortizes, Courtney Barnetts and … Read more

Shelby Earl: The Man Who Made Himself A Name [Album Review]

Shelby Earl The Man Who Made Himself A Name Nine Mile Records [2017] Who: Shelby Earl is a singer-songwriter from Seattle who has released her third full-length album. Sound: Rock as a backdrop for storytelling. TFN Final Take: Sometimes you can recognize someone’s talent yet fail to connect with it. This happened with me and … Read more

Elf Power: Twitching In Time [Album Review]

Elf Power Twitching In Time Orange Twin Records [2017] Who: One of the more resilient acts from the fabled Elephant Six Collective, Elf Power is still making incredible music. Sound: Twitching In Time is one of Elf Power’s best albums. Their blend of psychedelic power pop remains timeless and always welcome. TFN Final Take: Fourteen … Read more

Various Artists: Treasure Of The Broken Land – The Songs Of Mark Heard [Album Review]

Various Artists Treasure Of The Broken Land: The Songs Of Mark Heard Storm Weathered Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Twenty-five years after his death, Nashville talents come together to resurrect the music of singer/songwriter Mark Heard, and it’s a treasure. Album Review: The commercial success of tribute compilation albums usually depends on three factors: 1) … Read more

Rozwell Kid: Precious Art [Album Review]

Rozwell Kid Precious Art SideOneDummy Records [2017] Who: Rozwell Kid write fun and gritty power-punk songs as Precious Art is the West Virginian four-piece’s fourth full length. Sound: Fun and smart power pop punk songs that have a Weezer bright side and a Hotelier emo other side. TFN Final Take: It is so easy in … Read more

Bleachers: Gone Now [Album Review]

Bleachers Gone Now RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bleachers sophomore continues the emo-pop stylings. Album Review: Jack Antonoff is back with his second Bleachers album, Gone Now. Antonoff has seen his star rise in the last three years, since his debut LP came out. He’s been writing and producing for many other pop stars … Read more