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

The Astounds: The Astounds [Album Review]

The Astounds The Astounds Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Not surprised that Dean Wells has delivered yet another astounding, quick-hitting, lo-fi, power pop masterpiece. Album Review: Dean Wells is back. He has changed the name of the band, but there is no denying this is another Dean Wells’ project. Whether it is The Capstan Shafts, … Read more

Parquet Courts – “Berlin Got Blurry” [Video]

Parquet Courts have shared the video for their brand new single, “Berlin Got Blurry,” which comes from their forthcoming Rough Trade LP, Human Performance. “Berlin Got Blurry” may be one of the band’s most accessible songs yet, a jangly affair with a guitar lick that will kick your ass.

The video was shot on 16mm by the talented Claes Nordwall, and you can catch the band on tour at the dates below. Human Performance is out April 8th.

PARQUET COURTS TOUR DATES:
Sat. Mar. 12 – Marfa, TX @ Marfa Myths w/ No Age, Emitt Rhodes, Quilt, Sheer Mag
Thu. Apr. 14 – Providence, RI @ The Met w/ Soda
Fri. Apr.15 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club w/ Soda
Sat. Apr. 16 – Kingston, NY @ BSP Kingston w/ Soda
Sun. Apr. 17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit w/ Soda
Mon. Apr. 18 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups w/ Soda
Wed. Apr. 20 – Chicago, IL @ Metro w/ Soda
Thu. Apr. 21 – Detroit, MI @ Marble Bar w/ Soda
Fri. Apr. 22 – Toronto, Ontario @ Phoenix Theater w/ Soda
Thu. Apr. 28 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
Sat. Apr. 30 – Austin, TX @ Levitation Festival
Mon. May 2 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
Wed. May 11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer w/ B Boys
Thu. May 12 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/ B Boys
Fri. May 13 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle w/ B Boys
Sun. May 15 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival
Mon. May 16 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge w/ B Boys
Tue. May 17 – Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight w/ B Boys
Wed. May 18 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater w/ B Boys
Fri. May 20 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall w/ B Boys
Sat. June 4 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound Festival
Sun. June 5 – Nimes, FR @ This Is Not A Love Song Festival
Tue. June 7 – Bilbao, ES @ Kafe Antzokia
Thu. June 9 – Porto, PT @ Primavera Sound Porto
Sun. June 12 – London, UK @ Field Day
Tue. June 14 – Bristol, UK @ Trinity
Wed. June 15 – Liverpool, UK @ New Kazimier
Thu. June 16 – Edinburgh, UK @ La Belle Angele
Fri. June 17 – Leeds, UK @ Irish Centre
Fri. June 18 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
Tue. June 21 – Antwerp, BE @ Trix Club
Thu. June 23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord
Mon. June 27 – Paris, FR @ Gaite Lyrique

White Lung – “Hungry” [Video]

White Lung are are back and have shared an excellent new video for first single “Hungry”, which was written by Mish Barber-Way and Justin Gradin, directed by Gradin. “Hungry” stars Amber Tamblyn (Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, The Ring), members from Deafheaven and also Deap Vally.

Their new record, Paradise, is out May 6th via Domino and this time around White Lung have teamed up with producer Lars Stalfors who is well known for his work with HEALTH, Alice Glass, Cold War Kids. At 28 minutes it should be another speaker raising record!

Dream Theater: The Astonishing [Album Review]

Dream Theater The Astonishing Roadrunner Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Progressive metal heavyweights push the envelope with a 34 song rock opera. Album Review: Since forming at the Berklee College Of Music back in 1985, Dream Theater have sold over 10 million records world wide and, along the way, pretty much invented an entirely new … Read more

Jon Patrick Walker – “Hideous Monster” [Video]

Jon Patrick Walker has a professional resume that most people can only dream about with credits that include film, television and on- and off-Broadway shows. That only gives you some idea that he has talent and should give you cofidence that his singer/songwriter qualities can meet the expectations.

The video for his single, “Hideous Monster” will put your ears at ease with its folk/rock blend that is both smooth like Ron Sexsmith while having the edge of Ryan Adams. It won’t surprise you that Walker’s influences include the Beatles, Paul Simon, The Who and Harry Nilsson.

“Hideous Monster” is from his forthcoming self-released sophomore record, People Going Somewhere, and is due out March 11. The lyric video gives you all the insight you need into the track as I really dig the emphasis on the lines “Don’t speak – if you’ve got nothing to say / Don’t creep / No don’t be creeping my way / Don’t love / Or don’t love me like that / YOU’RE USING MEEEE.” If you like this track, I think you will enjoy the full length so make sure to look Walker up.

Museyroom – “Ballad” [Video]

Here is a new video from psych pop trio Museyroom. It is for the single “Ballad” taken from the band’s new full length debut, Pearly Whites (due out March 25th via Grind Select).

The video is a fun psychedelic world of animation so enjoy. The band also has several tour dates coming up that are listed below.

TOUR DATES:

03/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Gateway *
03/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Ortlieb’s *
03/11 – Baltimore, MD @ The Crown *
03/13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Sewing Room *
03/16 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
03/19 – Nashville, TN @ Glass Menagerie
04/08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Palisades (LP RELEASE SHOW)

Quilt: Plaza [Album Review]

Quilt Plaza Mexican Summer [2016] Fire Note Says: Boston quartet remain lost in a haze of vintage sixties psychedelia – thank God. Album Review: Quilt’s second album, Held In Splendor, was one of 2014’s biggest surprises. I ranked it the #9 album of the year but in the twenty-four months since its release I confess … 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

Kappa Chow: Kappa Chow [Album Review]

Kappa Chow Kappa Chow Big Tomato Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: “Kappa Chow! Kappa Chow! Kappa Chow! One! Two! Fuck You!” So begins the immensely enjoyable opening track to Kappa Chow’s self-titled LP. This album quickly grabs you by the throat and does not let go. The New Brunswick-based Kappa Chow lay out a … Read more

Lucinda Williams: The Ghosts Of Highway 20 [Album Review]

Lucinda Williams The Ghosts Of Highway 20 Highway 20 Records [2016] Fire Note Says: It is clear that Williams owns this patch of the road. Album Review: “I know about the pain and all that jazz,” sings Lucinda Williams in her smokiest voice, and you sense that she’s just scratching the surface of that deep … Read more

Hayden: Everything I Long For – 2LP (20th Anniversary Edition)

I always have liked this record from Hayden. “Bad As They Seem” was an instant 90’s classic. The 20th Anniversary edition of Hayden’s debut album also features 5 bonus tracks, including “Original Recipes”, “I Almost Cried”, “Trees Lounge (demo)”, “Bad As They Seem (demo)”, and “Recipes (out-takes)”. The album is a double LP, and limited … Read more