King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Paper Mâché Dream Balloon [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Paper Mâché Dream Balloon ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: KGATLW goes all flute on you with plenty of quirky and catchy outcomes. Album Review: Hopefully we have featured King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard enough lately that you shouldn’t be scared of the name because they definitely stands … Read more

The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die: Harmlessness [Album Review]

The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die Harmlessness Epitaph Records [2015] Fire Note Says: A surprise candidate for Album Of The Year emerges from the post-emo scene. Album Review: I was first drawn to this band by all the hype surrounding their debut album, Whenever, If Ever. The … Read more

Premiere Friday Fire Track: Guided By Voices – “Motor Away”

Welcome to the fourth and final installment premiere from Suitcase Four here at The Fire Note. All of the tracks have been fun but I think we have saved the best premiere for last. From the critically hailed Alien Lanes (1995), “Motor Away” is one the most recognizable songs from the GBV library and always … Read more

Clutch: Psychic Warfare [Album Review]

Clutch Psychic Warfare Weathermaker Music [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: To say that I’m impressed with Clutch is a bit of an understatement. Psychic Warfare is their 11th studio album and the Maryland based group is also celebrating their 25th anniversary. In the riff based hard-rock and stoner-rock genres, Clutch have released some impressive albums … Read more

Kishi Bashi: String Quartet Live! [Album Review]

Kishi Bashi String Quartet Live! Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Several years ago you would have never heard me go on and on about a violin player but K. Ishibashi (aka Kishi Bashi) changed all of that with his genre changing debut 151a (2012). String Quartet Live! features reimagined versions from not … Read more

together PANGEA: The Phage EP [Album Review]

together PANGEA The Phage EP Burger Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Santa Clarita’s finest offer up six songs to make your day a little better. Album Review: When this hit my in-box I must admit that I was somewhat dismayed. Twenty months after their third LP, the terrific Badillac, I was disappointed that all I … Read more

Martin Courtney: Many Moons [Album Review]

Martin Courtney Many Moons Domino [2015] Fire Note Says: Hear the smooth warm sounds from Real Estate frontman Martin Courtney. Album Review: Several other members of Real Estate have already ventured out with side projects like Ducktails and Alex Bleeker and The Freaks, so the time seems right from frontman Martin Courtney to strut his … Read more

Yoko & The Oh No’s: Yoko & The Oh No’s [Album Review]

Yoko & The Oh No’s Yoko & The Oh No’s Autumn Tone Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: If you like a blend of classic rock riffs, distorted R&B beats and flowing soulful vocals then Chicago’s Yoko & The Oh No’s will be your new favorite band. The group cranks their way through this 10 … Read more

Shannon And The Clams – “It’s Too Late”

Shannon and the Clams have a new charming video for “It’s Too Late,” a track from their recently released album Gone by the Dawn. The video sees guitarist/vocalist Cody Blanchard playing a drifter who gets picked up by some hard-partying farmhands before things take a turn for the weird.

The Clams kick off a string of European tour dates starting tomorrow, which you can see below.

Tour dates:

11.11.15 – London, UK – Oslo
11.12.15 – Brighton, UK – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar
11.13.15 – Lille, FR – La Peniche
11.14.15 – Paris, FR – La Maroquinerie
11.17.15 – Lyon, FR – Le Sonic
11.18.15 – Geneva, CH – L’Ecurie
11.19.15 – Brussels, BE – Madame Moustache
11.20.15 – Antwerp, BE – Het Bos
11.21.15 – Utrecht, NL – Le Guess Who?
11.23.15 – Berlin, DE – Monarch

The Yawpers: American Man [Album Review]

The Yawpers American Man Bloodshot Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The Yawpers highlight all that is good with the rowdy bar band vibe as they pull off a Steve Earle fronts Old 97s sound with a blue collar work ethic of Uncle Tupelo. American Man is just that kind of record as the group’s … Read more

White Fang: Chunks [Album Review]

White Fang Chunks Burger Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The press release for White Fang’s new album, Chunks, says that it “will put you back in touch with who you were before you became what you are.” That couldn’t be a more accurate statement as this record is full of goofing off, having a … Read more

Elephant Stone – “The Devil’s Shelter” (Ft. Alex Maas of Black Angels)

Since their creation, Elephant Stone have consistently been a name to drop in the contemporary psychedelic scene. Today, they share their new video, directed by Elba Berganza, for “The Devil’s Shelter” featuring guest vocals by their good friend Alex Maas of The Black Angels. The band begins their west coast tour this week and you can find the dates below.

ELEPHANT STONE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
11/12 – San Diego CA – Whistle Stop
11/13 – Los Angeles CA – Hotel Cafe
11/14 – Santa Ana CA – Constellation Room
11/18 – Seattle WA – LoFi
11/19 – Vancouver BC – The Cobalt
11/20 – Portland OR – Bunk Bar
11/21 – Oakland CA – The New Parish for Echo Fest

Glen Hansard U.S. tour kicks off tonight!

Singer-songwriter Glen Hansard (The Frames, The Swell Season, Once Soundtrack) will support his new album, Didn’t He Ramble, on tour throughout North American this fall. The tour kicks off tonight at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and includes a stop at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, the new Kings Theatre in Brooklyn … Read more

Helvetia: Dromomania [Album Review]

Helvetia Dromomania Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Jason Albertini (Duster and Built to Spill) and his band, Helvetia have a wonderful new LP out now. Dromomania is a tasty bit of psych/slacker rock. If you are not familiar with Helvetia, you really need to get that situation rectified. Dromomania would make a … Read more

Ltd. Edition of Montreal “Hissing Fauna” 2xLP Picture Disc

Here is a good looking package from Polyvinyl. This one-time, limited edition pressing of 750 uniquely numbered copies is packaged in a sturdy, crystal clear gatefold sleeve with protective flap. Hissing Fauna is considered one of thier best records and if you pre-order now you will receive an instant full-album download at checkout. Pre-orders ship … Read more

PWR BTTM – “Ugly Cherries”

Songwriter, Ben Hopkins from PWR BTTM describes this video for the title track off the new album as “I’ve set my ‘best self,’ aka me in crazy monster drag, against my ‘worst self,’ aka me miserably staring at my cellphone alone in my apartment, in an attempt to take stock of my whole self. All of the behaviors within the video are my own, and in staging them side by side I’m trying to take ownership of the good, bad, weird, and fabulous parts of my personality.”

Ugly Cherries, the record, was out September 18, via a joint release with Miscreant Records and Father/Daughter Records. Enjoy!

Speedy Ortiz Announces Tour Benefitting GRCF

Speedy Ortiz are announcing a new all-ages tour and the band has elected to donate 100% of the net proceeds to Girls Rock Camp Foundation (http://www.girlsrockcampfoundation.org/). GRCF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing funding for Girls Rock Camps. The purpose of the camps is to develop life skills, creative expression and collaboration through music. … Read more

Premiere Friday Fire Track: Guided By Voices – “Third Grade Aviator”

Welcome to the third installment premiere from Suitcase Four here at The Fire Note. We rocked you on week one with “Deaf Dumb And Blind Girl”, and slowed things down last week on “Lockets Of The Empress,” so for week 3 it only seemed natural to crank the amps back up with “Third Grade Aviator” … Read more

Beach House: Thank Your Lucky Stars [Album Review]

Beach House Thank Your Lucky Stars Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: 2015 has been a good year for Beach House. Album Review: Seems like I was just writing a review for a new Beach House album because, well, I was. The Baltimore duo has followed up their August release (Depression Cherry) two months … Read more