The Yawpers: Human Question [Album Review]

The Yawpers Human Question Bloodshot Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Yawpers return with a primal scream of roots rock originality that demands to be heard. Album Review: That the Denver-based trio took their name from a piece of Walt Whitman poetry should tell us something, but don’t think quiet library reading rooms. “I sound … Read more

Stef Chura – “Scream” [Video]

With her new album, Midnight, arriving this Friday, June 7th, on Saddle Creek, Detroit’s Stef Chura is back today with “Scream.” It serves as further proof of Stef’s singular knack for merging melody and tumult – made even clearer on this record as a result of her collaboration with producer Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest.

Behind its punchy veneer, it’s a track that Stef describes as being “partly about the loneliness of social media. How being popular online doesn’t equate to feeling whole in your real life, projecting a persona of an ideal ‘you’ online.”

The video for “Scream” was directed by Ambar Navarro – that plays on these themes of duality, popularity and personality. Stef Chura will embark on a North American tour, kicking off at Empty Bottle in Chicago. All tour dates are below.

STEF CHURA TOUR DATES
Wed. June 19 – Sun. June 23 – Calgary, AB @ Sled Island
Fri. July 5 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Sat. July 6 – Detroit, MI @ Deluxx Fluxx
Sun. July 7 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake
Mon. July 8 – Montreal, QC @ Casa del Popolo
Tue. July 9 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott
Fri. July 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
Sat. July 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA
Mon. July 15 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong
Tue. July 16 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
Wed. July 17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Fri. July 19 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
Sat. July 20 – Houston, TX @ The Satellite
Sun. July 21 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
Mon. July 22 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Thu. July 25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Fri. July 26 – San Diego, CA @ Sodabar
Sat. July 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theatre
Sun. July 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord
Tue. July 30 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Wed. July 31 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Thu. Aug. 1 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Fri. Aug. 2 – Spokane, WA @ Lucky You Lounge
Sat. Aug. 3 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Mon. Aug. 5 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Tue. Aug. 6 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Wed. Aug. 7 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb
Fri. Aug. 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Sat. Aug. 10 – Milwaukee, WI @ Backroom at Colectivo

Snapped Ankles: Stunning Luxury [Album Review]

Snapped Ankles Stunning Luxury The Leaf Label [2019] Who: Snapped Ankles are a pseudo-techno/punk band out of London and out of this world. Sound: Stunning Luxury continues Snapped Ankles’ blend of tribal techno mixed with motorik rhythms and post-punk ethos. TFN Final Take: 2019 continues to impress me with a constant stream of great new … Read more

The Figgs – “Grab Your Pack” [Video]

The Figgs are looking to release their 14th studio album, Shady Grove, a six sided behemoth of a record featuring a slew of the catchy, harmony drenched tunes which they’ve become attached to their whole career.

Shady Grove is a very special album to The Figgs. Since they began cutting the tracks that would become “Shady Grove”, losses would hit the band in profound ways. A few months into the tracking of the album, their longtime musical associate and touring keyboardist, Ted Collins, died in early 2017. Ted had originally played in the band from which Gent and Donnelly had poached Hayes! He had been a dear friend to the band since the very early days. Needless to say, it was a heartbreaking loss.

Later in 2017, another long time friend and roadie, Eric Harmon, passed away. The Figgs met Eric on one of their first National tours when he was playing drums for the Chainsaw Kittens. Harmon would later join The Figgs on dozens of headlining tours working as their road manager, drum tech, merchandise handler and therapist. Other people close to the band left them in 2018 and 2019 making death a constant in their recent lives.

The Figgs soldiered on with the new album allowing some of the more experimental numbers on the record to be tributes to these lost comrades. You can help finish the project HERE at Indiegogo.

Mavis Staples: We Get By [Album Review]

Mavis Staples We Get By ANTI- [2019] Fire Note Says: Mavis Staples wraps up her 8th decade by putting her best musical foot forward with the aid of Ben Harper. Album Review: I’ll have whatever it is that Mavis Staples is having. Of course, we’re talking about the hardest working 80 year old working in … Read more

Summer Cannibals – “Can’t Tell Me No” [Video]

Tiny Engines recently announced the new album from Portland’s Summer Cannibals. The label will release Can’t Tell Me No on June 28th which you can pre-order HERE. The title track is out today and here is the video!

The band just finished up shows with Hop Along in April and Slothrust in May. Summer Cannibals recently announced June & July West Coast tour dates and now have more shows for August added. Full list of dates below.

Amyl And The Sniffers: Amyl And The Sniffers [Album Review]

Amyl And The Sniffers Amyl And The Sniffers Flightless/ATO Records [2019] Who: Formed in Melbourne, Australia in early 2016, Amyl and The Sniffers wrote, self-recorded and released their debut EP, Giddy Up, all in a span of twelve hours. Already signed to Flightless Records for Australia and New Zealand, the band capped off a monster … Read more

Sad Planets: Akron, Ohio [Album Review]

Sad Planets Akron, Ohio Tee Pee Records [2019] Album Review: The coming together of two successful rockers with impressive careers to collaborate on a record celebrating their hometown is the kind of idea that sounds great on paper. So, I’m sure that Patrick Carney, the drummer half of The Black Keys, and John Petkovic, who’s … Read more

The Get Up Kids: Problems [Album Review]

The Get Up Kids Problems Big Scary Monsters/Polyvinyl Records [2019] Album Review: The Get Up Kids came out of Kansas City in the mid-90s in that second wave of emo, punk/pop bands like Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World, and My Chemical Romance. Best remembered for their 1999 release, “Something to Write Home About,” the band broke … Read more

Khana Bierbood: Strangers From The Far East [Album Review]

Khana Bierbood Strangers From The Far East Guruguru Brain [2019] Who: Khana Bierbood (translated as Strange Brew in Thai), formed in 2012, in Bangsaen Beach, Thailand. After hours of jamming together they created their unique sound. Sound: Surf psychedelic rock that also includes lo-fi garage and fuzz. Not only for fans of label mates Kikagaku … Read more

Justin Townes Earle: The Saint Of Lost Causes [Album Review]

Justin Townes Earle The Saint Of Lost Causes New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Justin Townes Earle produces a country songwriting tour de force on his eighth album, The Saint of Lost Causes. Album Review: The Saint of Lost Causes, the eighth album from singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle, is such a solid example from … Read more

Charly Bliss: Young Enough [Album Review]

Charly Bliss Young Enough Barsuk Records [2019] Who: Charly Bliss are back with their sophomore album Young Enough. It was produced by Joe Chiccarelli (U2, Beck, Alanis, The Strokes, The Killers, My Morning Jacket, Cage The Elephant). Sound: Unlike some of the alt grunge on debut Guppy (2017), Charly Bliss now goes darker and poppier … Read more

The National: I Am Easy To Find [Album Review]

The National I Am Easy To Find 4AD [2019] Fire Note Says: If I Am Easy to Find was a debut record, it’d be the best of the year. Album Review: There is a timeline in which, after the release of their breakthrough 2014 record Trouble Will Find Me, The National grew content, decided to … Read more

Track Premiere: Dots – “Throwing Pennies”

How about some in your face free-for-all punk rock? Well, ready or not – that is what you are getting today with TFN’s premiere of “Throwing Pennies” from Oakland’s Dots! The psychedelic hardcore of the band found here is propelled by the energized vocals of front woman Camylle and the groups short bursting guitar riffs. … Read more

Track Premiere: Billy Harvey – “Frozen Through”

Second chances don’t always happen and in the music business they rarely present themselves after 15 years but that is exactly what we are talking about today. The premiere of “Frozen Through” from Billy Harvey is a preview of the newly remastered song from his 2004 record Pie. The album is getting a second life … Read more

The Ocean Blue – Kings And Queens [Video]

The Ocean Blue have announced the release of their first new album in over 6 years – Kings and Queens / Knaves and Thieves. The record is out June 21 on Korda Records.

Now you can watch the Seventh Seal-esque video for first single “Kings and Queens.” The band will be hitting the road starting in June and you can find the current dates below.

Tour Dates
6/22: Lancaster, PA @ Tellus360
6/23: Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
6/27: Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
6/28: Portland, OR @ Holocene
7/26: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fine Line
7/27: Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
8/23: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
8/24: Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
9/5: Lima, PERU @ Coco’s Club
9/6: Arequipa, PERU @ El QuinQué
10/4: Washington, DC @ Union Stage
10/5: Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
11/1: Detroit, MI @ The Magic Bag
11/3: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
11/17: Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
12/6: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall

Pink Mexico: DUMP [Album Review]

Pink Mexico DUMP Little Dickman/Burger Records [2019] Who: Brooklyn-based grunge/fuzz act Pink Mexico return with their 3rd LP. Sound: DUMP picks up where 2016’s Fool left off. The fuzz and buzz are still there, Pink Mexico has not lost a thing. TFN Final Take: I have been smitten with Pink Mexico since their debut album … Read more

John Paul White: The Hurting Kind [Album Review]

John Paul White The Hurting Kind Single Lock Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Civil War’s John Paul White makes a solid country musical statement that draws inspiration from a previous era, but remains an authentic, and current artistic statement. Album Review: John Paul White came to national attention as one half of the singer/songwriting … Read more

The Mountain Goats: In League With Dragons [Album Review]

The Mountain Goats In League With Dragons Merge Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Mountain Goats’ 17th album, In League With Dragons, takes on the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and various other wizards in singer/songwriter pop/rock that belies the darker stories. Album Review: After addressing the coming of age issues of Transcendental Youth back in … Read more

Filthy Friends: Emerald Valley [Album Review]

Filthy Friends Emerald Valley Kill Rock Stars [2019] Fire Note Says: Sleater-Kinney vocalist Corin Tucker and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck take Filthy Friends out for a fun second round that takes on the President, the environment and other matters of substance. Album Review: Filthy Friends, the alternative rock super-group of sorts, featuring R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck … Read more

Vampire Weekend: Father Of The Bride [Album Review]

Vampire Weekend Father Of The Bride Columbia Records [2019] TFN Final Take: Six years between records is a long time for any group and especially in this current music climate when people forget about you as soon as their newest Spotify playlist has ended. Well, Vampire Weekend have done just that with their new release … Read more