Lonesome Shack: Desert Dreams [Album Review]

Lonesome Shack Desert Dreams Alive Naturalsound Records [2019] Who: Lonesome Shack is a trio based out of Bellingham, WA. They now come to us by way of London in the UK. Sound: Dirty, Delta, foot stompin’ blues. TFN Final Take: We’ve had our ear on Lonesome Shack ever since they released their Alive Naturalsound debut, … Read more

Clinic – “Laughing Cavalier” [Video]

Last month, Clinic announced their return with news of their first album in seven years – Wheeltappers and Shunters – to be released on May 10th and named after the long-forgotten 70s British variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. Having previously shared “Rubber Bullets” from the album, you can now watch the Joseph May-directed video for “Laughing Cavalier.”

Jenny Lewis: On The Line [Album Review]

Jenny Lewis On The Line Warner Bros. Records [2019] Album Review: Jenny Lewis’ fourth solo album, On The Line, recalls an era when pop music still leaned heavily on live musicians playing sessions together in the studio, and not computerized midi keyboards and drum beats per minute. Singer/songwriters like Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, and Linda … Read more

Shana Cleveland – “Face Of The Sun” [Video]

Night of the Worm Moon is the new solo album from Shana Cleveland, the singer/guitarist of La Luz. You can watch Shana’s music video for album standout “Face of the Sun.” Cleveland directed this homage to ’70s-era anti-drug PSAs herself. See below for a full list of upcoming performances.

TOUR DATES
04.08.19 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
04.10.19 – Seattle, WA – Fremont Abbey
04.11.19 – Boise, ID – The Olympic
04.12.19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rye
04.13.19 – Denver, Co – Lost Lake Lounge
04.14.19 – Moab, UT – Seekhaven Chapel
04.16.19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Figueroa
04.26.19 – Washington, DC – 930 Club *
04.27.19 – Milton, DE – Dogfish Head *
04.28.19 – Boston, MA – Wilbur Theater *
04.30.19 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel *
05.01.19 – Jersey City, NJ – White Eagle Hall *
05.03.19 – Montreal, QC – L’astral *
05.04.19 – Ottowa, ONT – Bronson Center *
05.05.19 – Toronto, ONT – Phoenix Concert Theater *
05.07.19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls *
05.08.19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls *
05.09.19 – Cincinnati, OH – Woodward Theater *
05.10.19 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom *
05.11.19 – Memphis, TN – 1884 *
05.13.19 – Bloomington, IN – Buskirk-Chumley Theater *
05.14.19 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theater *
05.15.19 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall *
05.16.19 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall *
05.17.19 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
# – Record Release Show
* – w/ The Mountain Goats

The Black Heart Death Cult: The Black Heart Death Cult [Album Review]

The The Black Heart Death Cult The Black Heart Death Cult Oak Island Records [2019] Who: Melbourne, Australia based quartet. Sound: Psychedelic songs from beyond the void. The Black Heart Death Cult blankets their listeners in churning fuzz and spacy drones. A few sitars are thrown in for good measure. TFN Final Take: The Black … Read more

Luther Dickinson And Sisters Of The Strawberry Moon: Solstice [Album Review]

Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Luther Dickinson brings together some up & coming female folk/rock singers, who collaborate for a long weekend, singing each other’s songs and the result is a delight. Album Review: As Luther Dickinson describes it, Solstice came together like a … Read more

Flat Worms – “Into The Iris” [Video]

Flat Worms – the Los Angeles-based trio of bassist/vocalist Tim Hellman (Thee Oh Sees), drummer Justin Sullivan (Night Shop), and guitarist/ vocalist Will Ivy (Dream Boys) – have shared a video for “Into The Iris,” the title track from their recently released EP, out now via Drag City imprint, GOD? Records.

“Into The Iris” is a frenzied, high-energy track about channeling inspiration. The video was recorded at their record release show at Zebulon in Los Angeles, and presents the band’s frenetic live performance. Directed by Joshua Erkman, the video also features lighting tricks by Ty Segall.

Flat Worms will tour the west coast in support of the Into The Iris EP. They will play dates in Europe later this summer. All dates are below.

Flat Worms Tour Dates:
Tue. April 23 – Seattle, WA @ Screw Driver
Wed. April 24 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Fri. April 26 – Chicago, CA @ Valley Fever Festival
Sat. April 27 – San Francisco, CA @ The Knockout
Sun. April 28 – Ventura, CA @ The Tavern
Mon. April 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Non Plus Ultra
Sat. June 22 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
Sun. June 23 – Brighton, UK @ TBD
Mon. June 24 – Manchester, UK @ Yes (Pink Room)
Thu. June 27 – Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast
Fri. June 28 – Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny
Sat. June 29 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Sun. June 30 – Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms
Mon. July 1 – Bristol, UK @ Fleece 2P
Tue. July 2 – London, UK @ Dingwalls

The Mekons: Deserted [Album Review]

The Mekons Deserted Bloodshot Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The punk rock collective that is The Mekons drives us into the desert for a sing-along pub crawl that mixes punk, country and classic rock, in their 4th decade on Deserted. Album Review: There is a loose, playful, devil-may-care quality to The Mekons’ approach to punk, … Read more

The Scaners: II [Album Review]

The Scaners II Dirty Water Records [2019] Who: French gonzo-synth punks and intergalactic scuzzball house band, The Scaners return just a year later after their debut with II. Sound: Synth punk rock that has both the intergalactic connections of Man Or Astro-Man? and the 1,2,3,4 of the Ramones. TFN Final Take: The Scaners have quickly … Read more

John Kilzer: Scars [Album Review]

John Kilzer Scars Archer Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Memphis singer/songwriter John Kilzer delivers soulful pop/rock Americana, in what turns out to be his last will and testament. Album Review: Singer/songwriter John Kilzer has had a long, somewhat remarkable career in his hometown of Memphis, where, at 6’ 6”, he was a star forward for … Read more

CHAI – “Curly Adventure” [Video]

CHAI – the Japanese four-piece has shared a new video for “Curly Adventure,” off of PUNK, their sophomore album released on Burger Records earlier this month. “Curly Adventure” follows a string of previously released videos – the hyper-stylized “CHOOSE GO!”, “Fashionista”, and “GREAT JOB!”

The “Curly Adventure” video was designed in collaboration with Los Angeles-based artist / musician Sean Solomon. In a swirl of vibrant colors and eccentric scenes, CHAI themselves star as animated characters, designed by the band’s primary artistic director and bassist, YUUKI, and realized and animated by LA-based artist/animator Sean Solomon.

You can pick up their sophomore album at Burger Records HERE.

Son Volt: Union [Album Review]

Son Volt Union Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers [2019] Fire Note Says: Jay Farrar’s Son Volt gives a nod once again to the protest folk music of Woody Guthrie with songs that chronicle the divisions and injustices of our own era. Album Review: There’s a certain comfort in hearing Jay Farrar’s voice on the newest album from … Read more

Flaural – “1616” [Video]

Denver-based four-piece Flaural is set to release their debut LP, Postponement, which is due out April 19, 2019 via Staycation Records. Following a string of EPs — 2015’s Thin King and 2016’s Over Imaginary Cigarettes — and produced by James Barone (Beach House, Tennis), Flaural’s Postponement developed over a trying three years for the experimental rock band.

The video for “1616” follows the early release of the album’s lead single, “The Thinker.” They go on to say, “When you know its backstory, what initially comes across like a catchy freakout takes on more weight; an underlying sadness becomes more prominent, the waves of layered instruments starting to feel like an escape towards the inner recesses of a person’s mind as they try to reckon with what has happened while they grasp at memories dissolving over time.” The upbeat, emotional track ends with a dark, hectic, instrumental frenzy of piercing baritone saxophone squeaks layered over sporadic, aggressive guitar and driving drums.

Ex Hex: It’s Real [Album Review]

Ex Hex It’s Real Merge Records [2019] Who: It’s Real marks the return of Ex Hex. It has been five years since the power trio released their debut Rips. Sound: Ex Hex has a modern Joan Jett vibe with L7 type riffs. TFN Final Take: Right from the beginning of opening track “Tough Enough,” you … Read more

The Beths Announce Summer North American Tour

The Beths have announced a summer North American tour in support of their excellent release Future Me Hates Me, out now via Carpark Records. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 29th at 10am local time. Ahead of their next North American run, The Beths will tour Europe, where many of the dates have already … Read more

Paul Weller: Other Aspects, Live At The Royal Festival Hall [Album Review]

Paul Weller Other Aspects, Live At The Royal Festival Hall Warner Bros. Records [2019] Album Review: At 60, Paul Weller, who started his career leading the seminal punk/mod revival band The Jam and spent a few years in The Style Council, a Britpop group with R&B/soul and jazz leanings, before his long and substantial solo … Read more

Wand – “Walkie Talkie” [Video]

Wand’s upcoming fifth full-length, Laughing Matter, is out April 19th via Drag City Records. The record is said to be an evolution in the life of a band who’ve grown ecstatically since their debut.
For a sample of these new reaches in the Wand-iverse, look no further than “Walkie Talkie”, the new single and latest video from Laughing Matter! Lookin’ like it might’ve beamed in directly from sideways post-punk pastward futures, “Walkie Talkie” shines brightly with the reflective sheen of Wand’s modern flicker. Muted neon colors swallow seething imagery as Lee Landey and Evan Burrows’ emphatic rhythm section slams into Cory Hanson and Robbie Cody’s screaming guitars, whilst Sofia Arrequin’s warped Morse keyboards sew the song together at the edges.

You can pre-order the record HERE and check out the Wand’s extensive tour dates below.

WAND ON TOUR IN THE USA AND EUROPE
03/19 @ Soda Bar in San Diego, CA
04/19 @ Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA
05/02 @ The Independen in San Francisco, CAt
05/03 @ Richard’s Goat in Arcata, CA
05/06 @ Sunset Tavern in Seattle, WA
05/09 @ Mississippi in Portland, OR
05/25 @ Electric Brixton in London, UK
05/27 @ Botanique @ Orangerie in Brussels, BEL
05/28 @ Hafenklang in Hamburg, DE
05/30 @ Privatclub in Berlin, DE
05/31 @ Zakk in Dusseldorf, GER
06/01 @ Vera in Groningen, NL
06/02 @ Petit Bain in Paris, FR
06/03 @ Sonic in Lyon, FR
06/04 @ ISC in Bern, SUI
06/05 @ Le Brise Glace in Annecy, FR
06/06 @ Krakatoa in Bordeaux, FR
060/7 @ Mc Daids in Le Havre, FR
06/08 @ Ekko in Utrecht, NL
06/19 @ Hi Dive in Denver, CO
06/20 @ White Schoolhouse in Lawrence, KS
06/21 @ Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, MN
06/22 @ University of Wisconsin – Madison in Madison, WI
06/23 @ Sleeping Village in Chicago, IL
06/25 @ Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, ON
06/26 @ Ritz in Montreal, QC
06/27 @ Press Room in Portsmouth, NH
06/28 @ Great Scott in Boston, MA
06/29 @ Columbus Theatre in Providence, RI
06/30 @ Solid Sound in North Adams, MA
07/02 @ BSP in Kingston, NY
07/03 @ Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia, PA
07/05 @ Elsewhere Roof in Brooklyn, NY
07/06 @ Songbyrd in Washington, DC
07/07 @ Cat’s Cradle – Back Room in Carrboro, NC
07/09 @ DRKMTTR in Nashville, TN
07/10 @ Earl in Atlanta, GA
07/11 @ Gasa Gasa in New Orleans, LA
07/12 @ Satellite in Houston, TX
07/13 @ Mohawk (inside) in Austin, TX
07/15 @ Love Buzz in El Paso, TX
07/16 @ Sister in Albuquerque, NM
07/17 @ Last Exit in Phoenix, AZ

Stephen Malkmus: Groove Denied [Album Review]

Stephen Malkmus Groove Denied Matador Records [2019] Who: Frontman for Pavement and The Jicks confidently releases another solo project. Sound: With a backbone of synth and beats, Malkmus offers up something different that walks a closer line to Beck but the album still shows flashes of Pavement as well. TFN Final Take: I will tell … Read more

Over The Rhine: Love & Revelation [Album Review]

Over The Rhine Love & Revelation Great Speckled Dog [2019] Fire Note Says: Love & Revelation delivers another fine chapter in the artful catalog of Over the Rhine, a fine songwriting duo on their 15th album. Album Review: As songwriters, Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler have always invited people into their “Earthbound Love Song.” In … Read more