Josh Rouse: Love In The Modern Age [Album Review]

Josh Rouse Love In The Modern Age Yep Roc Records [2018] Who: Singer/songwriter with strong influences. Sound: Folk-pop that is inspired by 80’s songwriters. TFN Final Take: Josh Rouse’s twelfth album, Love In The Modern Age, is an interesting listen. Rouse has always excelled in his storytelling and he succeeds this time around, in particular … Read more

The Beths – “Happy Unhappy” [Video]

The Beths have shared a video for their single, “Happy Unhappy,” from Future Me Hates Me, their debut album coming out August 10th on Carpark Records. The video is directed by Callum Devlin.

All four members of The Beths studied jazz at university, resulting in a toolkit of deft instrumental chops and tricked-out arrangements that operate on a level rarely found in guitar-pop. The Beths’ guitarist and studio guru Jonathan Pearce (whose other acts as producer include recent Captured Tracks’ signing Wax Chattels) brings it all home with an approach that’s equal parts seasoned perfectionist and D.I.Y.

The Beths recently toured Europe and will begin a U.S. run next week at Alphaville in Brooklyn, NY. These early shows in support of Future Me Hates Me mark their first time ever playing outside of New Zealand and Australia. A full list of dates is below.

The Beths Tour Dates:
June 11th – Brooklyn, NY – Alphaville *
June 13th – Philadelphia, PA – Ortlieb’s
June 14th – Washington, DC – Loves Me Not
June 16th – Chicago, IL – Charm School
June 20th – San Francisco, CA – The Battery
June 22nd – Los Angeles, CA – Make Out Music

* w/ Peach Kelli Pop

Snail Mail – “Heat Wave” [Video]

Here is the single and accompanying video for “Heat Wave,” from Snail Mail. The track is taken from her debut album Lush, which is out June 8th on Matador Records. Snail Mail is 18-year-old songwriter and guitar virtuoso Lindsey Jordan which you will see and hear on “Heat Wave.”

The video, directed by Brandon Herman, showcases Jordan’s ice hockey skills, a throwback to her days on the high-school team. “I hadn’t actually been on skates since I quit the high school team junior year, so immediately jumping into shooting this was equal parts difficult and super fun,” Jordan says.

Snow Patrol: Wildness [Album Review]

Snow Patrol Wildness Republic Records [2018] Fire Note Says: No. Irish/Scottish band, Snow Patrol return after 6 years with their most accessible, pop-friendly album yet. Album Review: When a band puts out a “best of” album it is often the sign of a big change, either they are breaking up, or looking for a quick … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Deaf Poets – “Cigarette”

Brooklyn-via-Miami Beach based duo Deaf Poets have a new EP, Change & Bloom, out on June 15th via WaxRomantix Records. The song featured today off that EP is “Cigarette” and it shows the Deaf Poets wall of sound type rock n roll. “Cigarette” has a good mix of Jesus & Mary Chain, Black Rebel Motorcycle … Read more

Neko Case: Hell-On [Album Review]

Neko Case Hell-On ANTI- Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Indie rock icon, chanteuse and auteur, Neko Case returns after 5 years with a strong self-produced collection of songs, her best yet. Album Review: It’s been five years since Neko Case’s last album, but it’s not as if she’s been silent since the release of The … Read more

Michael Rault: It’s A New Day Tonight [Album Review]

Michael Rault It’s A New Day Tonight Wick Records [2018] TFN Final Take: It’s A New Day Tonight is the follow up to Michael Rault’s garage rock debut, Living Daylight, which was released on Burger Records in 2015. The release was actually a combination of two EPs that he previous released in 2014, so It’s … Read more

Dick Stusso – “In Heaven” [Video]

Dick Stusso, the Bay Area’s own “failure-prone fantasist in a cowboy hat” (East Bay Express), hits the road again next week for a run of dates with Sub Pop’s Jo Passed, preceded by a solo acoustic set opening for Angel Olsen at the Masonic Temple in Asheville, North Carolina. You can see his dates below.

Here is Stusso’s new music video for “In Heaven,” the title track from his recent Hardly Art debut. Filmed on 16mm, the video from director Sarah Strunin takes its inspiration from vintage Leonard Cohen and Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood clips.

TOUR DATES:
06.05.18 – Asheville, NC – Masonic Temple *
06.06.18 – Washington, DC – DC9 ^
06.07.18 – Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle ^
06.08.18 – Brooklyn, NY – Park Church Co-Op ^
06.09.18 – Allston, MA – Great Scott ^
06.10.18 – Providence, RI – Fete Music Hall ^
06.11.18 – Montreal, QC – Bar le Ritz ^
06.12.18 – Ottowa, CA – Makerspace North ^
06.13.18 – Detroit, MI – Marble Bar ^
06.14.18 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups ^
06.16.18 – Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village ^
08.10.18 – 08.12.18 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Festival

* – w/ Angel Olsen
^ – w/ Jo Passed

Wax Chattels: Wax Chattels [Album Review]

Wax Chattels Wax Chattels Captured Tracks/Flying Nun Records [2018] TFN Final Take: A “guitarless guitar band,” almost doesn’t sound like a real thing but that is what the New Zealand noise-rock band Wax Chattels have labeled themselves. A drum kit, bass and keyboard drive the noise here while the vocals of Peter Ruddell and Amanda … Read more

U2: eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour [Concert Review]

U2: “eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour”; United Center; Chicago, IL – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 Much like our political affiliations in these profoundly partisan days, we often wear our musical preferences as a flag about our own preferences and values. When I wear my tour t-shirts, whether it’s Wilco, Steve Earle, or Lollapalooza ’92, it’s often … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Oh Sees – “Overthrown”

The always changing John Dwyer and his Oh Sees consistently give TFN something to look forward to! The Friday Fire Track today does just that as it features the new super hard prog-metal single, “Overthrown,” from Oh Sees. The song is from the upcoming full length Smote Reverser which is due out in August via … Read more

Courtney Barnett: Tell Me How You Really Feel [Album Review]

Courtney Barnett Tell Me How You Really Feel Milk!/Mom + Pop Music [2018] TFN Final Take: After Courtney Barnett’s breakout 2015 record Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit and last year’s duet record with Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice, it was really a toss-up on how Tell Me How You Really … Read more

Wire: Pink Flag/Chairs Missing/154 (Special Edition Reissues) [Album Review]

Wire Pink Flag (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] Chairs Missing (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] 154 (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] Fire Note Says: Influential British punk band Wire is re-issuing their three earliest albums, including special editions that unearth b-sides, demos, rarities and previously unreleased recordings. Album Review: I think it was Brian Eno … Read more

Arctic Monkeys: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino [Album Review]

Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Domino Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Arctic Monkeys have flipped the switch. Album Review: When its been five years since your last (and biggest) record to date, fans will expect even greater things from you upon your return. That is exactly the feeling most had when it was … Read more

Stonefield – “Far From Earth” [Video]

Far From Earth is the third record from Australia’s Stonefield. The four Findlay sisters have been officially releasing since 2010, but have a catalogue they have been building way before that. For over a decade, the band has continued to grow as this video for the title track will show! You can find the new album via Flightless Records HERE.

Remember Sports: Slow Buzz [Album Review]

Remember Sports Slow Buzz Father/Daughter Records [2018] Who: Remember Sports is the new name for the band SPORTS. Slow Buzz is the group’s third LP and finds Carmen Perry (vocals, guitar), Jack Washburn (guitar), and Catherine Dwyer (bass) now relocated from Gambier, OH to Philadelphia, PA, while also adding a new drummer in Connor Perry. … Read more

Michael Rault – “I’ll Be There” [Video]

Michael Rault’s Wick Records debut – It’s a New Day Tonight – was just released May 18th. This is a track off the record and Michael will kick off his North American tour on May 22nd. See below for dates.

MICHAEL RAULT TOUR DATES
May 22 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
May 23 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
May 24 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
May 25 – Nashville, TN – The Basement
May 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
May 28 – Raleigh, NC – Neptune’s
May 29 – Washington, DC – DC9
May 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
May 31 – Brooklyn, NY – Our Wicked Lady
Jun 1 – Boston, MA – Once Ballroom
Jun 2 – Montreal, QC – Bar ‘Le Ritz’
Jun 14 – Detroit, MI – Marble, Bar
Jun 15 – Milwaukee, WI – The Cooperage
Jun 16 – Sioux Falls, ND – Total Drag
Jun 17 – Fargo, ND – Aquarium
Jun 19 – Edmonton, AB – The Rec Room
Jun 20 – Calgary, AB – Sled Island
Jun 23 – Vancouver, BC – Fox Cabaret
Jun 24 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
Jun 25 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Jun 27 – Arcata, CA – Miniplex
Jun 28 – San Francisco, CA – Brick & Mortar
Jun 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg
Jul 1 – Las Vegas, NV – Bunkhouse
Jul 2 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Jul 3 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
Jul 5 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Jul 22 – Field, ON – River & Sky Fest

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks: Sparkle Hard [Album Review]

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Sparkle Hard Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Stephen Malkmus’ 7th album with The Jicks continues to explore diverse musical approaches from his own post-punk point of view, with the aid of producer Chris Funk, of the Decemberists. Album Review: If you include the 5 albums Stephen Malkmus made as … Read more

Poster Children – “Grand Bargain!” [Video]

Poster Children returned earlier this year with the politically charged track “Grand Bargain!”, announcing a new album to come in spring. The album, of the same name, is available now via Lotuspool Records. The band has now shared the new music video for “Grand Bargain!”. In the video, the bandmate’s children dressed as Jared Kushner and Donald Trump and play out many of the President’s heavily publicized moments, which include lots of tweeting, eating fast food, and the infamous “Trump Drinks Water” moment during a speech on national security. Got to love the Poster Children!

The band also has announced a short summer tour with the dates below.

TOUR:
June 29 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall (Tickets)
July 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade (Tickets)
July 19 – Boston, MA – O’Brien’s Pub (Tickets)
July 20 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie (Tickets)
July 21 – Washington, DC – DC9 (Tickets)

The Friday Fire Track: The Rock’n’Roll HiFives -“Hold On”

There is nothing better than some good old fashioned attitude rock for your Friday. Today’s Friday Fire Track is just that as New Jersey’s RocknRoll Hi-Fives bring a snarl with their single “Hold On.” The band might surprise you as they are made up of sixteen-year-old singer Eilee Centeno, her thirteen-year old brother on drums, … Read more

Parquet Courts: Wide Awake! [Album Review]

Parquet Courts Wide Awake! Rough Trade Records [2018] Who: Indie rock icons, Parquet Courts shift gears and deliver a fresh and vital album. Sound: Parquet Courts join forces with producer Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse and come dangerously close to recording their best album. TFN Final Take: When I heard that Parquet Courts were teaming … Read more