Friday, January 05, 2018

Sights and Sounds: First Aid Kit, The Shins, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Here is some cool music news and links to hear great new tracks over the weekend...

FIRST AID KIT SHARES VIDEO FOR “FIREWORKS”
 
DUO’S FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM RUINS TO BE RELEASED JANUARY 19, AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
 
2018 HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF JANUARY 24; SET TO PERFORM AT COACHELLA LATER THIS YEAR


First Aid Kit has shared the official video for “Fireworks” – watch here. Directed by Mats Udd, the visual takes sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg back to the 80’s where they attend a high school prom that comes to an abrupt and mysterious end. “Fireworks” is the latest track from their forthcoming album, Ruins, and has been praised by The New York Times, Stereogum, SPIN, and more. Paste declares the song is “another gorgeous glimpse of First Aid Kit’s new record.”

First Aid Kit says: "We're thrilled to release the video for ‘Fireworks.’ We've always loved the idea of American high school proms, but never got to experience one in real life. It was incredible to get to recreate one in our hometown of Stockholm with director Mats Udd. Aesthetically it's such a different look from our previous video – it was fun to go full 80's mode. We got to dress up our friends and our mom in full on retro looks. We had a blast shooting this video and found out ‘Fireworks’ is a great song to slow dance to."
 

The Swedish duo will release Ruins, their fourth studio album, on January 19 via Columbia Records. Produced by Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, Laura Veirs), the album was recorded in Portland, OR where the Söderberg sisters collaborated with the accomplished and talented likes of REM’s Peter Buck, Wilco’s Glenn Kotche, and Midlake’s McKenzie Smith. Consequence of Sound named Ruins one of their “most anticipated albums of 2018,” praising the record is “a rawer sound [with] a willingness to expose more of their inner selves than perhaps ever before.” Ruins is available for pre-order now and includes lead single “It’s A Shame” as well as “Postcard” and “Fireworks.” See full track listing below.
 
In celebration of the album’s release, First Aid Kit will embark on a North American headline tour for the first time since 2015. The run of shows kicks off January 24 in Oakland, CA and concludes February 13 in New York, NY. Tickets and more information are available at http://www.firstaidkitband.com/. First Aid Kit is also set to perform at Coachella on Saturday, April 14 and April 21. For more information, visit www.coachella.com.
 
Ruins follows the 2014 release of Stay Gold, a lush and ambitious 10-song collection that beautifully captures the duo's vivid storytelling, landing First Aid Kit countless “Best of 2014” accolades. Earlier this spring, First Aid Kit also released a stand-alone single on International Women’s Day entitled "You Are The Problem Here."  It is an empowered, passionate, and angry song that confronts the rape culture epidemic, with a portion of proceeds donated to Women for Women International.

 
RUINS TRACK LISTING:
  1. Rebel Heart
  2. It's a Shame
  3. Fireworks
  4. Postcard
  5. To Live a Life
  6. My Wild Sweet Love
  7. Distant Star
  8. Ruins
  9. Hem of Her Dress
  10. Nothing Has to Be True
 
FIRST AID KIT ON TOUR: 
01/24   Oakland, CA                Fox Theater* (SOLD OUT)
01/26   Portland, OR               Roseland Theater* (SOLD OUT)
01/27   Vancouver, BC            Vogue Theatre* (SOLD OUT)
01/28   Seattle, WA                 Moore Theatre* (SOLD OUT)
01/30   Minneapolis, MN         Palace Theatre* (SOLD OUT)
02/01   Nashville, TN               Ryman Auditorium*
02/02   Chicago, IL                  Riviera Theatre*
02/03   Detroit, MI                   Saint Andrew’s Hall* (SOLD OUT)
02/05   Toronto, ON                Danforth Music Hall* (SOLD OUT)
02/06   Montreal, QC              MTelus*
02/07   Boston, MA                 House of Blues* (SOLD OUT)
02/09   Washington, DC         Lincoln Theatre* (SOLD OUT)
02/10   Philadelphia, PA         Union Transfer* (SOLD OUT)
02/13   New York, NY             Beacon Theatre*
04/14   Indio, CA                     Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
04/21   Indio, CA                     Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
*Van William is supporting all headline dates



THE SHINS SHARE NEW TRACK “DEAD ALIVE (FLIPPED)”
 
FORTHCOMING ALBUM THE WORM’S HEART OUT JANUARY 19, AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW

The Shins have shared “Dead Alive (Flipped),” a more sober and serious take on the original version and the latest track from their forthcoming album The Worm’s Heart. The complete rework of The Shins’ 2017 acclaimed album Heartworms will be released on Friday, January 19. The Worm’s Heart is available for pre-order now and includes immediate downloads of "Name For You (Flipped)," "Cherry Hearts (Flipped)," and “Dead Alive (Flipped).” See full track listing below.

James Mercer says: “The original version of 'Dead Alive' was right in the wheel house with tracks we had done before. It has the same triplet galloping rhythm as a number of Shins songs. So to 'flip' it we broke it down into more romantic elements like that dark piano and Patti's violin, which I love. That's me in the beginning knocking my beer off the console while mic-ing her! Oops! Listen for Casey's sick fuzzed out solo."

When James Mercer wrote, produced, and recorded Heartworms, he had this desire for an alternate version, an opposite version. The original track order is reversed and songs are reborn, yet the lyrics and melody remain intact. “The Fear” is transformed from tender lament into a growling garage rock cut, “Heartworms” is given a disco makeover with Moroder-style synths, and “Half a Million” is reworked into a reggae and rocksteady-tinged reboot. The reasoning was to showcase the versatility and strength of Mercer’s songwriting, the result is The Worm’s Heart.

 
The Worm’s Heart Tracklisting:

  1. The Fear (Flipped)            
  2. So Now What (Flipped)                 
  3. Heartworms (Flipped)     
  4. Dead Alive (Flipped)        
  5. Half a Million (Flipped)   
  6. Rubber Ballz (Flipped)     
  7. Mildenhall (Flipped)         
  8. Fantasy Island (Flipped)                 
  9. Cherry Hearts (Flipped)                  
  10. Painting a Hole (Flipped)               
  11. Name For You (Flipped)

 The Shins


Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Release New Single "Echo" - PRESS HERE to Listen

Forthcoming album Wrong Creatures out January 12th

North American Tour Begins January 15, 2018

"Black Rebel Motorcycle Club return to their trademark sound - scuzzy bass, slurry, heavily processed vocals and shrieking guitars - on 'Little Thing Gone Wild'" - Rolling Stone
 
"gutsy rock 'n' roll" - NPR

"deeply hypnotic narco-blues." - Entertainment Weekly
 
"A down and dirty garage rock song, ['Little Thing Gone Wild' is] lurking with menacing intent and boasting frontman Peter Hayes' trademark earthy croon." - Clash
 
Today, widely acclaimed California-based band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has released their new single "Echo" - PRESS HERE to listen to the latest offering from the veteran rockers that features a striking, heavy-hitting guitar riff with a tantalizing hook and a booming chorus. "Echo" is now available as an instant download when pre-ordering Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's forthcoming 7th studio album Wrong Creatures, out next Friday, January 12 - PRESS HERE to pre-order the album, produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Arcade Fire). The band also recently released the video for single "Little Thing Gone Wild" - PRESS HERE to watch.
 
Recorded in Los Angeles, Wrong Creatures takes a journey throughout rock's history, taking unlikely twists and turns, both peppered with historic influences but also having one foot firmly in the present. Remarkably, drummer Leah Shapiro was recovering from a brain tumor she suffered a few years ago while the album was created. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has been crafting perfectly honed, bluesy, psychedelic garage-rock since 1998. Ultimately, the band are survivors during an era where rock'n'roll can often be overshadowed by garish pop and domineering hip-hop - they have learned how to cut out all the noise and concentrate on what matters. 
 
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has also announced a North American tour which will kick off on January 15th and bring the band to major cities across the country including Los Angeles,Washington DC, Boston, Brooklyn, and more - full tour routing is below and tickets are on sale now (PRESS HERE to purchase.) The band has partnered with Plus 1 for the tour in which $1 from each ticket will be donated to War Child, a worldwide organization that supports programs aiding women & children dislocated and impacted by war, political unrest, terrorism and poverty.
 
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are Peter Hayes (vocal, guitar, harmonica), Robert Levon Been(vocal, bass, guitar), and Leah Shapiro (vocal, drums).
 
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB 2018 TOUR
January 15       San Diego, CA @ House of Blues 
January 16       Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren                         
January 18       Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
January 19       Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater
January 20       Houston, TX @ House of Blues
January 21       New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues                                             
January 23       Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
January 24       Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live                                      
January 26       Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
January 27       Charlotte, NC @ The Underground                                            
January 29       Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
January 30       Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
January 31       Boston, MA @ Royale                      
February 2       Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel    
February 5       Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
February 6       Toronto, ON @ Rebel
February 7       Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
February 9       Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
February 10     Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
February 11     Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
February 12     St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
February 13      Kansas City, MO @ The Truman   
February 15      Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
February 16      Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall      
February 18       Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
February 19       Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
February 20       Seattle, WA @ The Show Box    
February 22       Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
February 23       Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
February 24       Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
 
FOLLOW BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB

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