Fenne Lily - "Hollywood and Fear"

Photo by Michael Tyrone Delaney

Back in April Fenne Lily released the excellent album Big Picture. This week she announced an expanded edition of the album with five additional tracks. The first we can hear is "Hollywood and Fear." This new song would have fit in perfectly with the ten songs already on the album. Lily just has this unique and compelling version of alt-folk meets mainstream folk-pop. A song like "Hollywood and Fear" is just so close to being on the mainstream side of things, but Lily just has her own unique spin on the genre and keeps it all her own. It's also what makes you need to listen when one of her songs are on, and why you don't want to stop listening.

You can listen to "Hollywood and Fear" below. Big Picture (Expanded Edition) is due out November 10 on Dead Oceans, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Fenne Lily, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram.

Slowdive - "alife"

Photo by Ingrid Pop

Shoegaze can be beautiful at times, and the latest from Slowdive might be the most beautiful shoegaze song we've ever heard. "alife" is an ethereal masterpiece. It's a lush sonic delight that envelopes the listener in this warm glow as it passes over you. Slowdive are one of the most gushed about bands in the shoegaze scene, and for good reason. Most bands that have been around since the late 1980's (even if they did take 1996 to 2013 off) aren't making music anywhere near this vital. Over thirty years in, and the UK legends are making the best music of their career.

Neil Halstead says of the new song:

“‘alife’ is one of the first tunes we finished for the record. Shawn Everett did a really nice job with the mix. We tried so many times to figure out a good mix by ourselves and couldn’t do it . . . it sort of had us beaten until Shawn stepped in. We decided if he could handle that one he could probably do the whole record. Our friend Jake Nelson did a really nice animation for this song; it takes some of the imagery from the artwork and digs a little deeper into that."

You can watch the video for "alife" below. everything is alive will be out September 1 on Dead Oceans, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Slowdive, check out the artist's website. Dates for their upcoming mostly sold out tour are below the video.

Sat. Sep. 23 - Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre [SOLD OUT]

Mon. Sep. 25 - Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston [SOLD OUT]

Wed. Sep. 27 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT]

Thu. Sep. 28 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT]

Fri. Sep. 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer [SOLD OUT]

Sat. Sep. 30 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club [SOLD OUT]

Mon. Oct. 2 - Cleveland, OH @ The Roxy @ Mahall’s [SOLD OUT]

Tue. Oct. 3 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre [SOLD OUT]

Wed. Oct. 4 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre

Fri. Oct. 6 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom [SOLD OUT]

Sat. Oct. 7 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union

Mon. Oct. 9 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom [SOLD OUT]

Tue. Oct. 10 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo [SOLD OUT]

Thu. Oct. 12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield [SOLD OUT]

Sat. Oct. 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT]

Sun. Oct. 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT]

Mon. Oct. 16 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

Mon. Oct. 30 - Glasgow, UK @ QMU [SOLD OUT]

Tue. Oct. 31 - Manchester, UK @ Ritz [SOLD OUT]

Wed. Nov. 1 - Bristol, UK @ SWX [SOLD OUT]

Fri. Nov. 3 - London, UK @ Troxy [SOLD OUT]

Sun. Nov. 5 - Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall

Mon. Nov. 6 - Dublin, IR @ National Stadium

Sat. Nov. 25 - Sun. Nov. 26 - Buenos Aires, AR @ Primavera Sound

Mon. Dec. 4 - Santiago, CL @ Teatro Coliseo

Thu. Dec. 7 - Asunción, PY @ Primavera Sound

Sat. Dec. 9 - Sun. Dec. 10 - Bogotá, CO @ Primavera Sound

Tue. Jan. 16, 2024 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso

Wed. Jan. 17, 2024 - Paris, FR @ La Cigale

Thu. Jan. 18, 2024 - Cologne, DE @ Live Music Hall

Sat. Jan. 20, 2024 - Hamburg, DE @ Grosse Freiheit 36

Sun. Jan. 21, 2024 - Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA

Mon. Jan. 22, 2024 - Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene

Tue. Jan. 23, 2024 - Stockholm, SE @ Munchenbryggeriet

Thu. Jan. 25, 2024 - Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle

Sat. Jan. 27, 2024 - Warsaw, PL @ Progresja

Sun. Jan. 28, 2024 - Prague, CZ @ Divaldo Archa

Mon. Jan. 29, 2024 - Munich, DE @ Muffathalle

Fri. Feb. 16, 2024 - Brighton, UK @ Brighton Dome

Sat. Feb. 17, 2024 - London, UK @ Eventim Apollo

Sun. Feb. 18, 2024 - Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute Birmingham

Mon. Feb. 19, 2024  - Norwich, UK @ LCR UEA

Wed. Feb. 21, 2024 - Liverpool, UK @ O2 Academy Liverpool

Thu. Feb. 22, 2024 - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK @ NX

Fri. Feb. 23, 2024 - Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom

Sat. Feb. 24, 2024 - Edinburgh, UK @ Liquid Rooms

Mon. Feb. 26, 2024 - Cardiff, UK @ Cardiff University Great Hall

Tue. Feb. 27, 2024 - Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy

Slowdive - "the slab"

Photo by Ingrid Pop

Shoegaze heroes Slowdive continue to prove why they're worthy of their legendary status by releasing amazing new songs. They're latest, "the slab," is both pure, classic shoegaze while adding a new element to their longstanding sound. "the slab" opens with an extended instrumental portion that sounds almost like if The Cure decided to give shoegaze a try. It's more cinematic than we're used to from the British band, but it's a version of them that's quite welcome. Not many bands that formed in 1989 sound like both a classic version of themselves as well as a progressive version, but most bands aren't Slowdive.

Vocalist/guitarist Neil Halstead says of the new single:

“This is the heaviest track on the record and as the name suggests we wanted it to feel like a big slab of music. We wanted it to feel very dense.”

You can watch the video for "the slab" below. everything is alive is due out September 1 on Dead Oceans, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Slowdive, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

Fri. Aug. 11 - Sicily, IT @ Ypsigrock Festival
Fri. Aug. 18 - Brecon Beacon, GB @ Green Man Festival
Sat. Sep. 23 - Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Sep. 25 - Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Sep. 27 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT]
Thu. Sep. 28 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT]
Fri. Sep. 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer [SOLD OUT]
Sat. Sep. 30 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Oct. 2 - Cleveland, OH @ The Roxy @ Mahall’s [SOLD OUT]
Tue. Oct. 3 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Oct. 4 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Fri. Oct. 6 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom [SOLD OUT]
Sat. Oct. 7 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union
Mon. Oct. 9 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom [SOLD OUT]
Tue. Oct. 10 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo [SOLD OUT]
Thu. Oct. 12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield [SOLD OUT]
Sat. Oct. 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT]
Sun. Oct. 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Oct. 16 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Mon. Oct. 30 - Glasgow, UK @ QMU [SOLD OUT]
Tue. Oct. 31 - Manchester, UK @ Ritz [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Nov. 1 - Bristol, UK @ SWX [SOLD OUT]
Fri. Nov. 3 - London, UK @ Troxy [SOLD OUT]
Sun. Nov. 5 - Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall
Mon. Nov. 6 - Dublin, IR @ National Stadium
Sat. Nov. 25 - Sun. Nov. 26 - Buenos Aires, AR @ Primavera Sound
Mon. Dec. 4 - Santiago, CL @ Teatro Coliseo
Thu. Dec. 7 - Asunción, PY @ Primavera Sound
Sat. Dec. 9 - Sun. Dec. 10 - Bogotá, CO @ Primavera Sound

Slowdive - "skin in the game"

Photo by Ingrid Pop

Shoegaze legends Slowdive continue to prove that they are masters of the genre decades into their career. The British band's latest single, "skin in the game," is a gorgeous, almost painfully slow track that builds so slowly you'll barely even notice. It's almost orchestral in its complex layers of noise. It might just be the oppressive humidity here in New England, but you can almost feel the song flow by you in waves. I tend to enjoy the louder side of shoegaze more than the more quiet side, but when the quieter side is done this masterfully, it's impossible to resist. Most bands tend to slow down thirty plus years into their career, but not all do it as perfectly as Slowdive.

You can watch the video for "skin in the game" below. everything is alive is due out September 1 on Dead Oceans, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Slowdive, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

Wed. July 19 - Brisbane, AU @ Princess Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Fri. July 21 - Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Sat. July 22 - Melbourne, AU @ Forum [SOLD OUT]
Sun. July 23 - Adelaide, AU @ Hindley St. Music Hall
Wed. July 26 - Auckland, NZ @ Powerstation [SOLD OUT]
Sat. July 29 - Niigata Prefecture, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
Sat. Aug. 5 - Mysłowice, PL @ Off Festival
Fri. Aug. 11 - Sicily, IT @ Ypsigrock Festival
Fri. Aug. 18 - Brecon Beacon, GB @ Green Man Festival
Sat. Sep. 23 - Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Sep. 25 - Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Sep. 27 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT]
Thu. Sep. 28 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT]
Fri. Sep. 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer [SOLD OUT]
Sat. Sep. 30 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Oct. 2 - Cleveland, OH @ The Roxy @ Mahall’s [SOLD OUT]
Tue. Oct. 3 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Oct. 4 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Fri. Oct. 6 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom [SOLD OUT]
Sat. Oct. 7 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union
Mon. Oct. 9 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom [SOLD OUT]
Tue. Oct. 10 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo [SOLD OUT]
Thu. Oct. 12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield [SOLD OUT]
Sat. Oct. 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT]
Sun. Oct. 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Oct. 16 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Mon. Oct. 30 - Glasgow, UK @ QMU [SOLD OUT]
Tue. Oct. 31 - Manchester, UK @ Ritz [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Nov. 1 - Bristol, UK @ SWX [SOLD OUT]
Fri. Nov. 3 - London, UK @ Troxy [SOLD OUT]
Sun. Nov. 5 - Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall
Mon. Nov. 6 - Dublin, IR @ National Stadium
Sat. Nov. 25 - Sun. Nov. 26 - Buenos Aires, AR @ Primavera Sound
Mon. Dec. 4 - Santiago, CL @ Teatro Coliseo
Thu. Dec. 7 - Asunción, PY @ Primavera Sound
Sat. Dec. 9 - Sun. Dec. 10 - Bogotá, CO @ Primavera Sound

Slowdive - "kisses"

Photo by Parri Thomas

Slowdive have still got it. The British shoegaze legends reformed in 2014, and are now set to release their fifth album. The first single from that album, "kisses," just sounds like pure vintage 90's shoegaze. It's gorgeous and just oozing with fuzz. The song does have a bit of a pop center to it, so nowadays we would most likely refer to "kisses" as dream pop, but the two genres have a ton of crossover between them. Slowdive have crafted a wonderfully hypnotic song that stands alongside the best of their early 90's heyday, and we couldn't be happier for it.

Vocalist/guitarist Neil Halstead says of the new single:

“It wouldn’t feel right to make a really dark record right now. The album is quite eclectic emotionally, but it does feel hopeful.”

You can watch the video for "kisses" below. everything is alive is due out September 1 on Dead Oceans, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Slowdive, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

Sat. June 24 - Exeter, UK @ Phoenix [SOLD OUT]
Sun. June 25 - Somerset, UK @  Glastonbury Festival
Mon. July 17 - Perth, AU @ Astor Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Wed. July 19 - Brisbane, AU @ Princess Theatre
Fri. July 21 - Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theatre
Sat. July 22 - Melbourne, AU @ Forum
Sun. July 23 - Adelaide, AU @ Hindley St. Music Hall
Wed. July 26 - Auckland, NZ @ Powerstation [SOLD OUT]
Sat. July 29 - Niigata Prefecture, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
Sat. Aug. 5 - Mysłowice, PL @ Off Festival
Fri. Aug. 11 - Sicily, IT @ Ypsigrock Festival
Fri. Aug. 18 - Brecon Beacon, GB @ Green Man Festival
Sat. Sep. 23 - Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Mon. Sep. 25 - Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston
Wed. Sep. 27 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Thu. Sep. 28 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Fri. Sep. 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Sat. Sep. 30 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Mon. Oct. 2 - Cleveland, OH @ The Roxy @ Mahall’s
Tue. Oct. 3 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Wed. Oct. 4 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Fri. Oct. 6 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
Sat. Oct. 7 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union
Mon. Oct. 9 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Tue. Oct. 10 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
Thu. Oct. 12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Sat. Oct. 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
Mon. Oct. 30 - Glasgow, UK @ QMU
Tue. Oct. 31 - Manchester, UK @ Ritz
Wed. Nov. 1 - Bristol, UK @ SWX
Fri. Nov. 3 - London, UK @ Troxy
Sun. Nov. 5 - Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall
Mon. Nov. 6 - Dublin, IE @ National Stadium

Wednesday - "TV in the Gas Pump"

Photo by Zachary Chick

Wednesday have been releasing absolutely epic songs lately, but their latest is a two and a half minute sprint of a song. "TV in the Gas Pump" is an enigma of a song. It's a mid-tempo indie rock song that is almost twee in nature, except for the fact that there are bursts of indie rock noise throughout virtually the entire song. It has this element of being a sweet and pretty song while being absolutely jarring at times that make it a must listen. On one side "TV in the Gas Pump" is that kind of Americana laced indie rock that is all the rage these days, and on the other it's a swirling mess of noise. But... that's the kind of thing we love about Wednesday.

Karly Hartzman says of the new song:

“This is the first song I’ve written about being on the road, and I really just wanted to collect all that imagery you ingest on tour. A few images that made it in the song include: the never ending gas station stops that blend together and the dystopian gas pump advertisements, a stressful experience in a Panera bread and a story of coming up from taking what you thought was a microdose of shrooms in a Dollar General."

You can watch the video for "TV in the Gas Pump" below. Rat Saw God is due out April 7 on Dead Oceans, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Wednesday, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

3/31 - Athens, OH @ Ohio University (Lobster Fest)

4/1 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club ^

4/26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West *

4/27 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn *

4/28 - New Orleans, LA - Gasa Gasa *

4/30 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada *

5/1 - Austin, TX - Mohawk *

5/3 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister *

5/4 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress *

5/5 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom !

5/6 - San Francisco, CA - Independent *

5/8 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios *

5/9 - Vancouver, BC - Fox Cabaret *

5/10 - Seattle, WA - Neumos *

5/11 - Spokane, WA - Lucky You Lounge *

5/12-14 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Block Party

5/13 - Boise, ID - The Shredder *~

5/15 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *

5/17 - Kansas City, MO - recordBar *

5/18 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway *

5/19 - Little Rock, AR - Stickyz Rock N Roll Chicken Shack *

5/20 - Memphis, TN - Growlers *

5/21 - Nashville, TN - Basement East *

5/27 - Berlin, DE - Schokoladen

5/28 - Groningen, NL - Vera

5/29 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Upstairs

5/31 - Brussels, BE - Botanique

6/1 - Paris, FR - L’International

6/3 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound

6/5 - Manchester, UK - YES Basement

6/6 - London, UK - The Lexington

6/7 - Bristol, UK - Rough Trade

6/9 - Porto, PT - Primavera Sound

6/10 - Madrid, ES - Primavera Sound

6/11 - Madrid, ES - Primavera in the City

6/15 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre #

6/16 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle #

6/17 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer @#

6/18 - Washington, DC - Black Cat #

6/20 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg #

6/21 - Cambridge, MA - Sinclair #

6/22 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz #

6/23 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern #

6/24 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme %

6/26 - Chicago, IL - Metro #$

6/27 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club #

6/28 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club #

6/30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups #

7/1 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel #

^ w/ Drive-by Truckers

* w/ Cryogeyser

! w/ Toner

# w/ Tenci

% w/ Advance Base

@ w/ All Dogs

~ w/ Mannequin Pussy

$ w/ Squirrel Flower

Fenne Lily - "In My Own Time"

Photo by Michael Tyrone Delaney

"In My Own Time," the latest from Fenne Lily, is an achingly beautiful and delicate song that borders on folk. Something about "In My Own Time" sounds completely traditional and classic, but it also sounds completely modern at the same time. It sounds like a mix of traditional folk and Irish music, but also not traditional at all. I think the traditional feel comes from Lily's vocals, which ooze a classic sound, while the instrumentation aligns more with modern neo-folk and indie rock. This is a gorgeous song that is completely captivating in its simplicity.

Fenne Lily says of her new single and video:

"This song’s about the weight of stasis — about time moving too quickly and too slowly and every mistake feeling both permanent and inconsequential. When it came to writing this video concept, I wanted it to reflect the twisted aspects of a love that’s found in the midst of chaos and the subsequent feeling of being inanimate in your own story. All that, in the style of Terminator 2.”

You can watch the video for "In My Own Time" below. Big Picture is due out April 14 on Dead Oceans. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Fenne Lily, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates can be found below the video.

Sat. Apr. 15 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ^
Sun. Apr. 16 - Dublin, IE @ Workman’s Club ^
Tue. Apr. 18 - Glasgow, UK @ St Luke’s ^
Wed. Apr. 19 - Manchester, UK @ YES ^
Thu. Apr. 20 - London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall ^
Fri. Apr. 21 - Bristol, UK @ Trinity ^
Sun. Apr. 23 - Brighton, UK @ Patterns ^
Mon. Apr. 24 - Brussels, BE @ AB Club ^
Tue. Apr. 25 - Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet ^
Thu. Apr. 27 - Hamburg, DE @ Nochtspeicher ^
Fri. Apr. 28 - Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA Ideal Bar ^
Sat. Apr. 29 - Berlin, DE @ Frannz ^
Mon. May 1 - Munich, DE @ Ampere ^
Tue. May 2 - Cologne, DE @ Stadtgarten ^
Wed. May 3 - Paris, FR @ FMR ^
Thu. May 11 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room *
Fri. May 12 - Felton, CA @ Felton Music Hall *
Sat. May 13 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
Mon. May 15 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
Tue. May 16 - Portland, Oregon @ Aladdin Theater *
Wed. May 17 - Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre *
Fri. May 19 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
Sat. May 20 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *
Mon. May 22 - Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck *
Tue. May 23 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line *
Wed. May 24- Milwaukee, WI @ Back Room at Colectivo Coffee *
Thu. May 25 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
Fri. May 26 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe *
Sat. May 27 - Toronto, ON @ The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern *
Tue. May 30 - Portsmouth, NH @ 3S Artspace *
Wed. May 31 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair *
Fri. Jun. 2 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
Sat. Jun. 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
Sun. Jun. 4 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
Mon. Jun. 5 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall *
Tue. Jun. 6 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *
Wed. Jun. 7 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East *
Fri. Jun. 9 - Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge *
Sat. Jun. 10 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips *
Sun. Jun. 11 - Austin, TX @ The Parish *
Tue. Jun. 13 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *
Thu. Jun. 15 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge *
Fri. Jun. 16 - West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour *
 
* = co-headline with Christian Lee Hutson
^ w/ Naima Bock

Wednesday - "Bath County"

Photo by Zachary Chick

Wednesday are quickly becoming a favorite here, and their latest single shows exactly why. "Bath County" is a glorious indie rock song in its most perfect form. It's a perfect loud/quiet/loud song filled with some of the best fuzzed out guitars this century. It's just oozing with mid-90's alt-rock joy, and Karly Hartzman's vocals have this fabulous 90's slacker with some alt-country twang peeking through. They even solidify their Drive-By Truckers connection on "Bath County" with the line "On the way home play Drive-By Truckers songs real loud." Wednesday are the type of band I'm starting to wonder if they truly exist or if my brain just made them up since they hit so many of my personal musical sweet spots.

You can watch the video for "Bath County" below. Rat Saw God is due out April 7 on Dead Oceans and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Wednesday, check out the band's website.

Wednesday - "Chosen to Deserve"

Photo by Zachary Chick

If you have yet to jump on the Wednesday bandwagon, "Chosen to Deserve" is the perfect spot to join the rest of us. This new single is a brilliant mixture of modern indie rock, mid 90's alt rock, and alt-country. Somehow the guitars are both jangly and twangy. It's this completely unique mid-tempo power ballad that does the loud/quiet/loud thing just enough to qualify. "Chosen to Deserve" is going to aggravate people who like music in boxes, since Wednesday keep the song firmly rooted in the worlds of both indie rock and country. I thought they were an odd choice (but an absolutely perfect one!) to open for Drive-By Truckers, but after hearing this song it makes perfect sense.

You can watch the video for "Chosen to Deserve" below. Rat Saw God is due out April 7 on Dead Oceans. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Wednesday, check out the band's website.

Fenne Lily - "Lights Light Up"

Photo by Michael Tyrone Delaney

Fenne Lily has relocated from the UK to New York, and her upcoming album was written over the course of a relationship. The first single off that album, "Lights Light Up," was written during the better part of a relationship but recorded after the relationship ended. It gives the song this odd melancholy that you normally don't get in a love song. Fenne Lily has created a song that is a lovely and insightful singer/songwriter track. It's mostly straightforward and mainstream, but Lily gives it this unique quality with these quiet and kinda sorta twangy guitar licks over her intimately sung vocals. We've been fans of hers for a while, but something feels special about this particular release.

Fenne Lily says of her new single:

“I’d never really written about love in the present tense before this, but even though I was still in love and not thinking about the end, there was something else going on subconsciously that led to a song about moving on before the moving on had begun. When it came time to record, the band and I had been playing it live for a while and it’d become something joyful and positive, but when I started recording vocals, the lyrics made me cry. By that point the song was over a year old and I thought those wounds had healed but I guess it hurt to admit I’d been letting go of something while still trying to hold on." 

You can watch the video for "Lights Light Up" below. Big Picture is due out April 14 on Dead Oceans. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Fenne Lily, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

Sat. Apr. 15 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Sun. Apr. 16 - Dublin, IE @ Workman’s Club
Tue. Apr. 18 - Glasgow, UK @ St Luke’s
Wed. Apr. 19 - Manchester, UK @ YES
Thu. Apr. 20 - London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall
Fri. Apr. 21 - Bristol, UK @ Trinity
Sun. Apr. 23 - Brighton, UK @ Patterns
Mon. Apr. 24 - Brussels, BE @ AB Club
Tue. Apr. 25 - Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet
Thu. Apr. 27 - Hamburg, DE @ Nochtspeicher
Fri. Apr. 28 - Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA Ideal Bar
Sat. Apr. 29 - Berlin, DE @ Frannz
Mon. May 1 - Munich, DE @ Ampere
Tue. May 2 - Cologne, DE @ Stadtgarten
Wed. May 3 - Paris, FR @ FMR
Thu. May 11 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room *
Fri. May 12 - Felton, CA @ Felton Music Hall *
Sat. May 13 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
Mon. May 15 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
Tue. May 16 - Portland, Oregon @ Aladdin Theater *
Wed. May 17 - Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre *
Fri. May 19 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
Sat. May 20 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *
Mon. May 22 - Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck *
Tue. May 23 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line *
Wed. May 24- Milwaukee, WI @ Back Room at Colectivo Coffee *
Thu. May 25 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
Fri. May 26 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe *
Sat. May 27 - Toronto, ON @ The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern *
Tue. May 30 - Portsmouth, NH @ 3S Artspace *
Wed. May 31 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair *
Fri. Jun. 2 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
Sat. Jun. 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
Sun. Jun. 4 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
Mon. Jun. 5 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall *
Tue. Jun. 6 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *
Wed. Jun. 7 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East *
Fri. Jun. 9 - Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge *
Sat. Jun. 10 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips *
Sun. Jun. 11 - Austin, TX @ The Parish *
Tue. Jun. 13 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *
Thu. Jun. 15 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge *
Fri. Jun. 16 - West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour *
 
* = co-headline with Christian Lee Hutson