We’ve been bustling hard at the Airport Store in preparation for the 10-year anniversary of Sub Pop’s sister label, Hardly Art. To commemorate this special occasion, which coincides with National Poetry Month, I’ve decided some light verse is called for…
- Descriptions of Joe Casey: “Protomartyr are awesome, but they look like three scared teens who started a band with their alcoholic uncle.” “He’s like an inverse Bono.”
- Strangely revealing synth pop for your magical journey into the darkness.
It has been and continues to be a true honor representing all the local weirdos, punx, queers, poets, and female artists of Hardly Art at our store. We’re looking forward to what’s coming next*! The future is already someone’s dream.:)
XO
Olivia Saint
Assistant Store Manager
*Speaking of what’s coming next… how ‘bout not one but TWO celebratory birthday shows, this coming May 18th and 19th at Seattle’s Chop Suey?! Details are here.
Late last night, Father John Misty delivered a stellar performance of “Ballad of the Dying Man” from Pure Comedy (out this week on Friday, April 7th) on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
And now, BEHOLD: Father John Misty has scheduled (a veritable fuck ton of) 2017 international headlining tour dates this fall in support of Pure Comedy (which, BTW isout this Friday on Sub Pop and Bella Union). The new round of dates span September 13th in Boston at Blue Hills Pavilion through November 20th in Lisbon, Portugal at Coliseu dos Recreios. Early pre-sales for these new shows begin April 10th at 10am (local time), with tickets on sale to general public on Wednesday April 12th at 10am (local time) in Europe, Thursday April 13th at 10am (local time) in Canada, and Friday April 14th at 10am in the U.S. (local time).
Support for these shows will come from Weyes Blood (September 18th-October 6th; October 11th-November 16th; November 18th-20th), Tim Heidecker (April 12th), Dams of the West (May 5th-10th; May 15th), Entrance (May 24th), Adam Green (May 11th), Hamilton Leithauser (June 27th-June 28th), Phosphorescent (September 13th-15th; October 7th), Tennis (August 19th), Jenny Lewis (August 25th), and Adanowsky (June 7th).
Father John Misty’s spring & summer international festival schedule includes Coachella (April 14th & 21st), Glastonbury (June 21st-25th), Down the Rabbit Hole Festival in Ewijk, Netherlands (June 23rd-25th), Roskilde (June 30th), Splendour in the Grass (July 21- 23), Fuji Rock (July 28th - July 30th), Winnipeg’s Interstellar Rodeo (August 18th), and Portland, Oregon’s Project Pabst (August 26th).
Apr. 12 - San Diego, CA - Humphrey’s [Sold Out] @ Apr. 14 - Indio, CA - Coachella [Sold Out] Apr. 21 - Indio, CA - Coachella [Sold Out] May 05 - Toronto, ON - Royal Alexandra Theatre [Sold Out] % May 06 - Toronto, ON - Royal Alexandra Theatre [Sold Out] % May 10 - Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre [Sold Out] % May 11 - Brooklyn, NY - BrooklynSteel ! May 13 - Mayer, Arizona - FORM Arcosanti Festival May 15 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre [Sold Out] % May 24 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre # May 26 - Burnaby, BC - Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park Jun. 07 - Mexico City, MX - Teatro Metropolitan*** Jun. 22 - 24 Oslo, NO - Piknik I Parken Festival Jun. 21 - 25 - Somerset,UK - Glastonbury Festival Jun. 23 - 25 - Ewijk, NL - Down the Rabbit Hole Festival Jun. 27 - Lund, SE -Merejet !! Jun. 28 - Stockholm, SE - Cirkus !! June 30 - Roskilde, DK - Roskilde Festival Jul. 21 - 23 - Wooyung, AUS - Splendour in The Grass Festival Jul. 28 - 30 - Niigata, JP - Fuji Rock Festival Aug. 04 - 06 - Montreal, QC - Osheaga Festival Aug. 18 - Winnipeg, MB - Interstellar Rodeo - The Forks Aug. 19 - Minneapolis, MN - Surly Brewing Festival Field * Aug. 25 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre ** Aug. 26 - Portland, OR - Project Pabst Aug. 31- Sep. 03 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival Sep. 01 - Sep. 03 - Stradbally, IE - Electric Picnic Sep. 13 - Boston, MA - Blue Hills Pavilion $ Sep. 14 - Port Chester, NY - Capitol Theatre $ Sep. 15 - Philadelphia, PA - Skyline Stage at the Mann $ Sep. 18 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall ^ Sep. 19 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre ^ Sep. 20 - Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theatre ^ Sep. 22 - St. Louis, MO - Peabody Opera House ^ Sep. 23 - Columbus, OH - Palace Theatre ^ Sep. 25 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium ^ Sep. 26 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium ^ Sep. 27 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle ^ Sep. 29 - Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall ^ Sep. 30 - Dallas, TX - Bomb Factory ^ Oct. 01 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall ^ Oct. 04 - Phoenix, AZ - Orpheum Theatre ^ Oct. 05 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park ^ Oct. 06 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park ^ Oct. 07 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre $ Oct. 11 - Santa Barbara, CA - Arlington Theatre ^ Oct. 12 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl ^ Oct. 13 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre ^ Oct. 14 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theater Pomona ^ Nov. 11 - Paris, FR - Le Trianon ^ Nov. 12 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique ^ Nov. 14 - Berlin, DE - Huxley’s ^ Nov. 16 - Milan, IT - Fabrique Nov. 18 - Barcelona, ES - Razzmatazz ^ Nov. 19 - Madrid, ES - La Riviera ^ Nov. 20 - Lisbon, PT - Coliseu dos Recreios ^
@ with Tim Heidecker % w/ Dams of the West # w/ Entrance ^ w/ Weyes Blood ! w/ Adam Green !! w/ Hamilton Leithauser $ w/ Phosphorescent *w/ Tennis **w/ Jenny Lewis *** w/ Adanowsky
North American tour begins in May, with European dates to follow.
We (Sub Pop Records, that is) are over the moon to announce that NYC-based band Frankie Cosmos has joined the Sub Pop Family in a universe-spanning type of record deal. The band, comprised of Greta Kline (vox & guitars), David Maine (bass guitar), Lauren Martin (keyboards, synthesizers & vox) and Luke Pyenson (drums), have been touring the world extensively in support of their 2016 release Next Thing (Bayonet Records) which received critical praise from the likes of Pitchfork, NY Times, Paste, Rolling Stone, DIY Magazine and many more.
Watch the band’s in-studio performance of “Sinister” off Next Thingright here, and an intimate ‘Take Away Show’ performance of “Highway and Trees” (Meat cover) + “O Dreaded C Town” over here.
Frankie Cosmos is currently working on new material and will continue to tour throughout the remainder of the year. They kick-off a North American tour on May 5th in Boston, MA, which includes a performance at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 14th. Additionally, the band will visit Europe for a series of shows July 28th-August 8th. (Current dates below.)
Originally the solo project of prolific New York City-based songwriter Greta Kline, Frankie Cosmos has blossomed into a four-piece band including David Maine, Lauren Martin, and Luke Pyenson.
The first studio release as Frankie Cosmos, Zentropy (Double Double Whammy), garnered wide acclaim upon its release, including New York magazine’s #1 Pop Album of 2014 and a Pitchfork Best New Track for “Birthday Song.” Recorded as a two-piece with Aaron Maine on drums, Frankie Cosmos began performing live as a three-piece with Aaron’s brother David on bass, and later as a four-piece with Gabrielle Smith on keyboard. The next studio release, 2015’s Fit Me In EP (Bayonet), combined Kline’s honest, lyrically-driven songwriting with Maine’s affinity for synth-driven production, and earned the project another Best New Track for “Young.” Lauren and Luke joined the group in late 2015 on keyboard and drums, leaving Gabrielle and Aaron to pursue their personal projects—Eskimeaux and Porches—and cementing the band’s current lineup.
The group’s most recent release is the critically-lauded Next Thing (2016, Bayonet), which has been praised for memorable lyrics that are both clever and concise, deeply personal and widely relatable; beautiful three-part vocal harmonies that enhance catchy pop melodies; and increasingly sophisticated instrumental arrangements that reflect a rapidly maturing band continuing to grow. The album received a coveted Best New Music designation from Pitchfork as well as exceptional reviews from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and others. The band’s live show, honed during extensive touring of North America, Europe, Oceania and Japan, has also received glowing feedback for its mix of energy, intimacy and levity.
In their off-time, the bandmates of Frankie Cosmos practice a variety of other jobs and hobbies including textile design, food journalism, massage therapy, cooking, mixed martial arts, reading, painting, and petting dogs.
So now you’re asking yourself, “Okay, but what have The People been saying about Frankie Cosmos? Well, this for example:
Ms. Kline’s songs don’t last long, and neither does her imagery, but she can be exceptional at capturing how quickly frail things can break, taking devastating turns in just a couple of lines. [Next Thing review] - NY Times
Many of the songs (“Embody,” “On the Lips,” “Too Dark” and “Sleep Song”) on the album have appeared in acoustic permutations in past work, and they make the leap seamlessly. Each are marvelously well.wrought trains of thought, cramming existential questions into the banality of everyday moments and finding something beatific even in the plainest of things. [Next Thing review] - Pitchfork
There are no answers, no solutions to any problems, and no gateway doors through escapism, but for half an hour the record shines a light through confusion, and just for a while, it doesn’t have to feel like such a loss to be lost [Next Thing review] - DIY Magazine
Tour Dates
May 05 - Boston, MA - Royale * May 06 - Winooski, VT - Waking Windows Festival May 07 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall * May 06 - Kingston, NY - BSP Kingston May 09 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall * May 10 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre * May 11 - Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College May 12 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theater * May 13 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In * May 14 - Asheville, NC - The Mothlight May 15 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater * May 16 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club * May 17 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel * May 18 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar May 19 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer * May 21 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel * Jul. 14 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival Jul. 23 - Hyères, FR - MIDI Festival Jul. 28 - Brighton, UK - The Haunt Jul. 29 - Derbyshire, UK - Indietracks Festival Jul. 31 - Cardiff, UK - The Full Moon Aug. 01 - Liverpool, UK - Magnet Aug. 02 - Dublin, IE - Whelan’s Aug. 03 - Edinburgh, UK - The Mash House Aug. 04 - Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall Aug. 05 - London,UK - Visions Festival Aug. 08 - Primosten, HR - SuperUho Festival Aug. 24 - Vancouver, BC - The Cobalt Cabaret Aug. 25 - Anacortes, WA - The Business Aug. 26 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile Aug. 27 - Portland, OR - MusicFestNW presents Project Pabst ** Aug. 29 - Arcata, CA - Outer Space Aug. 30 - San Francisco, CA - Gray Area Theater Sep. 01 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole Sep. 03 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex * w/ Real Estate ** w/ Beck, Nas, Spoon, Whitney and more
The day when the Riot grrrl of Sleater-Kinney ignited La Cigale
“The American feminist punk trio Sleater-Kinney…came to present their eighth album, No Cities To Love, on Friday, March 20th in a Cigale full to bursting. A cult concert.
For some, Friday, March 20 was synonymous with solar eclipse and peak pollution. For others, it was mainly the arrival of the Sleater-Kinney in Paris, their eighth album, No Cities To Love, under the arm. The kind of cult rendezvous for feminist punk followers, nostalgic Riot Grrrl and all those who shed a tear when the [band] announced their separation. It was in 2006, and Carrie Brownstein, Corin Tucker and Janet Weiss had decided to store their guitars for an indefinite period after shaking the feminist rock scene for twelve years. It took them nine to reform and give birth to a new album more pop than punk but still carrying a crazy energy.
To say that the Sleater-Kinney are ultra charismatic on stage would almost be an euphemism. Carrie Brownstein, who has a second career on the small screen in the satyr series Portlandia, martyred her guitar like twenty years ago, while supporting Corin Tucker…singing. Behind them, Janet Weiss, on drums, makes sure of the frenzy of the pieces. Squares of fabric hanging on the back wall float in the air, caressing a light sailing between red and blue. Sublime.
The live is in the image of their albums: abrasive. Without bass or keyboard, their songs bathe in a post-adolescent rebellion, so enjoyable that it sticks you butterflies in the belly. The kind of concert to make you want to go back in time to hang out at Olympia in 1994, preferably with their band.
The trio, accomplice, unrolls a setlist bordering on perfection. The concert opens with ‘Price Tag,’ an explosive bomb from their latest album. A good entry… All [songs are] played with the same animal ferocity.”
But these two reminders, as long as stuffed with old tubes (including the incredible Dig Me Out) will ensure the concert its label “cult”. Before concluding, Corin Tucker will call for respect for gender equality, in the purest tradition Riot Grrrl. In 1996, the Sleater-Kinneysang I’m the Queen of rock’n’roll on the delirious ‘I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone.’ Twenty years and a reformation later, the trio proves it more than ever.”
Les Inrocks
- - - - - - - - - -
Sleater-Kinney: Live In Paris is the first recording from the famed group that documents its blistering stage performance. This thirteen track album - which features Carrie Brownstein, Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss, and touring member Katie Harkin - was captured on March 20th, 2015 at historic Paris venue, La Cigale.
The Sleater-Kinney: Live In Paris setlist culls material from No Cities to Love, The Woods, One Beat, The Hot Rock, Dig Me Out, andCall the Doctor. The album and performance was mixed by John Goodmanson at Avast and mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, and will be available on CD / LP / DL / Cass worldwide on January 27th, 2017. Preorder is on right now [right here], and as you might suspect, LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com will receive the album on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl. (while supplies last!)
Live In Paris Tracklisting 1. Price Tag * 2. Oh! ^^ 3. What’s Mine Is Yours ** 4. A New Wave * 5. Start Together # 6. No Cities To Love * 7. Surface Envy * 8. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone ## 9. Turn It On ^ 10. Entertain ** 11. Jumpers ** 12. Dig Me Out ^ 13. Modern Girl **
* from No Cities to Love ** from The Woods ^ from Dig Me Out ^^ from One Beat # from The Hot Rock ## from Call the Doctor
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S-K “bootleg” credits:
Carrie Brownstein: guitar and vocals
Corin Tucker: vocals and guitar
Janet Weiss: drums and vocals
Katie Harkin: keyboards and guitar
Mixed by John Goodmanson
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Cover Art Photos by Joshua Mellin, Ryan Muir, Augusta Quirk, Jason Williamson
Art direction / design Jeff Kleinsmith
Recorded live on March 20, 2015 at La Cigale in Paris, France
Thank yous
Dan Mapp, Sabrina Braswell, Jeremy Lemos, Tim Nichols, Dan Mancini, Scott Adamson, Abbey Simmons, Sub Pop Records, Lever and Beam, James Alderman, La Cigale, and all our amazing fans without whom this record wouldn’t be possible.
Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever just shared their cheeky new video for ”Julie’s Place,” the first single off their forthcoming EP (and Sub Pop debut), which we here at Sub Pop are stoked to release later this Spring.
True story: After the band spent their video budget on an idea that didn’t work out ($$¯\_(ツ)_/¯$$), they decided to film singer/guitarist Fran Keaney mowing his lawn on a Saturday morning. This simple idea actually ended up being much more in the band’s utilitarian style. So in a sense, out of defeat of an excess of options came a lean opportunity to do something more truthful.
[Photo Credit: Rubin Utama]
“Julie’s Place” levels up on everything that made Talk Tight such an immediate draw. It’s about being young and dumb but full of bravado. Sprinting guitars mimic singer Keaney’s pangs of heartache, his awkwardly sensual lyrics calling to mind the chaos and confusion of being around someone you can’t get off your mind.
You could (and should) feel the same about this band; follow Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever everywhere in the known universe… via Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Watercolor, the long-awaited and eagerly anticipated Sub Pop debut from Seattle’s own Porter Ray, will be available worldwide on March 10th, 2017. Porter is a Seattle based MC who caught the attention of Shabazz Palaces’ Ishmael Butler, who signed him to the label in 2014.
“Sacred Geometry [Constellation Mix]”- Watercolor’s lead single - is an extended album version featuring The Palaceer, Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces, and Ray’s childhood friend and cohort, Cashtro. This alternative album mix is available on the digital & LP versions of the record.
The FADER premiered the track today (see/hear exclusively at The FADER) and had this to say:“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.”
Porter Ray is a natural… he sounds like East Seattle feels. From the same wet blocks that spawned Quincy, Jimi and Ishmael, comes Porter Ray. Having previously penned six projects showcasing dexterous wordplay, unflinching honesty and vulnerability, tempered with equal degrees of braggadocio and charm; Porter is an old soul, a storyteller par excellence, a griot possessing insight beyond his years.
A bit of Context…
Porter Ray has had no choice but to feel deeply. Loss and violence seemed to plague Porter’s adolescence and early adulthood. His father fell gravely ill and his subsequent passing signaled the beginning of a dark time. Leaving high school devoid of any certification was next. Losing his younger brother to a much-publicized case of gun violence four years later only added to the young de facto patriarch’s heavy heart and perceived curse. The year following found some of his closest friends [including his son’s mother] locked up in the penitentiary with lengthy sentences.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. It is vocally flavored by guest appearances from THEE Satisfaction’s Stas THEE Boss,Cashtro, Nate Jack, and Jus Moni. Iconic Central District MC, Infinite, of Narkotik and Tribal Productions, as well as Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces also make key contributions.
Watercolor is now available for preorder on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS from Sub Pop [order here]. LP pre-orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.
Follow all things Porter Ray everywhere in the galaxy via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram, and around the globe:
Tour Dates Feb. 17 - Seattle, WA - Sole Repair* Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile** Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA - Barboza (album release party) Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW * w/ Sisters ** w/ Pickwick
