It’s that magical time of the year. You can smell the hot grease of overworked vinyl presses in the air. The cooling fans of online auction servers are humming in your ear. The seasonal change of record colors is upon us. Standard black vinyl disappears and the neon, splatters, and picture discs appear in full splendor. Friends: Record Store Day is here.
April 22, 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the indie record store holiday. We’ve come a long way since the original ten Record Store Day releases hit the shelves back in 2007. And, it’s hard to believe it’s now been a decade of grown men and women trampling each other for limited-edition releases without any major arrests. This year, y’all should come on down to Sea-Tac and avoid any of that trampling nonsense. Trust us, TSA doesn’t take very kindly to pushing and shoving. Once again, the Sub Pop Airport Store will be carrying a selection of this year’s Record Store Day releases. We have met all the requirements. We double-checked with this year’s ambassador: St. Vincent. Judging by this video, she’s taking the role very seriously.
Sure, yes, you have to buy a plane ticket to get to our store. Do yourself a favor and get that ticket to see your grandmother in Milwaukee. We won’t tell her that the only reason you finally broke down and and sprung for a visit was to have first dibs on a sweet seven-inch single. Or better yet, pack your shades and book a flight to Hawaii. You can hit up our store when we open the gates at 6 AM (we open earlier than any other participating store, so far as we are aware) and then quickly hop on a jetliner to Honolulu. If you manage to arrive around 10-10:30 AM island time, you might even have enough time to get to your favorite Hawaiian record store before it has been picked through.
While neither Sub Pop nor Hardly Art are putting out any exclusive Record Store Day releases this year, please consider an alternative: Father John Misty’s eagerly anticipated new album Pure Comedy comes out mere weeks before, on April 7th! And, if you’re lucky, we may have some remaining copies of the Deluxe 2xLP editions left at the airport on Record Store Day.
This truly DELUXE 2xLP version of Pure Comedy arrives on two pieces of colored vinyl, one of which is referred to as “aluminum,” the other “copper” (as evidenced by this not-to-be-missed Pure Unboxing video). These two opulent record albums are housed in a die-cut, customize-able jacket, with 4 interactive “backgrounds” on the 2 full-color dust sleeves within (four different sky color schemes to choose from!) all sheathed in an outer plastic slip-cover. Also included are a tri-fold poster and holographic HA card. If that doesn’t scratch your collectible itch, I don’t know what will. You can also order Pure Comedyon the Sub Pop Mega Mart right G-D now.
The Sub Pop Airport Store will (most likely*) be carrying the below-referenced Record Store Day exclusive titles.
*No guarantees we’ll get them all, but here is what we ordered:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit-Live from Welcome To 1979
Pink Floyd- London 1966-1967
R.L. Burnside-Long Distance Call: Europe Recordings, 1982
The Districts-Ordinary day/Lover,Lover,Lover
The Pretty Things-The French EP’s 1964-69
V/A-Stories For Ways & Means
V/A-We’re Gonna Have A Party! The Sound Of Wand Records
Pearl Jam-“State Of Love and Trust” B/W “Breath” (7”)
Alice In Chains-What The Hell Have I/Get Born Again (Double 7” Single)
Dave Matthews Band-Live at Red Rocks 9.15.95 (4LP Silver vinyl set)
Moondog-Moondog
Dennis Wilson- Bambu The Caribou Sessions (2LP green vinyl set)
Santana-Woodstock Saturday August 16, 1969
Curtis Knight featuring Jimi Hendrix-Live at George’s Club 20
Robert Johnson- The Centennial Collection: The Complete Recordings (3LP)
David Bowie-Cracked Actor Live in Los Angeles, ’74 (3LP set)
David Bowie-BOWPROMO (GEM Promo LP)
The Cure-Greatest Hits Acoustic (2LP Picture Disc)
The Cure-Greatest Hits (2LP Picture Disc)
The Grateful Dead- P.N.E. Garden Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/29/66 (2LP)
The Doors- Live At The Matrix ‘67
Flaming Lips-The Flaming Lips Onboard the International Space Station Concert For Peace (Yellow Vinyl)
The Head and the Heart-Stinson Beach Sessions
Notorious B.I.G.-Born Again (2LP Gold Vinyl)
Prince-Batdance (12” Single)
Prince-I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (12” Single)
Prince-I Wish U Heaven (12” Single)
Prince-Little Red Corvette/1999 (7” Picture Disc)
Prince-Partyman (12” Single)
Prince-Pop Life (12” Single)
Prince- Sign O’ The Times (12” Single)
Vangelis-Blade Runner Original Soundtrack (Picture Disc)
V/A-Nuggets: Come To The Sunshine (2LP Orange/Yellow Marble Vinyl)
Neil Young-Decade (3LP)
Hawkwind-Best of the United Artist Years 1971-1974 (Swirl Color Vinyl)
Black Angels- Death Song RSD Exclusive (2LP Set)
Sun Ra-Janus (Yellow & Black Swirl Vinyl)
Balkans-Pedro Four-Way ft. Mike Watt (Green Vinyl)
Motörhead-Clean Your Clock (2LP Picture Disc)
Iron and Wine-Archives Series Volume No. 3 (Translucent Blue Vinyl)
Patti Smith-Hey Joe (Version)/Piss Factory (7” Single)
The Smiths- The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (7” Single)
Spoon-Hot Thoughts
Lumineers-Song Seeds
Animal Collective- Meeting The Waters
Blondie-Long Time
Big Thief-Mythological Beauty
Noise Addict-10,000 Kids With Guitars (2LP)
Blitzen Trapper-Waking Bullets At Breakneck Speed (Recorded Circa 2006)
Wipers-Better Off Dead (7” EP)
Pickin’ On Series- Pickin’ On Nirvana: The Bluegrass Tribute (ft. Iron Horse)
Pete Krebs-Western Electric (Produced by Elliot Smith)
Julian Cope-Drunken Songs
The Raincoats-Fairytale in the Supermarket EP (7”)
The Stooges-Heavy Liquid/The Album (2LP)
T. Rex-Rock N Roll (7” EP)
Sun Ra-Discipline 27-11
Danny Brown-Ain’t It Funny (10” Picture Disc)\
Black Lips- Black Lips (4xCS Box)
Policia-Lipstick Stains/Still Counts (7” Single)
Evan Dando-Baby I’m Bored (2LP+book)
Stay safe out there. If you are crazy enough to listen to me and end up going to Hawaii, say hello to our old co-worker Josh.
Sub Pop recording artists Downtown Boys (Providence, RI), Marika Hackman (London, UK), LVL UP (New York, NY), Porter Ray (Seattle, WA), and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Melbourne, AU) will all make appearances at the 2017 edition of SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Links to artists pages, tunes (video or audio) and daily schedule are below…
MARCH 14 5:45pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Hotel Vegas - Spring Break Boogie! Heaven or Hot Burrito Location: Hotel Vegas (1502 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702) ------------------------------ 9:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: I OH YOU / Transgressive Records Showcase Location: 21st Co-Op (707 W 21st St, Austin, TX 78705) ------------------------------ 9:30pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show:Paradyse x Sportsday Showcase Location: Pearl Street Co-Op (2000 Pearl St, Austin, TX 78705)
MARCH 15 4:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: The FADER Fort Location: Volcom Garden (1209 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 10:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: BBC Radio 2 SXSW Official Showcase. Location: Latitude 30 (512 San Jacinto Boulevard) ----------------------------- 10:00-10:40pm PORTER RAY Show/Location: Swan Dive (615 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 1:15am DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Ground Control Touring Showcase Location: The Sidewinder (715 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701)
MARCH 16 12:00pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Pitchfork Day Party Location: French Legation Museum (802 San Marcos St, Austin, TX 78702) Time: 12:00pm --------------------------- 12:15pm LVL UP Show: Sound on Sound & Brooklyn Vegan’s Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78701) --------------------------- 2:15pm LVL UP Show: The FADER Fort Location: Volcom Garden (1209 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 3:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Another Planet Showcase Location: The Sidewinder - Indoor (715 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ---------------------------- 3:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ---------------------------- 6:35-7:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Aussie BBQ Showcase Location: Brush Square Park (409 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701) Time: ----------------------------- 9:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show:Transgressive Records SXSW Showcase Location: The Blackheart (86 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 11pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Paradigm Official Showcase Location: The Parish (214 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701)
MARCH 17 12:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 12:45pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlies (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 1:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: SXSW Showcase Location: The Mohawk (912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) --------------------------- 5:35pm LVL UP Show: Austin Oasis 2017 Location: Hole in the Wall (2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705) ----------------------------- 6:00pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: South By San Jose Location: Hotel San Jose (1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704) ----------------------------- 10:10-10:45pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Panache Bookings Party Location: Hotel Vegas (1502 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 11:00pm LVL UP Show: Ad Hoc Showcase Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 12:35-12:50am PORTER RAY Show Kosher Dillz Showcase Location: Dozen Street (1808 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702)
MARCH 18 1:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: Space 24 Twenty Location: Urban Outfitters (2406 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705)
Father John Misty was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this past weekend (I know, right?!) and performed “Total Entertainment Forever” and the title track from his forthcoming third full-length album, Pure Comedy.
Father John Misty has also added a headlining show on August 25th at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (with Jenny Lewis) to the first round of 2017 North American tour dates in support of Pure Comedy. The previously announced tour dates include Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre (May 5th and 6th), Brooklyn’s King Theatre (May 10th), Chicago Theatre (May 15th), The Paramount in Seattle (May 24th), Vancouver’s Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park (May 26th), and Mexico City’s Metropolitan Theatre (June 7th). Pre-sales for the Mexico City date begin March 8th at 11am local time through March 9th with tickets on sale to the general public on March 10th at 11am (local time).
Additionally, Father John Misty’s spring & summer international festival schedule includes 6 Music Festival in Glasgow (March 26th), Coachella (April 14th & 21st), Form Arcosanti in Mayer, AZ (May 13th), Piknik I Parken in Oslo (June 22nd - June 24th), Fuji Rock (July 28th - July 30th), Montreal’s Osheaga (August 4th - August 6th), and a headlining performance at End of the Road Festival in Dorset, UK (August 31st-September 3rd). Find tour dates + ticket links here.
Pure Comedy will be available on deluxe 2xLP / 2xLP / CD / DL / CS worldwide through Sub Pop and Bella Union. The album’s front/back covers and gatefold feature a gargantuan original piece (his first ever commission of its kind) by Ed Steed (The New Yorker). Preorder the album now through Father John Misty’s Official Store [Australia & rest of world], Sub Pop Mega Mart, and Bella Union.
We wrote the songs because we believe in the transformative power of music. We hope this music encourages you to Keep Chooglin’, Keep Truckin’, Keep on Keepin’ On, beat your pretty feet against the crust of the earth because God knows we are. It’s what we all must do. We’ve seen and been a part of more talks about real Love lately than in all of our lives so far. (There’s a better world coming can’t you see, see, see? ) These are ALU’s BLUES and these songs told us to put on our shoes and go marching. These songs are Blues like the color and green in sound. I want to march with you and sing these songs with you. I don’t know you and maybe if I could see you I could tell you more. I could tell you about the songs but it would never match to what the song says in its own way. Because words fail all alone to describe what words do when combined with song. I could tell you about the song “Choppin’ Block” and tell you to ride shotgun on death’s white horse to the gallows. See everyone there with their heads bowed complacently waiting for their turn. I could tell you about the “Fool’s Blues” and tell you it’s the best I can do to try my best and still blow it big time sometimes. I could tell you about knocking on Woody Guthrie’s grave and asking him to help me write some words and how he came to me as a snake in my mind and all the words came at once one morning…
There are three songs here, dear reader. We hope that you may listen to them well. Lend an ear to ALU’s Blues and we hope to have paid you back in full for all the work you’ve already done. Solidarity forever (hallelujah amen say that again!).
We played and recorded these songs in the house where they once lived. We give them back to you because that’s all we really have to give. We are donating all proceeds of this effort to the greater efforts worldwide. More specifically, ALL PROCEEDS RECEIVED FROM THE PURCHASE OF ALU’S BLUES GOES TO THE FOLLOWING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT
About ALU ARBOR LABOR UNION is a little bitty band born dancing on top of red Georgia clay. They believe in a simple song with a lot of truth and that is what they play. ALU’s BLUES finds the band stepping into its own shoes. Playing the sounds as they found them, in the trees, on the porches and between the clouds on blue bird days. They believe in the lineage of punk rock freedom folk music ranging from The Almanac Singers to The Minutemen. On this recordingBrian Adams played guitarmonica and sang some harmony. Bo Orr played slide guitarmonica, tamborine and sang a lot, Ryan Evers played the bass fiddle and sang too, Ben Salie played the drums and the tambo. Our new friend George played fiddle while the snakesung a riddle. Recorded on New Year’s Day 2016 by our soul brother and sound shaman Robert Sarabia.
TOUR ALERT: Beginning June 12th, Low will embark on a five-date co-headline tour with Japanese instrumental rock band MONO. These dates will bring the bands to intimate venues along the American West Coast. Following these shows, the two artists will also both be playing a handful of Canadian summer festivals. (full listing below)
Tour Dates + Ticket Links at www.chairkickers.com/ Jun. 12 - Los Angeles, CA - Globe Theater Jun. 13 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore Jun. 15 - Portland, OR - Wonderland Ballroom Jun. 16 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre Jun. 17 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial Jun. 21 - Calgary, AB - Sled Island Music and Arts Festival Jun. 23 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival
The most recent full-length album from Low is their 2015 release Ones and Sixes, which earned Low international acclaim from the likes of NPR Music, Under the Radar, The Guardian, DIY, Q, MOJO, Uncut, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, CLASH, The Sunday Times, and a cover story interview by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon in MAGNET Magazine (view cover / read an excerpt of the story here).
For more information on Low please see here, and follow Low absolutely everywhere via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Today in spectral news: Shabazz Palaces will release Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star - follow up to Lese Majesty, the group’s critically acclaimed album - worldwide on July 14th through yours truly, Sub Pop Records. The new album featuring highlights “Shine A Light” (ft. Thaddillac), “Since Caya,” and “Moon Whip Quaz” (ft. Darrius) was produced by Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood), recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle.
The “Shine A Light” lyric video (as seen above) was directed by Cristina T. Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes of Clipping.
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star serves as both an introduction and tells the tale of Quazarz, a sentient being from somewhere else, an observer sent here to Amurderca to chronicle and explore as a musical emissary. What he finds in our world is a cutthroat place, a landscape where someone like him could never quite feel comfortable amidst all the brutality and alternative facts and death masquerading as connectivity.
The Palaceer of Shabazz Palaces says of his extraterrestrial persona: “I, Quazarz, Born On A Gangster Star, son only of Barbara Dream Caster and Reginald The Dark Hoper - he who rides on light - dreamer of the seventh dream and kissed eternal by Awet the Sun Scented - who far from home I found my same self differents in those constellies that be Dai at my weap-side immediate and all us Water Guild affiliates who revelries in the futures passed recordings and ceremonies flexing resplendent in the Paradise Sportif armor - raising these musics a joy/cry that way into these aquadescent diamondized ethers of the Migosphere here on Drake world. Welcome To Quazarz.”
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star is now available for preorder on CD / LP / DL / CS from Sub Pop right over here. LP pre-orders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited Loser edition on colored vinyl. There will also be a new T-shirt design available.
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star Tracklisting: 1. Since C.A.Y.A 2. When Cats Claw 3. Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac) 4. Dèesse Du Sang 5. Eel Dreams (feat. Loud Eyes Lou) 6. Parallax (feat. The Palaceer Lazaro) 7. Fine Ass Hairdresser 8. The NeurochemMixalogue 9. That’s How City Life Goes 10. Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius) 11. Federalist Papers
Shabazz Palaces will support Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star with North American tour dates that currently span May 13th through September 17th. The tour will include stops in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, Montreal, Brooklyn, Washington, D.C. Philadelphia and more. Additionally, festival appearances include Upstream Music Fest (May 13th), and Chicago’s Riot Fest (15th-17th).
May 13 - Seattle, WA - Upstream Music Fest + Summit 2017 Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage) Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall Sep. 15 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Sep. 16 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Sep. 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
More on Shabazz Palaces Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star
