Iron & Wine’s Weed Gardenarrives as a six-song collection of all new material, whose roots were planted during the making of last years Grammy-nominated, Beast Epic. The release is being made available worldwide from Sub Pop and joins the ranks of his previous EP’s -The Sea and Rhythm, Woman Kingand In the Reinswhich contains some of Iron & Wine’s most beloved material.
[Album Art Paintings by Sam Beam]
Recorded earlier this year at The Loft in Chicago, Weed Garden features the single “What Hurts Worse” and the fan favorite, “Waves of Galveston,” which first appeared as part of The Onion’s AV Club “State Songs” and is finally making its official release. Galveston is just a short trip from Austin where Sam Beam lived for a number years, and its coastal beauty is brought to life in this late summer breezy acoustic number that harkens back to some of Iron & Wine’s earliest material.
Beam recently stated that “‘Waves of Galveston” was one of those songs that had a more reflective feel and I knew I wanted to do it as an acoustic thing. I guess it pointed me in the direction of where the rest of Beast Epic went.” He also touched on the EP format and noted that he “really like(s) short records. The more concise the better. Anytime you have fewer things to absorb you observe and listen to it differently. It’s a concentrated statement”.
The Associated Press had this say of Weed Garden, “Beam’s surprise gift is the exquisite “Waves of Galveston,” a fan favorite getting its first official release. Its very 70’s-sounding refrain caresses the eardrums and Nick Drake may have sounded like this if singing about Texas….There are plenty of references to nature — the sea, butterflies, serpents, rain, clouds, flowers, winds and waves — but it’s all related to the human experience and the final three songs sustain the theme. Especially affecting are the gorgeous “Autumn Town Leaves” and the increasingly intense and desperate closer “Talking to Fog.” Weed Garden is both a wonderful bonus in relation to Beast Epicand an enchanting collection that deserves to be valued for its own plentiful merits.”
And NPR Music offers this, “Not only is Weed Garden a consistently powerful extension of Beast Epic, but it also marks the first studio release of one of Beam’s live staples: “Waves of Galveston.” That outtake has been cropping up in performances…but it benefits enormously from a new full-band arrangement that’s crisp and lovely, spare but sweet.”
Weed Garden is available on CD/LP/DL/CS through Sub Pop over here. LP purchases through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on Amber colored vinyl (while supplies last).
Iron & Wine’s previously announced fall tour schedule in support of Weed Garden and Beast Epic resumes on September 21st in Kansas City, MO at Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland and runs through November 17th in Memphis, TX at the Orpheum Theatre. Support for the fall tour dates will come from Erin Rae, Carl Broemel, and Ohmme.
Sep. 21 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland* Sep. 22 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre* Sep. 23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Capitol Theatre* Sep. 24 - Boise, ID - Revolution Center* Sep. 26 - Eureka, CA - Arkley Center for the Performing Arts* Sep. 27 - Sacramento, CA - Crest Theatre* Sep. 28 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues* Sep. 29 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre* Sep. 30 - Sante Fe, NM - Lensic Performing Arts Center* Oct. 2 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom* Oct. 3 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant^ Oct. 4 - Milwaukee, WI - The Pabst Theater* Oct. 5 - Bloomington, IL - Castle Theatre* Oct. 6 - Columbus, OH - Southern Theatre* Nov. 2 - Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater** Nov. 3 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre** Nov. 4 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre** Nov. 6 - Portland, ME - State Theatre** Nov. 7 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount** Nov. 8 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre** Nov. 9 - Norfolk, VA - NorVa** Nov. 10 - Raleigh, NC - Meymandi Concert Hall** Nov. 12 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium** Nov. 14 - Augusta, GA - Miller Theater** Nov. 15 - Tampa, FL - Tampa Theatre** Nov. 16 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre** Nov. 17 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre** *w/ Erin Rae ** w/ Ohmme ^ w/ Carl Broemel
Beast Epic, the deeply personal sixth proper full-length album from Iron & Wine, received universal praise upon its release in the fall of 2017. Rolling Stone said it was “Beam’s most dynamic and convincing record in years”, while Pitchfork noted that it was reminiscent of “the warm acoustic instrumentation of his early work”. The AV Club perhaps summed it up best with its A grade when they wrote “Beam has written his most affecting, impressive set of songs in a long time—maybe ever…scaling back the lavish orchestration while maintaining a sense of brightness and verve.”
King Tuff (aka Kyle Thomas) presents a remix by Peaking Lights of the preening funk jam “Raindrop Blue” from the 2018 King Tuff album The Other.
King Tuff had this to say of the remix: “Another remix! I sent ‘Raindrop Blue’ to Peaking Lights and they put it thru their astral deli slicer and projected it through a frosty prism out onto the hot floor of a Venusian nightclub. Enjoy!” [And you might also enjoy it on Spotify or Apple Music.]
This new remix follows Tune-Yards recent take on “Psycho Star,” the psychedelic, day-glo-pop single from The Other hear here.
King Tuff’s previously announced fall North American tour in support of The Other begins on September 12th. Headlining shows include September 12th in Las Vegas at Bunkhouse Saloon, September 15th in Fort Collins at Hodi’s Half Note, September 17th in Kansas City at The Riot Room, and October 5th in Mobile at The Merry Widow.
Then, from September 18th-October 10th, King Tuff joins Sub Pop-labelmate Father John Misty for a 17-date tour. See below for a complete list of dates.
King Tuff’s The Otheris available on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide from Sub Pop [link here].
Sep. 12 - Las Vegas, NV - Bunkhouse Saloon Sep. 15 - Fort Collins, CO - Hodi’s Half Note Sep. 17 - Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room Sep. 18 - Madison, WI - Orpheum Theatre * Sep. 20 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater * Sep. 21 - Indianapolis, IN - MacAllister Amphitheater @ Garfield Park * Sep. 22 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre * Sep. 23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Smiling Moose Sep. 25 - Charlottesville, VA - Sprint Pavilion * Sep. 26 - Charlotte, NC - Fillmore Charlotte * Sep. 28 - Miami, FL - Fillmore Miami * Sep. 29 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live * Oct. 01 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre * Oct. 02 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre * Oct. 03 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City * Oct. 05 - Mobile, Alabama - The Merry Widow Oct. 06 - New Orleans, LA - Civic Theater * Oct. 09 - Knoxville, TN The Mill & Mine * Oct. 10 - Oxford, MS - Lyric Theater * Oct. 12 - Greenville, SC - Fall for Greenville Oct. 13 - Lexington, KY - Burl * w/ Father John Misty
Knife Knights have shared a new visual for the song “Low Key,” from 1 Time Mirage, their otherworldly debut, directed by Dean Blunt. Gorilla vs. Bear premiered the visual and had this to say, “Knife Knights team up with a kindred experimental spirit in enigmatic London luminary Dean Blunt on the visuals for “Low Key“, taken from Knife Knights’ fathomless new debut LP 1 Time Mirage. The group’s bio refers to the hazy “Low Key” as a “radiant daydream,” and Blunt takes that concept in an impenetrably nebulous direction [see September 13th post].”
1 Time Mirage is out today on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide from Sub Pop. The long-player features the highlights “Give You Game,”“Seven Wheel Motion,”“My Dreams Never Sleep”“Light Up Ahead (Time Mirage)”and the aforementioned “Low Key.” The album also includes guest appearances from labelmates Shabazz Palaces and Porter Ray, along with Stas THEE Boss, OCnotes, Thaddillac, El Mizell, Marquetta Miller, Gerald Turner, and Darrius Willrich. 1 Time Mirage was produced by Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood at Protect and Exalt: A Black Space in Seattle.
London in Stereo says 1 Time Mirage is “[A] spellbinding fusion of rap, blessed funk, and tough soul, and The Wire called it a “suite of sci-fi cosmic hip-hop that takes myriad turns and twists, none of them predictable, all of them compelling.”
Meanwhile, Loud and Quiet, in its 8/10 review, had this say, “Like Butler’s frequent collaborator Flying Lotus, Knife Knights create a rich, fibrous world around each of the tracks on 1 Time Mirage. This is an album whose air you can breathe, whose fragrant musk seeps from each detail. Its production has an insomniac energy, oddly tranquil and unsettled at the same time, each dab of reverb and tickling delay sending ripples through the fug of warped beats and sardonic rhymes.”
And Bandcamp Daily offered this, “1 Time Mirage leapfrogs across several different genres and subgenres, pulling hip-hop, psychedelic soul, and shoegaze into an 11-track set of chaotic noise. Between the woozy bounce of “Seven Wheel Motion,” the house-inflected stomp of “Can’t Draw The Line,” and the hazy pop of “Come On Let’s Go,” the album is easily as esoteric as anything created by Shabazz Palaces; but the music here feels lusher and more sophisticated.”
1 Time Mirage purchases through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition pressed on blue and white marbled vinyl (while supplies last). The album cover also features gorgeous artwork from Robert Beatty.
Beach House also shares “Black Car (Sonic Boom Remix)”.
7 is one of the Best Albums of 2018 (So Far): Stereogum(#1), Rolling Stone, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard.
**** - TheGuardian **** - Rolling Stone “Best New Music” (8.9/10) - Pitchfork “The new Beach House album is their best yet” - Vulture
Beach House’s “Drunk In LA” is one of the standouts from 7, the group’s acclaimed new album for 2018. And now the song has a new, kaleidoscopic video directed by album co-producer Sonic Boom.
Upon the album’s release, Stereogum included the track in its “5 Best Songs of the Week,” and had this to say: “The immediate standout from Beach House’s magnificent 7 is “Drunk In LA,” a showstopper made stronger by everything else around it. The stuttering opening beat that opens the song blossoms into one of the duo’s most staggering songs yet.”
Beach House has also delivered a new Sonic Boom remix of “Black Car” [listen here] and had this to say about both the rework, and the “Drunk In LA” video:
“7was co-produced by Sonic Boom aka Peter Kember. We had a lot of fun with him throughout the process, and he helped us remember that any idea is welcome in a recording environment (he played a drill on “Lemon Glow”).
“While mixing the record with Alan Moulder in London, we were out having dinner and Pete mentioned an idea for a video where the viewer is always looking up from the ground. This became the “Drunk in LA” video. When he sent it to us, we complimented and commented on the trippy, dreamlike nature of the video and he wrote that it was essentially just a day in his life.
“We have never had a remix, but we thought it would be cool if Pete did one. We really like the one he did for “Black Car,” because it feels like a different song, focused largely on voice and arpeggio. It feels like a poem this way, and the minimal treatment highlights the lonesome quality of the song. Hope you enjoy! Much Love.”
Beach House just completed a sold-out, North American tour in support of 7. The band will resume their overseas dates on September 25th in Lisbon, PT at Coliseu dos Recreios and end touring for 2018 on October 20th in Dublin, IE at Vicar Street.
Sep. 25 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseu dos Recreios Sep. 26 - Porto, Portugal - Teatro sa da Bandeira Sep. 27 - Madrid, ES - La Riviera Sep. 28 - Barcelona, ES - Razzmatazz Sep. 30 - Lyon, France - Epicerie Moderne Oct. 01 - Köln, DE - Gloria Oct. 02 - Berlin, DE - Huxleys Oct. 04 - Lund, SE - Mejeriet Oct. 05 - Gothenburg, SE - Trädgar’n Oct. 07 - Oslo, NO - Rockefeller Music Hall Oct. 08 - Stockholm, SE- Münchenbryggeriet Oct. 09 - Copenhagen, DK - Forum Black Box Oct. 11 - Hamburg, DE - Kampnagel Oct. 12 - Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg Oct. 13 - Brussels, BE - AB [Sold Out] Oct. 15 - Paris, FR - Olympia Oct. 17 - London, UK - Troxy Oct. 18 - London, UK - Troxy [Sold Out] Oct. 19 - Manchester, UK - Albert Hall [Sold Out] Oct. 20 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street [Sold Out]
7, featuring the videos and singles for “Black Car” [watch here], “Dark Spring” [watch here], “Lemon Glow,” “Dive” and the aforementioned “Drunk In LA,” is available now from Sub Pop, Bella Union (Europe), and Mistletone (Australia / New Zealand).
Shabazz Palaces have added new European and U.K. dates for 2018 in support of Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machinesand Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star. The dates, which find the band supporting Ms. Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour, begin November 18th in Brussels at Forest National and end on December 3rd in London at O2 Arena.
Shabazz Palaces’ previously announced U.S. dates with Ms. Lauryn Hill resume on September 20th at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California and run through October 7th at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago. The band will also appear at Cropped Out Festival in Louisville on October 6th. Please find a complete list of dates below.
Shabazz Palaces have also shared “Quazarz on 23rd” a short film for the closing song from Quazarz Vs The Jealous Machines, their acclaimed release and second album of 2017 [watch here].”
Director, multimedia artist and fellow Black Constellation member Nep Sidhu says of the visual: “In continuing from the previous short film (“Welcome to Quazarz”), A Being from the Quazarz raises from the Black Constellation System Scramble ® but still finds himself lost tonally and sonically amidst earth’s recent offerings. In receiving Bhai Vir Singh’s response by way of a familiar female form, he journeys to ready himself to meet her on H.E.R. terms by way of cleanliness, and a non-deity based ritual. Far from superstition, this is a ceremony that has no place for fake cathartic release. An indigo drenched reflection in drum awaits his understanding of himself.”
“Quazarz on 23rd” stars Michael Singh (as “The Soul”) and Allix Thompson (as “Mother Nature”), and features collaborations from: Michael Reynolds (editing and analog optics); Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Noel Chaput, and Reynolds (VHS cinematography); and Alex McLeod (animation).
In related news, Sidhu will also unveil new works at the grand opening of Toronto’s MOCA Museum first show entitled “Believe,” beginning September 22 (through January 6th, 2019). This includes the Shabazz Palaces-inspired “Quazarz Pinball Machine w/ Leisure & Surveillance Enhancement Console” which will make its debut at the show.
Sep. 20 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre* Sep. 26 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre* Sep. 29 - Houston, TX - Smart Financial Center Sugarland* Sep. 30 - Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory* Oct. 03 - New Orleans, LA - Lakefront Arena* Oct. 05 - St. Louis, MO - Chaifetz Arena* Oct. 06 - Louisville, KY - Cropped Out Festival at American Turners Oct. 07 - Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre* Nov. 18 - Brussels, BE - Forest National* Nov. 20 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 21 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 23 - Glasgow, UK - SSE Hydro* Nov. 26 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Arena* Nov. 27 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Arena* Nov. 30 - Dublin, IE - 3Arena* Dec. 03 - London, UK - O2 Arena* *w/ Ms. Lauryn Hill
Quazarz Born on a Gangster Starand Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, the group’s third and fourth albums released in 2017, are available now on CD / LP / DL / CS / Illustrated album worldwide through Sub Pop over here, and you can hear here:
The band’s international tour schedule in support of Double Negative has been extended with new, headlining North American dates for 2019.
Lowhave shared a new video for “Rome (Always in the Dark)” which was directed by Aaron Anderson and Eric Timothy Carlson. The collage-like video accentuates the intense nature of the track, an insistent march forcing its way through the din of the album with a damn-the-torpedoes tenacity. “Let’s turn this thing up before they take us out…”
Low’s Double Negativewill be available on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide this Friday, September 14th through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers. The album cover for Double Negative was created by longtime collaborator, English artist, Peter Liversidge.
Low’s international tour schedule for 2018/19, which begins with a three-night stand September 19th-21st, 2018 at National Sawdust in New York City, has been extended through March 23rd, 2019, ending with a show at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo, Utah. The new, 10-date extension includes stops in Denver, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Tijuana, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle.
2018 Tour Dates Sep. 19 - New York, NY - National Sawdust Sep. 20 - New York, NY - National Sawdust Sep. 21 - New York, NY - National Sawdust Sep. 29 - Lisbon, PT - Lisboa ao Vivo Oct. 01 - De Compostela Santiago, ES - Sala Capitol Oct. 02 - Madrid, ES - Sala But Oct. 03 - Barcelona, ES - Fabra i Coats Oct. 05 - Milan, IT - Teatro Dal Verme Oct. 06 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Oct. 08 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz Oct. 09 - Berlin, DE - Festsaal Kreuzberg Oct. 10 - Bochum, DE - Christuskirche Bochum Oct. 11 - Brussels, BE - Orangerie (at Botanique) Oct. 12 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Oct. 13 - Paris, FR - La Gaîté Lyrique Oct. 15 - Bristol, UK - Trinity Oct. 16 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Cathedral Oct. 17 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street Nov. 02 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitz Nov. 05 - Detroit, MI - El Club Nov. 06 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall Nov. 08 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa Nov. 09 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Nov. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts Nov. 12 - Washington, DC U Street Music Hall Nov. 13 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Funhouse Nov. 14 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop Nov. 15 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme Nov. 16 - Chicago, IL - Rockefeller Chapel Nov. 17 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
2019 Tour Dates Jan. 29 - Glasgow, UK - Tramway Jan. 30 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Town Hall Jan. 31 - Brighton, UK - St. George’s Church Brighton Feb. 01 - London, UK - Barbican Feb. 02 - Kortrijk, BE - De Kreun Feb. 04 - Groningen, NL - Vera Feb. 05 - Erlangen, DE - E-Werk (Erlangen) Feb. 06 - Cologne, DE - Kulturkirche Köln Feb. 07 - Frankfurt, DE - Sankt Peter Feb. 08 - Hamburg, DE - Uebel & Gefährlich Feb. 09 - Aarhus, DK - Voxhall Feb. 11 - København, DK - The Koncerthuset - Studie 2 Feb. 12 - Gothenburg, SE - Pustervik Feb. 13 - Oslo - Norway - Parkteatret Feb. 14 - Stockholm, SE - Kagelbanan (Small Room) Mar. 08 - Denver, CO - Globe Hall Mar. 09 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf Mar. 11 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar Mar. 12 - Tustin, CA - Marty’s On Newport Mar. 13 - Tijuana, MX - Moustache Mar. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room Mar. 16 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall Mar. 18 - Portland, OR - Star Theater Mar. 19 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial Mar. 20 - Seattle, WA - Neumos Mar. 23 - Provo, UT - Velour Live Music Gallery
