On August 15th, 2024, Sub Pop will release Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil’s bold, forthcoming third album, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film, The Jazz Daredevil Movie.
The Jazz Daredevil sets the scene: Through ribbons of smoke, Jazz Daredevil walks across the small stage. He takes his place at the piano. Looking out, he clocks his small audience, most of whom talk amongst themselves. “This is my life,” he thinks to himself. It’s not a happy thought. At one table, a woman in sunglasses sits alone. “Is she as lost as I?” He counts in the trio, “one, two, one, two, three…” The Jazz Daredevil plays. He can’t play, though. It’s complicated. It’s the same feeling. That feeling of both freedom and failure. “There’s never nothing to lose” is the thought that crosses his mind, as he mindlessly hits random notes on the baby grand. He glances at the woman alone. ‘Can she change everything?’”
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack… includes guest appearances from Therese Plaehn-Mirman, Wyatt Cenac, Alexis Kesselman, Larry Murphy, Ana Silvia Daniel, Leo Allen, Brendon Small, Ronnell Johnson, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The soundtrack was produced and mixed by Zachary Seman, and mastered by Levi Seitz at Blackbelt Mastering. Watch today’s first offering, the official video for “I Want You,” which stars Marin Ireland and is directed by Jason Woliner.
The album will be available on LP and all DSPs, and can be pre-ordered now from Sub Pop Mega Mart (North America), Bandcamp, and independent retailers in North America. LP preorders will receive the Loser Edition on silver vinyl, which is limited to 1,500 copies.
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the (Unproduced) Film, The Jazz Daredevil Movie follows his landmark 2015 debut Well I Should Have… Learned How to Play Piano, which garnered gushing coverage from people like Stephen Colbert and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” blew through two vinyl pressings, and is now a sought-after collectible; and the 2020 follow-up The Soundtrack Collection, arguably the first truly great collection of movie theme songs performed poorly with a Moog synthesizer and expertly by an orchestra at the same time.
Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film, The Jazz Daredevil Movie
1. They All Say… (The Jazz Daredevil Theme) 2. The Proposition (Dialogue) 3. Apartment Fire (Instrumental) 4. Limo Ride (Dialogue) 5. Limo Ride (Instrumental) 6. Balcony (Dialogue) 7. I Want You 8. Truth or Dare (Dialogue) 9. Sex Scene Song (Instrumental) 10. Do You Want Half a Sandwich? (Dialogue) 11. I Got My Hook in You 12. Meeting Ray (Dialogue) 13. The Man in the Mask (Rich’s Theme) 14. Rita’s Plea (Dialogue) 15. Walk Through the Woods (Instrumental) 16. Don’t Go Through the Woods (Dialogue) 17. Murder Plot (The Caretaker’s Theme) 18. Who’s Rich? (Dialogue) 19. I Shoplift Even Though I’m Rich 20. How Do I Know You’re Telling the Truth (Dialogue) 21. The Twist (Instrumental) 22. Lorraine, No… (Dialogue) 23. They All Say… (Reprise)
Today, The Bug Club is sharing “A Bit Like James Bond,” an exciting, debonair new song about everyone’s favorite British spy. The song is from On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System, their forthcoming album.
Last week, The Bug Club also announced the addition of US shows to their 2024 tour schedule in support of On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System. These new dates will begin Tuesday, October 15th in Brooklyn, NY at Baby’s All Right and run through Thursday, October 24th in Seattle, WA at The Black Lodge. Their previously announced UK tour dates, which bookend the US dates, continue on Thursday, August 29, with an instore at Brighton, UK’s Resident Records. Please see a current list of tour dates below.
Thu. Aug. 29 - Brighton, Resident Records (instore) Fri. Aug. 30 - Brighton, UK - Brighton Psych Fest Sat. Aug 31 - Hull, UK - The Adelphi Sun. Sep. 01 - Edinburgh, UK - Edinburgh Psych Fest Mon. Sep. 02 - Riley & Coe Session, BBC Radio 6 Music Tue. Sep. 03 - Liverpool, UK - Rough Trade (instore) Wed. Sep. 04 - Nottingham, UK - Rough Trade (instore) Thu. Sep. 05 - London, UK - Rough Trade East (instore) Tue. Oct. 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right Sat. Oct. 19 - San Diego, CA - Whistle Stop (5pm show) Sun. Oct. 20 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo Mon. Oct. 21 - San Francisco, CA - Kilowatt Wed. Oct. 23 - Portland, OR - Showbar Thu. Oct. 24 - Seattle, WA - Black Lodge Thu. Nov. 07 - Bournemouth, UK - Bear Cave Fri. Nov. 08 - Margate, UK - Lido Sat. Nov. 09 - Bedford, UK - Esquires Wed. Nov. 13 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny Thu. Nov. 14 - Hebden Bridge, UK - The Trades Club Fri. Nov. 15 - Leicester, UK - The SoundHouse Sat. Nov. 16 - Norwich, UK - Norwich Arts Centre
Last month, The Bug Club announced release details for On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System, which will be released worldwide on Friday, August 30th, 2024. The album features the aforementioned “A Bit Like James Bond,” and previously released highlights “Quality Pints,” and “Lonsdale Slipons,” along with other feel-good ditties like “War Movies,” and “We Don’t Care About That.”
On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System sees the band serve up a beefy slab of their signature Modern-Lovers-meets-Nuggets garage rock, featuring B-52’s call-and-response fun mixed with AC/DC power chord grunt (read more at Sub Pop).
The Bug Club’s On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System is available to preorder on CD/LP/DSPs from Sub Pop. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com (North America), Mega Mart 2 (UK/EU), and independent retailers worldwide will receive the limited Loser edition vinyl on Transparent Grey Smoke (US) and Orange/Red Marble (UK/EU) (whilst stock lasts!). On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System’s album cover artwork is from UK illustrator and comic book artist Willem Hampson.
What people are saying about The Bug Club:
“On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System… is lean and mean. Recorded with Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard’s Tom Rees at his Rat Trap studio in Cardiff, its 11 songs crackle with incisive melodies and funny pop culture-addled lyrics – they reference The Great Escape’s Virgil Hilts one minute, and move on to the horror of Lonsdale slip on daps the next – but they’re in and out in under 26 minutes. Zero fat.” - NME
“The full title of scrappy Welsh duo The Bug Club’s first album for Sub Pop is On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System By Means of Popular Music Or the Contemplation Of Pretty Faces, Tinned Bubbles and Strife which, as they note, is ‘long as fuck’ even it it doesn’t quite approach Fiona Apple length. It’s definitely the longest thing about the album which, like previous records, delivers two-minute DIY-punk blasts about mundane subjects (this time topics include beer and ‘the worst shoes in the UK.’).” 64 Albums We’re Anticipating For Summer 2024 - BROOKLYN VEGAN
“Throw back a few (and then a few more) to this great record of Modern Lovers meets Nuggets-garage rock…” [On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System] Bandcamp
“‘Quality Pints’ is a wild two-minute rager that reminds me of the Buzzcocks and the Vaselines. It’s all about something the band has surely experienced during all that touring: the search for a decent beer in various cities around the world. In addition to the explosive punk-rock energy, the song has a hip-shaking rock ‘n’ roll element, manifested in a rattling tambourine and occasional outbursts of electric-shock lead guitar” STEREOGUM
“The amped-up punk track is a blast of shout-along energy, and vicious guitar solos following the pair’s journey to secure a solid pint of beer… It’s as ridiculous as it is fun, and Harris and Willmett are bringing their particular flavor of absurdity to Sub Pop’s legendary roster. Cheers, indeed.” [“Quality Pints”] “Best New Songs” - PASTE
“’Quality Pints’ vigorously extols the anticipatory pleasures of searching for good alcohol, but even a teetotaler like your blogger can get inebriated on its speed-demon rock. This is faster, punkier, and more immediately catchy than anything else in the Bug Club’s discography, with manic guitar solos that’ll make you spit out your lager in admiration. One senses that, if he were alive, another BBC DJ, John Peel, would love the Bug Club as much as he did the Fall. Let’s hope an album’s in the works.” The Stranger
“Lonsdale Slipons” is a post-punk supernova with an infectious bassline, satisfying dual vocals, and a great climax as Sam Willmett declares: “These drugs are tasty as hell! I think I’ll have another!” Listen below and slip on your Lonsdale slip ons and sway.” STEREOGUM
“This song is a ridiculous amount of fun and blends art rock and fun in a way that they rarely are. Personally, I hear a little more Strokes style guitar than AC/DC, but regardless ‘Lonsdale Slipons’ is going to insert itself into your brain and singing along to “These drugs are tasty as hell / I think I’ll have another” for days to come.” If It’s Too Loud
“’Lonsdale Slipons’” is a throbbing container of mechanical riffs ready to erupt into chaos. “These drugs are tasty as hell!” Sam Willmett cries out. “I think I’ll have another!” Tilly Harris flicks a bassline that leaps out of the speakers after trading punches with Willmett’s guitar. It’s call-and-response soul music reconfigured into crooked-mouthed English post-punk.” “Best New Songs” - PASTE
The Bug Club On The Intricate Inner Workings of the System
Tracklisting: 1. War Movies 2. Quality Pints 3. Pop Single 4. Best Looking Strangers in the Cemetery 5. A Bit Like James Bond 6. We Don’t Care About That 7. Lonsdale Slipons 8. Better Than Good 9. Actual Pain 10. Cold. Hard. Love. 11. The Intricate Inner Workings of the System
Today, The Postal Service have shared a brand-new remix of their fan-favourite track “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” by multi-GRAMMY Award nominated electro-pop duo Sylvan Esso.
The track - which is taken from the band’s critically acclaimed album Give Up - comes ahead of their extended 20th anniversary co-headline ‘Give Up Transatlanticism’ tour with Death Cab For Cutie. This extraordinary live run celebrates the 20th anniversaries of each band’s seminal 2003 album, The Postal Service’s RIAA Platinum-certified Give Up and Death Cab for Cutie’s RIAA Platinum-certified breakthrough fourth studio LP Transatlanticism – two classics released within a mere eight months of one another, and created with a total recording budget of just $20k.
Speaking on the remix – which is released via Sub Pop - The Postal Service’s Jimmy Tamborello says, “I love Sylvan Esso and was excited to hear the song through their ears. It came out so good, big and tweaky and fun!”
Speaking on being asked to reimagine the track, Sylvan Esso say, “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight was a formative song for both of us, Nick remembers hearing the promo copy spooling out of his car speakers while he delivered pizza - Amelia remembers hearing it in the back of someone’s van during her freshman lunch hour. Both of us thought the song touched something new then - and to be asked to reinterpret it now is an honour.”
LISTEN TO “THE DISTRICT SLEEPS ALONE TONIGHT (SYLVAN ESSO REMIX)”HERE
This week’s highly anticipated live dates include shows in Glasgow, Cardiff, and Barcelona (tickets available HERE), as well as their co-headline show at London’s All Points East (ft. The Decemberists, Yo La Tengo, Phoenix, The Lemon Twigs, Sleater-Kinney, Teenage Fanclub, Gossip + more) on 25th August, as well as Kalorama in Madrid, Spain, and Meo Kalorama in Lisbon, Portugal. Full dates outlined below. Support at the Glasgow and Cardiff dates comes from Teenage Fanclub and from The Kills in Barcelona.
The extension comes in response to massive demand from fans, following the joint tour’s critically acclaimed and wildly-successful US 2023 dates. That run was entirely sold-out and included back-to-back shows at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, three nights at LA’s Hollywood Bowl, and marquee dates in many other major cities – bringing 250k+ fans together at iconic arenas and amphitheatres across the US.
Benjamin Gibbard, co-founder of both bands, will continue to pull double duty on the 2024 dates, performing Give Up and Transatlanticism in full alongside his respective bandmates. “Few musicians have released two culture-shifting records in the span of a single year,” Pitchfork proclaimed within their glowing review of this fall’s first MSG show, “and even less have done it with two different musical outfits.”
“I know for a fact I will never have a year again like 2003. The Postal Service record came out, Transatlanticism came out. These two records will be on my tombstone, and I’m totally fine with that. I’ve never had a more creatively inspired year.” – Benjamin Gibbard
Ben also recently spoke with The Guardian for a career-spanning piece ahead of the live dates. Take a read HERE.
The Postal Service is comprised of Gibbard, Tamborello, and Jenny Lewis; Death Cab for Cutie is comprised of Gibbard, Nick Harmer, Dave Depper, Zac Rae, and Jason McGerr. All upcoming tour dates are enclosed below.
THE POSTAL SERVICE x DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE | CO-HEADLINE UK / EU TOUR DATES
AUGUST
23 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro* 24 – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena* 25 – London, UK – All Points East Festival 27 – Barcelona, ES – Poble Espanyol^ 29 – Madrid, ES – Kalorama Madrid 30 – Lisbon, PT – Meo Kalorama
*with special guest Teenage Fanclub ^with special guest The Kills
Last week, Sub Pop shared details on behalf of Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil’s bold new effort, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film…The Jazz Daredevil and its lead single, “I Want You.”
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film…The Jazz Daredevil is out today, August 15th, worldwide from Sub Pop. It features guest appearances from Therese Plaehn-Mirman, Wyatt Cenac, Alexis Kesselman, Larry Murphy, Ana Silvia Daniel, Leo Allen, Brendon Small, Ronnell Johnson, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The soundtrack was produced and mixed by Zachary Seman and mastered by Levi Seitz at Blackbelt Mastering.
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the (Unproduced) Film… The Jazz Daredevil follows his landmark 2015 debut Well I Should Have… Learned How to Play Piano, which garnered coverage from people like Stephen Colbert and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” blew through two vinyl pressings, and is now a sought-after collectible; and the 2020 follow-up The Soundtrack Collection, arguably the first truly great collection of movie theme songs performed poorly with a Moog synthesizer and expertly by an orchestra at the same time.
Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film…The Jazz Daredevil
1. They All Say… (The Jazz Daredevil Theme) 2. The Proposition (Dialogue) 3. Apartment Fire (Instrumental) 4. Limo Ride (Dialogue) 5. Limo Ride (Instrumental) 6. Balcony (Dialogue) 7. I Want You 8. Truth or Dare (Dialogue) 9. Sex Scene Song (Instrumental) 10. Do You Want Half a Sandwich? (Dialogue) 11. I Got My Hook in You 12. Meeting Ray (Dialogue) 13. The Man in the Mask (Rich’s Theme) 14. Rita’s Plea (Dialogue) 15. Walk Through the Woods (Instrumental) 16. Don’t Go Through the Woods (Dialogue) 17. Murder Plot (The Caretaker’s Theme) 18. Who’s Rich? (Dialogue) 19. I Shoplift Even Though I’m Rich 20. How Do I Know You’re Telling the Truth (Dialogue) 21. The Twist (Instrumental) 22. Lorraine, No… (Dialogue) 23. They All Say… (Reprise)
Today, musician Suki Waterhouse shares a new single titled “Blackout Drunk,” a standout from Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, her forthcoming 18-track double album.
“Blackout Drunk” intoxicates with its swinging handclap-laden bounce, woozy riffing, doo-wop harmonies, and chantable chorus. The blistering new bop was produced by Fred Ball, Hazey Eyes, and the album’s executive producer, Eli Hirsch, and written by Suki, Ball, and Natalie Findlay.
Watch the new visualizer by filmmaker and animator Callum Scott-Dyson (who directed Suki’s “My Fun” and “Faded” visuals).
Memoir of a Sparklemuffin will be available on Friday, September 13th, 2024 on CD/2xLP/CS/DSPs from Sub Pop. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com (US), Mega Mart 2 (UK/EU), and your local record store will receive the limited Loser edition vinyl on Sparklemuffin Pearl (North America), and Sparkle Starlight (UK/Europe). There is also an Afterglow Purple vinyl, along with new Suki merch available from her Official Merch Store (All limited edition vinyl colors available whilst stock lasts!).
Suki’s The Sparklemuffin Tour, her previously announced 25-city North American headlining jaunt in support of the album, begins at Salt Lake City’s Love Letters Festival on Friday, September 27th, and will make stops in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, and more. Preceding the tour, Suki will also appear at London’s All Points East (August 18th), and will support Mitski at Portland, OR’s Moda Theatre (September 21st).
SUMMER/FALL 2024 Sun. Aug. 18 - London, UK - All Points East Festival Sat. Sep. 21 - Portland, OR - MODA Center +
“THE SPARKLEMUFFIN TOUR” FALL 2024 Fri. Sep. 27 - Salt Lake City, UT - Love Letters Festival Sat. Sep. 28 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom * Thu. Oct. 17 - Houston, TX - House of Blues ^ Fri. Oct. 18 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater ^ Sat. Oct. 19 - Dallas, TX - The Factory in Deep Ellum ^ Mon. Oct. 21 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren ^ Tue. Oct. 22 - San Diego, CA - The Sound ^ Wed. Oct. 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre ^ Fri. Oct. 25 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield Mon. Oct. 28 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom ^ Tue. Oct. 30 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater ^ Mon. Dec. 02 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman ^ Tue. Dec. 03 - St. Louis, MO - The Factory ^ Wed. Dec. 04 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre ^ Fri. Dec. 06 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora ^ Sat. Dec. 07 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount ^ [Sold Out] Sun. Dec. 08 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount ^ Tue. Dec. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall ^ Wed. Dec. 11 - Washington, DC - The Anthem ^ Fri. Dec. 13 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner ^ Sat. Dec. 14 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS ^ Sun. Dec. 15 - Toronto, ON - HISTORY ^ Tue. Dec. 17 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre ^ Wed. Dec. 18 - Chicago, IL - The Salt Shed ^ Thu. Dec. 19 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium ^ Sat. Dec. 21 - Atlanta, GA - The Eastern ^
^ w/ Bully * w/ Debbii Dawson + w/ Mitski
Suki Waterhouse Memoir of a Sparklemuffin
1. Gateway Drug 2. Supersad 3. Blackout Drunk 4. Faded 5. Nonchalant 6. My Fun 7. Model, Actress, Whatever 8. To Get You 9. Lullaby 10. Big Love 11. Lawsuit 12. OMG 13. Think Twice 14. Could’ve Been A Star 15. Legendary 16. Everybody Breaks Up Anyway 17. Helpless 18. To Love
Today, August 2nd, J.R.C.G. has released Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra), the second album and Sub Pop debut from the Tacoma, WA-based artist Justin R. Cruz Gallego. Conceived and executed primarily in Gallego’s home studio, Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra) was co-produced by Gallego and Seth Manchester (The Body, Battles, and Mdou Moctar). Together, they retained the intimacy of Gallego’s home recordings while taking advantage of the hi-fi stylings of Manchester’s Machines With Magnets Studio in Rhode Island.
Driven by opposing forces, Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra) weds scouring electronics to hooky, powerful beats in a way that feels visceral and new. Its nine tracks feature the standout singles “Dogear,”“34,”“Drummy,” and “Cholla Beat,” the latter of which has a brand new video directed by Mitch Wells of New Orleans metal band Thou. (Wells also directed the video for “Drummy.”)
J.R.C.G. will begin a 17-date headline tour on August 2nd in Portland, OR, with shows in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Nashville. This initial run of dates ends August 30th in Providence, RI. Another leg of shows begins September 25th in Brooklyn, NY, with shows in Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles. See below for a full list of shows.
