METZ will be on tour in May, June and July of this year.
METZ, our own widely-adored and delightfully noisy 3-piece punk band from Toronto, released their Sub Pop self-titled debut in 2012 and, in the time since, have cemented their reputation as one of the planet’s most exhilarating live acts and trusted providers of bombastic outsider rock. The band is made up of Alex Edkins, Hayden Menzies, and Chris Slorach. Automat is a collection of METZ non-album singles, B-sides, and rarities dating back to 2009, available here on LP for the first time, and including the band’s long out-of-print early (pre-Sub Pop) recordings. A chronological trip through the lesser known material of METZ, Automat will be released worldwide on Sub Pop July 12, 2019.
The band’s Alex Edkins shares, “The idea to release Automat came after realizing our early 7” singles were being sold online for upwards of $60 bucks a pop. We wanted to make those songs available and affordable to anyone who might want them in the physical format. What started as reissuing a couple of 45s, quickly morphed into an entire LP, compiling rarities, demos and alternate takes from over the years.”
“‘Pure Auto’ is METZ at our most tongue in cheek,” says Edkins. “There are many winks and many nods (autonomy, me, me, me, me, me, for example) but ultimately it’s about being a control freak; fighting the urge to constantly steer the ship. Originally released as the B-side to the ‘Eraser’ 7” it has never been played live, but for some reason still manages to be one of our collective favorites. It was written and recorded very quickly after completing the II album sessions and came out of a surge of creativity/excitement/relief following a particularly intense and time-consuming album. You can watch the new video for “Pure Auto” by Montreal’s Scorpion Dagger by clicking here and also here.”
Consumers of the vinyl format of Automat will be rewarded with a bonus single that includes three additional tracks: a cover of Sparklehorse’s “Pig,” from a very limited 2012 Record Store Day split single originally released by Toronto’s Sonic Boom record shop; “I’m a Bug,” a cover of The Urinals’ art-punk classic, originally released on YouTube (not an actual record label) in 2014; and METZ’s previously unreleased rendition of Gary Numan’s “M.E.”
METZ are currently hard at work on their 4th full-length LP which will be released on Sub Pop when we are all damn good and ready.
All tracks on Automat have been lovingly remastered by Matthew Barnhart at Chicago Mastering Service.
Automat Tracklisting
1. Soft Whiteout 2. Lump Sums 3. Dry Up 4. Ripped on the Fence 5. Negative Space (7 inch version) 6. Automat 7. Wet Blanket (demo) 8. Dirty Shirt 9. Leave Me Out 10. Can’t Understand 11. Pure Auto 12. Eraser
METZ are playing May 25th in Minneapolis and May 26th in Chicago with labelmates Mudhoney and heading overseas on June 23rd, to begin a 14-date EU run with performances at Loose Ends Festival in Amsterdam, Lars Rock Festival in Chiusi Scalo in Italy, Pointu Festival in Island Gaou, France, and ending July 14th in Montmartin-sur-Mer, France.
Tour Dates May 25 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe* May 26 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall # May 27 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club Jun. 23 - Amsterdam, NL- Loose Ends Festival Jun. 25 - Bristol, UK - Fleece Jun. 26 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Jun. 27 - Manchester, UK - YES Jun. 28 - London, UK - Studio 9294 Jun. 29 - Eindhoven, NL - Effenaar Jul. 02 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Jul. 03 - Lyon, FR - Ninkasi Gerland / Kao Jul. 05 - Chiusi Scalo, IT - Lars Rock Festival Jul. 07 - Ile du Gaou, FR - Pointu Festival Jul. 09 - Düdingen, CH - Bad Bonn Jul. 10 - Luxembourg-Bonnevoie, LU - Rotondes Jul. 11 - Bremen, DE - TOWER Musikclub Jul. 13 - Paris, FR- La Station, Gare Des Mines for Garage MU Festival Jul. 14 - Montmartin-sur-Mer, FR - Chauffer Dans La Noirceur
Support dates with Mikal Cronin from Nov. 08- Dec. 01.
[Photo Credit: Denee Segall]
Thrilled to announce that Sub Pop has signed a worldwide recording deal with transcendent folk-pop artist Shannon Lay. Pitchfork described her 2017 release Living Water as “a work of plainspoken mysticism that goes to the small, bright truth of things, showcasing her unusual songwriting and quietly commanding voice.”
To celebrate this union, Lay has shared a cover of the classic Karen Dalton song “Something On Your Mind.” “This song means a lot to me,” says Lay. “The version that Karen Dalton does is a gorgeous piece of wisdom. I wanted to cover it because I believe in the message with all my heart. Life is going to knock you down and lift you up and you’ll never experience any of it unless you try. I love the idea of spreading that spirit further. If there’s something on your mind, let it out. Try even if there’s a possibility you’ll fail, you might learn something amazing about yourself.” You can listen to Shannon Lay’s cover of “Something On Your Mind” here.
Shannon Lay will join as a member of Ty Segall’s Freedom Band for his upcoming Full album residencies in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, London, Berlin, and Haarlem. SeePitchfork’s news story from April 24th. Following these shows, Shannon will start an 18-date North American run opening for Mikal Cronin. These shows will have the bands performing in Portland, Vancouver, Seattle, St. Paul, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, Durham, Atlanta, and New Orleans, ending on December 1st in San Diego. See below for a full list of shows and stay tuned for more information on impending music from Shannon Lay.
The legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band will re-release So It Is and That’s It! on CD / LP worldwide June 28th through Sub Pop. You can preorder both albums now through Sub Pop Mega Mart and select independent retailers in North America, UK and Europe. Both albums are also available digitally now from Sub Pop.
So It Is was originally released in 2017, and finds the classic Preservation Hall Jazz Band sound invigorated by a number of fresh influences, not least among them the band’s 2015 life-changing trip to Cuba. A visit to the island, so integral to the evolution of jazz and New Orleans culture in general, had long been in the works when President Obama’s diplomatic opening suddenly allowed for a more extensive journey than had originally seemed possible. Producer David Sitek, a founder of art rock innovators TV on the Radio who has helmed projects by Kelis, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Santigold among others, offered both a keen modern perspective and a profound respect for the band’s storied history.
So It Is Tracklisting
1. So It Is 2. Santiago 3. Innocence 4. La Malanga 5. Convergence 6. One Hundred Fires 7. Mad
Released in 2013, That’s It! is an eclectic album that draws on the collective experience of players nurtured in the New Orleans tradition but determined to build something fresh and exciting on that foundation. It marks an important milestone in PHJB Creative Director Ben Jaffe’s crusade to carry forward the Hall’s original mission while making it relevant to today’s audiences. For his part, co-producer Jim James is convinced that the PHJB has a future as vibrant as its past: “The music will speak forever,” he says. “Will people stop listening to Beethoven? Will people stop listening to Bob Dylan? Will people stop listening to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band?”
That’s It! Tracklisting
1. That’s It! 2. Dear Lord (Give Me The Strength) 3. Come With Me 4. Sugar Plum 5. Rattlin’ Bones 6. I Think I Love You 7. August Nights 8. Halfway Right 9. Halfway Wrong 10. Yellow Moon 11. The Darker It Gets 12. Emmalena’s Lullaby
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tour Dates
Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s touring schedule for 2019 resumes May 16th in New Orleans at the Fillmore and currently ends with a three-night stand November 29th-December 1st in Baltimore at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
May 16 - New Orleans, LA - The Fillmore ^ Jul. 05 - Elkhorn, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre* Jul. 06 - Elkhorn, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre* Jul. 28 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival Aug. 02 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon Aug. 03 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon Aug. 05 - Folsom, CA - Harris Center For The Arts Aug. 06 - Folsom, CA - Harris Center For The Arts Aug. 08 - San Francisco, CA - SFJAZZ Aug. 09 - San Francisco, CA - SFJAZZ Aug. 10 - San Francisco, CA - SFJAZZ (7:00PM) Aug. 10 - San Francisco, CA - SFJAZZ (9:30PM) Aug. 11 -San Francisco, CA - SF Jazz Center - Miner Auditorium Aug. 15 - Philadelphia, PA - Old Pool Farm Aug. 16 - Philadelphia, PA - Old Pool Farm Aug. 17 - Philadelphia, PA - Old Pool Farm Aug. 18 - Philadelphia, PA - Old Pool Farm Aug. 24 - Arrington, VA - Lockn’ Music Festival Sep. 20 - Louisville, KY - Bourbon & Beyond Festival Sep. 21 - Franklin, TN - Pilgrimage Music Festival Sep. 22 - Franklin, TN - Pilgrimage Music Festival Nov. 29 - Baltimore, MD - Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Nov. 30 - Baltimore, MD - Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Dec. 01 - Baltimore, MD - Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall *with Dave Matthews Band ^with Foo Fighters
Recently, Preservation Hall Jazz Band released “Kreyol,” a spirited tune from “A Tuba To Cuba,” the forthcoming soundtrack to the critically acclaimed documentary directed by T.G. Herrington and Danny Clinch. The song is available now worldwide on all DSPs from Sub Pop.
“A Tuba To Cuba” follows Ben Jaffe of New Orleans’ famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band as he seeks to fulfill his late father’s dream of retracing their musical roots to the shores of Cuba in search of the indigenous music that gave birth to New Orleans jazz. “A Tuba To Cuba” celebrates the triumph of the human spirit expressed through the universal language of music and challenges us to resolve to build bridges, not walls. The film is available through Amazon Video, iTunes, DirecTV, Google Play, YouTube Movies and more. Check your local service provider for additional listings.
The New York Times says of the film, “This joyous, wide-ranging account of a New Orleans jazz band’s 2015 visit to Cuba is crammed with fascinating facts and toe-tickling tunes.” And the LA Times offers this, “Jaunty, at times poetic chats and drop-ins with many Big Easy and Cuban jazz artists, discussion of their music’s African lineage (the Atlantic slave trade factored in), stirring examples of native instrumentation, and pulsating performances combine with colorful, travelogue-type shots (love those old Cuban theaters) and vivid archival footage to create a vibrant and joyous portrait.”
Yuno’s Moodie, his debut EP, is now available worldwide on Sub Pop.
Yuno has directed an official video for his reworked single “Sunlight,” which is now available in its new form through all DSPs today via Sub Pop.
The “Sunlight” single is an ode to joy, and it’s collage-like visual follows Yuno spending time with friends and creating music. He says of the video, “This song is about longing to be with someone you care about. I just started touring last year, and I got to meet a lot of people in person that I’ve been friends with for years. I was also far away from people I care about. I wrote this song a long time ago, but I wanted to update it and capture the feeling of how relevant it is in my life right now.” The “Sunlight” rework was co-produced by Yuno and producer Lars Stalfors (Lil Peep, HEALTH, Bob Moses, Matt and Kim).
Yuno’s “Sunlight” along with his breakout single, “No Going Back,” are currently featured in the hit Netflix film, The Perfect Date (see Refinery 29 April 24th).
Yuno’s Moodie, his first-ever collection of songs, is available now worldwide through Sub Pop. Moodie was written, performed, and produced by Yuno.
What people are saying about Yuno: “An early entry into the race for song of the summer.” [“No Going Back”] -NPR Music
“‘No Going Back” insists what we’re all thinking for the new pop wunderkind: Only forward.” [“No Going Back”, Best New Track] -Pitchfork
“A masterfully written song, but instead of being polished to a bore, it feels handmade, with a fuzzy guitar solo, meaty bass, and a euphoric bounce.” [“No Going Back”] - Pigeons & Planes
“Yuno’s lithe voice floats amidst the cheerful soundscape, bouncing off the plucky piano keys… the brand of sunny pop displayed on ‘No Going Back’ should earn him his own cult fanbase.” - Impose
“It’s light and breezy indie-pop, with warm and bouncy synth-lines softly coloured overck with warm piano melodies and guitar solos. His vocals – fitting beautifully into the current psychedelic renaissance spearheaded by the likes of Tame Impala and Washed Out – pour out an infectious melody that’s simultaneously great fun and inflected with melancholy.” [“No Going Back”] - Indie Shuffle
“Bouncy and bright…” [“No Going Back”] - Gorilla Vs. Bear.
“Charming us all with its buoyant pop flair and instrumentals that sound as if they were seemingly dipped in sunshine, “No Going Back” signals Yuno’s return in a way that’s almost impossible to shake. “No Going Back” is as promising as it is optimistic.” [“No Going Back”] - The Grey Estates
“Drifting digital pop casting a bittersweet spell.” [“No Going Back”] -CLASH
North American tour supporting Cub Sport May 13 (in Seattle!) through June 7th.
Minor Poet is sharing the charming, Good Will Hunting-homage video for “Museum District” from The Good News, his forthcoming EP out May 17th on Sub Pop.
Minor Poet’s Andrew Carter and Sho Kellam co-directed the “Museum District” video, had this to say, “Good News Hunting tells the story of a songwriter and janitor who neglects finishing his new album, instead spending his days drinking in bars with his buddies and getting into fights in the Museum District of Richmond, VA. But after the advice and counseling of both his therapist and his best friend, he finds the courage to finish his new EP, The Good News.”
Minor Poet is currently supporting Australian band Cub Sport on the group’s headlining tour, which resumes on Monday May 13th in Seattle and ends June 7th in Phoenix at the Valley Bar. The tour will also include stops in Portland, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Brooklyn, Montreal, Toronto, Philadelphia, DC, Atlanta, Austin, and Houston.
May 13 - Seattle, WA - Columbia City Theater May 14 - Portland, OR - The Old Church May 18 - Denver, CO - The Marquis Theater May 20 - Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern May 22 - Boston, MA - Café 939 May 23 - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory May 24 - Montreal, QC - L’Esco May 25 - Toronto, ON - The Drake Underground May 28 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry at The Fillmore May 29 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd May 31 - Atlanta, GA - Purgatory at The Masquerade Jun. 02 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Indoor Jun. 03 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs) Jun. 05 - Dallas, TX - Three Links Jun. 07 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar
Minor Poet’s The Good News was produced by Andrew Carter and Adrian Olsen (Natalie Prass, Foxygen) at Montrose Recording in Richmond. The Good News is available for preorder through Sub Pop Mega Mart. Preorders of the LP through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America, UK, and Europe will receive the limited Loser edition on clear with red and blue swirl vinyl (while supplies last).
