+ European Tour Begins This Friday November 10th in Groningen, NL.

2017 was an incredible year for Jesca Hoop. She released the stunning Memories Are Now, her Sub Pop debut and best reviewed album to date.Hoop released videos for the beautifully stark “The Lost Sky” and the album’s ebullient title track. She’s embarked on wildly successful US and European tours, and appeared on the Prairie Home Companion and Charlie Rose.
 
To close out the year, Jesca has shared her new video for “Pegasi” which was directed by Rachel Blumberg. Love is written in the stars and sky, in this delicately crafted multi-plane video which is comprised of cut paper and illustrated stop motion footage.

Jesca Hoop Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Jesca Hoop and bandmates’ European tour begins Friday, November 10th in Groningen, NL at Lutherse Kerk and currently ends December 9th in Leeds, UK at Brudenell Social Club. The European tour will include stops in Germany, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, and multiple cities throughout the Netherlands, Sweden, France and U.K. (including London’s Union Chapel on December 1st). Please visit jescahoop.com/tour for updates.
 
Nov. 10 - Groningen, NL - Lutherse Kerk
Nov. 11 - Utrecht, NL - Le Guess Who? Festival (Theater Kikker)
Nov. 12 - Ghent, BE - Minard
Nov. 13 - Haldern, DE - Haldern Pop Bar
Nov. 15 - Lund, SE - Mejeriet
Nov. 16 - Oslo, NO - John Dee
Nov. 18 - Gothenburg, SE - Pustervik
Nov. 21 - Angers, FR - Joker’s Pub
Nov. 22 - Pau, FR - La Ferronnerie
Nov. 23 - Paris, FR - Chorus Festival
Nov. 26 - Guildford, UK - Boileroom
Nov. 27 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds
Nov. 28 - Manchester, UK - The Stoller Hall
Nov. 30 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Dec. 01 - London, UK - Union Chapel
Dec. 02 - Brighton, UK - The Haunt
Dec. 03 - Milton Keynes, UK - The Stables
Dec. 06 - Dublin, IE - The Workmans Club
Dec. 07 - Belfast, UK - The Strand Arts Centre
Dec. 08 - Glasgow, UK - King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
Dec. 09 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club

 
Memories Are Now, featuring the highlights “The Lost Sky” [link here], the aforementioned “Pegasi” and the title track [link here], was recorded at NRG Studios, produced by Blake Mills (Alabama Shakes), engineered by Eric Caudieux, mixed by Greg Koller and mastered by Ian Sefchick at Capitol Mastering. Memories Are Now is available on CD / LP / DL / CS worldwide from Sub Pop [link].
 

What have “The People” been saying about Memories Are Now? Well, since you asked…
“Hoop has been a free spirit, but with Memories Are Now, she understands exactly when to use the bridle and bit on these wild, wise songs.”  [4/5] – MOJO
 
“Her most complete and refined statement yet, a boisterously declarative album that’s urgent and at times seditious.” - Pitchfork
 
“One of her best albums to date. Stunning.” - The Sunday Times
 
“This project has an air of rebirth to it. Hoop and her producer, Blake Mills, have worked to minimize her trademark lush arrangements to make Memories more reminiscent of a live setting. The spare “Animal Kingdom Chaotic” is built around fingerpicked string-work and typewriter clicks. Its Americana-leaning follow-up, “Simon Says,” relies only on a lightly distorted six-string, an upright bass and Hoop’s layered harmonies.” - PASTE
 
“In both content and construction, Jesca Hoop’s songs practically burst with ideas: They’re as strange and smart and heartfelt as they are gorgeous, and that’s saying something.” [Memories Are Now, “First Listen”] - NPR Music
 
“…A raw representation of Hoop’s formidable songwriting talents.” [Memories Are Now] - MAGNET
 
“Memories Are Now is built on stacked voices, sparse rhythm and twisted folk shapes, but the execution varies pleasingly, from the Native American blues of “Cut Connection” to the autumnal bucolia of “Songs Of Old.”  [Memories Are Now, 8/10] - Uncut
 
“Past, present, and future rest patiently before Hoop, and she’s weaved them all into her most endearing album yet.” [Memories Are Now, 10/10] - Drowned in Sound
 
“Memories Are Now is a gorgeously delivered elegy to heartbreak and loss; powerful, perfectly executed songs to bring comfort and strength to the weary, broken and scorned.” [Memories Are Now, 5/5] - The Skinny
 
“There is something compellingly unique and hard to pigeonhole here.” - [Memories Are Now, 4/5 ‘Album of the Week’] - The Guardian

Features music performed by Brandon Micheal Hall, and written by Daveed Diggs, William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes

Listen: “Do Something With It” [from “Here Comes The Governor” Nov. 14] Spotify / Apple

Watch The Mayor’s “Right Here”(Remix) official music video on YouTube

Listen: “Calling Love” [from “Will You Accept This Rose?” Nov. 7] Spotify / Apple

Listen: “See Someone Drive Someone” [from “The Strike” Oct. 31] Spotify /  Apple

Listen: “Trick or Treat” [from “City Hall-Oween” Oct. 24] Spotify / Apple 

Listen: “Straight Outta Coffin” [from “City Hall-Oween” Oct. 24]  Spotify / Apple 

Listen: “So We Did” [from “Buyer’s Remorse” Oct. 17] Spotify / Apple

Listen: “Brokenomics” [from “The Filibuster” Oct. 10] Spotify / Apple

Listen: “Right Here” [from “Pilot” Oct. 3rd] Spotify / Apple

New episode airs tonight at 9:30/8:30c on ABC, and new songs will be available every Friday preceding each new episode… through Apple Music and Spotify

Sub Pop is releasing music from The Mayor, the new hit TV show starring Brandon Micheal Hall, Lea Michele, and Yvette Nicole Brown, created Jeremy Bronson and executive produced by Daveed Diggs (of Sub Pop’s own, Clipping.).

The Mayor airs Tuesdays at 9:30pm | 8:30pm CT on ABC. Songs will be available every Friday, preceding each Tuesday night episode, throughout the season.  
 
Songs from The Mayor soundtrack are performed by Brandon Micheal Hall (aka Courtney Rose) and members of the cast, and written by Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes (of the group Clipping). 

About The Mayor:

Young rapper Courtney Rose needs his big break. For years, he’s toiled away in a small inner-city apartment, making music in his junk-filled bedroom closet. Tired of waiting for opportunity to knock, Courtney cooks up the publicity stunt of the century – running for mayor of his California hometown, Fort Grey, to generate buzz for his music career. But his master plan goes wildly awry, ending in the most terrifying of outcomes: an election victory.
 
The series stars Brandon Micheal Hall as Courtney Rose, Lea Michele as Valentina Barella, Bernard David Jones as Jermaine Leforge, Marcel Spears as T.K. Clifton and Yvette Nicole Brown as Dina Rose.
 
Executive producers of the series are Daveed Diggs, Jeremy Bronson, Jamie Tarses and James Griffiths. “The Mayor” is produced by ABC Studios.

The US leg of Hot Snakes tour begins tomorrow night,  November 8th

On Friday, January 19th, 2018, Hot Snakes entire discography – Automatic Midnight, Suicide Invoice, and Audit in Progress – will be reissued worldwide through Sub Pop. The first pressing of the LP reissues of these albums will be on colored vinyl (Automatic Midnight on orange, Suicide Invoice on yellow, and Audit in Progress on pink) and each album will come with its own, new set of 6 stickers designed by the band’s Rick Froberg. And January 19th will be the first time any of these albums have been available on cassette.

These influential post-hardcore all-stars – boasting members of Pitchfork, Rocket From the Crypt,  Drive Like Jehu, Earthless, Obits, Burning Brides, OFF!, The Delta 72, and more –released three of our favorite rock records of the past 20 years: Automatic Midnight in 2000, Suicide Invoice in 2002 and Audit in Progress in 2004. And now, finally, they’re ours! As we await the somewhat-later-in-2018 release of their first new album since 2004, please make these Sub Pop reissues yours…

Automatic Midnight, Suicide Invoice, and Audit in Progress are now available for preorder in the below listed formats (plus there’s an updated Hot Snakes T-shirt design) [preorder them all here]

• CD digipack with custom dust sleeve
• LP in a single-pocket jacket with custom dust sleeve and new sticker sheet
• Cassette
• Digital

New to Hot Snakes? Check out the handy Hot Snakes Beginner’s Guide on Spotify and/or the equally-as-handy Hot Snakes Essentials on Apple Music.

Automatic Midnight, Hot Snakes’ first studio album, originally came out in 2000. Both the band and the album began as a side project for John Reis in June 1999, during time off from his main band Rocket From the Crypt. Reis wrote and recorded a batch of songs in San Diego with Delta 72 drummer Jason Kourkounis. To provide vocals for the tracks Reis called in Rick Froberg, whom he had played with in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu from 1986 to 1995. Most of the material from these sessions was used to create Automatic Midnight, which became the first release for Reis’ newly formed Swami Records label. The band’s sound represented a return to the unrealized past of its members: direct, undraped and rock ‘n’ roll while still maintaining the dense and turbulent character of the members’ previous work. In April or May of 2000, Hot Snakes added bassist Gar Wood, found their live sound and established themselves as primo, down-stroke warlords.

Automatic Midnight
Tracklisting
1. If Credit’s What Matters I’ll Take Credit
2. Automatic Midnight
3. No Hands
4. Salton City
5. 10th Planet
6. Light Up the Stars
7. Our Work Fills the Pews
8. Past Lives
9. Mystery Boy
10. Apartment 0
11. Let It Come

 
Suicide Invoice, their second album, was originally released in 2002. It was recorded at San Diego’s Drag Racist Studios in 2002 with engineer Ben Moore. The album exhibits Hot Snakes’ slightly larger palate in mood and dissonance. People enjoyed the shows and listening to the recorded music. But, strain from controversy and fame would reveal cracks in the seemingly impenetrable hide of Hot Snakes. A year after the album’s release, drummer Jason Kourkounis left to focus on other music.

Suicide Invoice
Tracklisting
1. I Hate the Kids
2. Gar Forgets His Insulin
3. XOX
4. Who Died
5. Suicide Invoice
6. Paid in Cigarettes
7. LAX
8. Bye Nancy Boy
9. Paperwork
10. Why Does It Hurt
11. Unlisted
12. Ben Gurion

Audit in Progress is their third studio album, originally released in 2004. The band recorded the album with new drummer Mario Rubalcaba at San Diego’s Big Fish Recording with engineer Ben Moore. An increased attraction to dissonance surfaced on Audit in Progress. The album was well-received by critics and fans and was named “best punk album” at the 2005 San Diego Music Awards. More shows were played and enjoyed and the band visited many cities all over the world. By 2005, the band spiraled into a mid-life punk crisis and stopped performing.

Audit in Progress
Tracklisting
1. Braintrust
2. Hi-Lites
3. Retrofit
4. Kreative Kontrol
5. Think About Carbs
6. Audit in Progress
7. Hatchet Job
8. This Mystic Decade
9. Lovebirds
10. Reflex
11. Hair and DNA
12. Plenty for All
 

Lucky for all of us here in the present, Hot Snakes are charging back, renewed, recording new music and playing shows with both drummers, and planning for the release of a new album in 2018 on Sub Pop Records. Read more on Hot Snakes by Swami John Reis here.

Hot Snakes Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Hot Snakes have added new UK headlining dates to their 2017/18 international tour schedule. These UK dates begin January 25th, 2018 in Manchester at Gorilla and end February 3rd, 2018 in Bristol at Thekla. The tour includes stops in London, Leeds, Glasgow, Brighton, Nottingham, Newcastle, and Cambridge. Tickets on sale to general public today at 3pm GMT. 
 
Hot Snakes’ previously announced U.S. shows begin tomorrow night, November 8th, 2017 in Long Beach at Alex’s Bar and run through November 18th, 2017 in Philadelphia at Underground Arts.
 
For up to date ticket information, please visit hotsnakes.shofetti.com.
 
Nov. 08 - Long Beach, CA - Alex’s Bar [Sold Out]
Nov. 09  - Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour [Sold Out]
Nov. 10 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel  [Sold Out]
Nov. 11-  Portland, OR - Star Theatre [Sold Out]
Nov. 12 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey  [Sold Out]
Nov. 15  - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
Nov. 16  - Brooklyn, NY - Bell House  [Sold Out]
Nov. 17 - Boston, MA - Middle East - Boston
Nov. 18  - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
Jan. 25 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla
Jan. 26 - Glasgow, UK - Broadcast
Jan. 27 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny
Jan. 28 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Jan. 30 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
Jan. 31 - Cambridge, UK - The Portland
Feb. 01 - Brighton, UK - Sticky Mikes
Feb. 02 - London, UK - The Dome
Feb. 03 - Bristol, UK - Thekla (Early Show)

First headlining U.K. & Irish tour in over seven years

[Photo Credit: Matt Grace]

UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING ENTRY TO NEWLY ANNOUNCED SHOWS:

Flight of the Conchords and their representatives have addressed the issues with secondary ticketing sites and resellers that followed the October 23, 2017announcement. In an effort to thwart reselling at higher prices, tickets for the newly announced shows are not transferrable and the purchaser must show photo ID matching the lead booker’s name to gain
admission to the show.

- - - - -

Let us start the week off with this exciting news: Grammy Award-winning folk comedy duo Flight of the Conchords (aka Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie) will return to the U.K. & Ireland in March of 2018.
 
The “Flight of the Conchords sing Flight of the Conchords Tour,” is their first U.K. & Irish headlining tour in over 7 years. Jemaine and Bret will showcase new material at these shows. The arena and theatre tour will make stops in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds, and Liverpool.
 
The UK & Irish edition of “Flight of the Conchords sing Flight of the Conchords Tour” will begin with a two-night stand March 19th & 20th, 2018 in London at Eventim Apollo and ends April 1st, 2018 in Liverpool at Echo Arena Liverpool.  Tickets will be on sale Friday, October 27th at 10am GMT. 

UPDATE: Tickets for newly announced shows will be on sale Friday, November 3rd at 10am GMT.

For up to date information on tickets, please visit  metropolism.uk/5N5azK.
 
Mar. 05 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall
Mar. 06 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall
Mar. 07 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall
Mar. 09 - York, UK - Barbican
Mar. 10 - York, UK -  Barbican
Mar. 11- York, UK - Barbican
Mar. 13 - Milton Keynes, UK-  Milton Keynes Theatre
Mar. 14 - Milton Keynes, UK - Milton Keynes Theatre
Mar. 15 - Milton Keynes, UK - Milton Keynes Theatre
Mar. 18 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo [Sold Out]
Mar. 19 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo [Sold Out]
Mar. 20 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo [Sold Out]
Mar. 22 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Genting Arena [Sold Out]
Mar. 23 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Arena [Sold Out]
Mar. 25 - Dublin, IE - 3Arena [Sold Out]
Mar. 26 - Glasgow, UK - The SSE Hydro [Sold Out]
Mar. 27 - Leeds, UK - Leeds First Direct Arena [Sold Out]
Mar. 29 - London, UK -  The O2  [Sold Out]
Mar. 30 - London, UK - The O2 [Sold Out]
Apr. 01 - Liverpool, UK - Echo Arena Liverpool [Sold Out]
Apr. 02 - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Apr. 03 - London, UK - The O2 

Listen to Flight of the Conchords on Spotify and Apple Music

About Flight of the Conchords:
In 2005, Bret and Jemaine received an invitation to perform at the Aspen Comedy Festival, in Colorado, USA. Against tradition they left New Zealand’s summer to go to the northern hemisphere’s winter and were shocked by the snow when they stepped off the plane in t-shirts and jandles. The HBO executives liked their act and asked them to film a half hour performance for a stand-up comedy show called One Night Stand.
 
Over the next four years they made a TV pilot, a sitcom, released an EP (The Distant Future)  and a full length album (self-titled LP), toured North America, made a sandwich, filmed a second season of the sitcom, toured North America again, released a second album (I Told You I Was Freaky), and went back to New Zealand.
 
The HBO sitcom became a hit. This, along with the praise for the subsequent album releases (on Sub Pop Records) and the duo’s live show, was the comedic hat trick that catapulted Flight of the Conchords to international sensations.
 
The Conchords would also see major success individually. Jemaine lent his voice to the character Nigel the cockatoo in the Rio films (2011 and 2014).

He was cast as “Boris The Animal” in Men in Black 3 (2012). Jemaine also wrote, produced and starred in a variety of projects including the acclaimed Vampire comedy film, What We Do In the Shadows and People Places Things. More recently, he joined the cast of The BFG, the new Steven Spielberg adaptation of the Roald Dahl book, as the giant named Fleshlumpeater.
 
Bret has also been hard at work writing and acting for various television and film projects. Most notably The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014), the former of which won him an Academy Award for “Best Original Song” for the power ballad “Man or Muppet”. In 2012 he starred in the New Zealand black comedy Two Little Boys and then in 2013 he was cast in Jerusha Hess’s romantic comedy Austenland. He is currently writing the screenplay and songs for a film adaption of Neil Gaiman’s book Fortunately the Milk as well as penning tunes for the upcoming Disney film Bob the Musical.
 
And somehow, between all of the film and TV work, the Conchords managed to co-headline the “Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival” alongside Dave Chappelle in 2013. 
 
In 2016, Jemaine and Bret announced the wildly successful “The Flight of the Conchords sing Flight of the Conchords Tour.”  The duo premiered new material alongside fan favorites, and quickly sold out amphitheatres and concert halls across the U.S. Also that year, the duo headlined Tenacious D’s Festival Supreme in Los Angeles (read more at Sub Pop).