On the eve of his debut album release on Sub Pop, rising Seattle rapper Porter Ray drops a dream-like video for previously unheard track, Past Life.
Filmed in Porter’s hometown of Seattle, the visual is directed by Patrick O’Brien-Smith. The bittersweet PastLife - featuring Cashtro and Black - finds Ray reflecting on his eventful teenage years, lost family and friends, highs, lows, misadventures and more. The rapper’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.
Porter Ray signed to Sub Pop after catching the attention of Shabazz Palaces founder and label A&R Ishmael Butler, his debut album Watercolor drops tomorrow AND he plays at SXSW next week.
Porter Ray’s current live dates include multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. Additional live dates will be announced soon.
Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Swan Dive Patio Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Dozen Street - Kosher Dillz Show May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
Watercolor is out tomorrow, March 10th, on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS from Sub Pop right over here and in finer independent record stores the world over. LP orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. Guest appearances include Cashtro, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] – MOJO
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor] - Crack Magazine
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring ShabazzPalaces, Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] –Stereogum
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great StasThee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear
“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER
Watch video for “Demon In Profile” (directed by longtime Whigs collaborator Phil Harder), and/or listen on Spotify.
European Tour Begins May 26th In Manchester, UK!
We at Sub Pop are supremely thrilled to announce that The Afghan Whigs In Spades, the group’s spellbinding new album, will be available on CD / 180 gram-LP / CS / DL worldwide on May 5th from Sub Pop. The album, led by the single “Demon In Profile,” and standouts “Oriole,” “Copernicus,” “Arabian Heights” and “Toy Automatic,” is the follow-up the band’s internationally acclaimed Do to the Beast. In Spades, written and produced by Greg Dulli, was recorded in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Memphis and Joshua Tree.
The album is a searing and soulful rock effort that emphasizes its pop instincts while contrasting with the seductive themes found throughout. From its evocative cover art to the troubled spirits haunting its halls, In Spades casts a spell that challenges the listener to unpack its dark metaphors and spectral imagery. “It’s a spooky record,” notes Greg Dulli, Afghan Whigs’ songwriter and frontman. “I like that it’s veiled. It’s not a concept album per se, but as I began to assemble it, I saw an arc and followed it. To me it’s about memory – in particular, how quickly life and memory can blur together.”
Earlier today, The Afghan Whigs’ Dulli sat for an interview with BBC 6Music to premiere “Demon In Profile” and discuss In Spades.
[Photo credit: Chris Cuffaro] The band have also announced their first set of EU dates supporting In Spades. They’ll visit 14 countries this summer including performances at Primavera Sound and Northside Festival. Ed Harcourt will be supporting on all headline shows.
May 26 - Manchester, UK - Cathedral May 27 - Glasgow, UK - ABC May 28 - Dublin, IE - Academy May 30 - London, UK - Koko Jun. 01 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound Festival Jun. 03 - Bologna, IT - Zona Roveri Jun. 04 - Zagreb, HR - Tvornica Kulture Jun. 06 - Warsaw, PL - Palladium Jun. 07 - Berlin, DE - Kesselhaus Jun. 09 - Aarhus, DK - Northside Festival Jun.10 - Oslo, NO - Vulkan Jun.12 - Hamburg, DE - Gruenspan Jun.13 - Frankfurt, DE - Batchkapp Jun.14 - Antwerp, BE - Trix Jun.15 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique Aug. 04 - Vienna, AT - WUK Aug. 05 - Prague, CZ - Lucerna Music Bar Aug. 06 - Zurich, CH - Mascotte Aug. 08 - Munich, DE - Backstage Halle Aug. 09 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
In Spades is now available for preorder from Sub Pop, The Afghan Whigs official website, and select independent retailers.LP pre-orders will receive the “Loser” edition on 180-gram, white-chocolate vinyl (while supplies last). A new T-shirt design, along with cassette versions of The Afghan Whigs classic Sub Pop albums Up In It and Congregation, will also be available.
Tracklisting: 1. Birdland 2. Arabian Heights 3. Demon in Profile 4. Toy Automatic 5. Oriole 6. Copernicus 7. The Spell 8. Light as a Feather 9. I Got Lost 10. Into the Floor
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.
At last, winter is finally nearing
its conclusion! After what feels like an eternity (can you believe the Summer
Olympic Games were less than a year ago? Me neither…), spring is finally close
enough to talk about without sobbing. While reasonable people may know spring as the time
when temperatures rise, plants bloom, and insects reemerge from Hell where
they belong, we here in the bowels of the music industry know it exclusively as
the beginning of “festival season.” During this time, seemingly every city
around the world sets aside a weekend or two for great gaggles of wide-eyed music fans to gather to watch and listen to as much music as possible, and also pay too much for bottled water. In addition to all that music and predatorily-priced potable water, there’s the eating, the drinking, the art appreciating and, of course, so many sunburns.
“This is all too much,” you might
hypothetically say, “there are just too many festivals.” If you are inexperienced
with the full wonder of music festivals, you might even say, “I don’t know if I’ll survive even one
of these.” And though, clearly, that is hyperbolic, I am not here to judge you. No,
instead, I am here to help. And, to that end, I’ve prepared a pseudo-survival guide for your
trek to one (or all!) of the very cool festivals listed below, complete with a
brief summary of each, a list of cool bands to see, other things to do in the area, and
some optional, recommended items to make your festival experience a truly
luxurious, Sub Pop-approved one.
Bands to see: Washed Out, Clams Casino, Run the Jewels,
Young Thug
Situated between the Mississippi river and some railroad
tracks, BUKU is an intimate music and arts festival with plenty of great
electronic and hip-hop music. One of the stages is located inside a warehouse used
to build Mardi Gras floats, and it’s only a short walk from the French Quarter,
ensuring that there’s plenty to do while you’re in town. I’d
highly recommend some sunglasses, however. Protecting your eyes is
important - not only from the sun, but also from the flying cockroaches I’ve been told
exist in the southern parts of the United States.
A yearly tradition during which downtown Austin, Texas is overrun for 9 (nine!) whole days, SXSW is a smorgasbord of music and pop
culture, where you can take in practically innumerable performances by bands, plus art, informational panels, comedy, and just about anything else you might want to see. You
will almost certainly need a very
attractive bag to carry all the swag you acquire.
Bands to see: Beach House, Bjork, James Blake, M.I.A.
Is there a better way to welcome spring back into your life
than by going to Mexico? I’ve yet to hear a compelling opposing argument, and
set for only one day in the beautiful city of Toluca, the Ceremonia Festival
boasts an impressive lineup full of heavy-hitters. Fun fact: Toluca is the
region from which Chorizo originates. so I’d suggest something
to keep your drink cold while you’re busy stuffing your face.
Coachella is a huge festival, occupying two weekends in an
otherwise scarcely populated valley in central California. There isn’t a whole
lot to do in Indio, but the organizers of this festival have you covered, as
every year they seem to try to go even bigger than they did the prior year.
More bands than you can name, food, art, and interactive exhibits abound at
this staple of the festival scene. You’re probably going to be camping if you
go. Please
bring soap.
Fortress is a brand spankin’ new festival marking its
inaugural edition. Presented by the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, it also
includes a boatload of art by multidisciplinary artists across several venues.
I’d recommend that you bring a
water bottle that won’t let you down, as you’ll need to stay hydrated for
all three days. Fort Worth is also home to the renowned Kimbell Art Museum and
the world’s first and largest indoor rodeo, if such things tickle your fancy.
Some festivals seek to find a location off the beaten trail,
removed from the city and the hustle and bustle. Shaky Knees is not that festival,
as it takes place smack-dab in the middle of Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.
Food is a big draw at this festival (it’s in the South, so this is to be
expected). And, should you seek respite from the sun beyond that provided by this
hat that I dutifully recommend as a source of shade, the excellent Center
for Civil and Human Rights is a short walk away (as is the World of Coca-Cola museum and the Georgia Aquarium).
Is there anything more picture-perfect than a white sand
beach? This is a question asked by many Washingtonians (mostly out of
ignorance, as our beaches feature no sand, only rocks, driftwood, and
disappointment), and attending Hangout Festival, located directly on the
beaches of Gulf Shores, would provide the obvious answer. What
could possibly be better than listening to your favorite bands WITH the ability
to jump straight into the ocean at any time you choose? Bring a
towel, no one likes being wet once they’re done swimming.
And so we arrive at the end of spring, the beginning of June
and the barrier I have arbitrarily decided on for this survival guide.
Sasquatch takes places at a venue called The Gorge, and it is hands-down the
most beautiful place to see live music in Washington. There’s a breathtaking
view behind the main stage, it’s a not-too-long drive from Seattle, and there are plenty of lakes to swim in before you hit the festival. Room for camping is ample
and comfortable; just make
sure to bring a blanket, because it cools off pretty quickly at night and
you don’t want to be the chump freezing your ass off on the lawn.
