RED ALERT: Time for you to watch the new Clipping video for “True Believer” from their Hugo Award-Nominated album (#kindofabigdeal), Splendor & Misery. “True Believer” was directed by longtime Clipping collaborator, Carlos Lopez-Estrada, and stars guest vocalist Paul Outlaw as an astronaut floating from planet earth into outer space.

Avoid future FOMO by following Clipping everywhere in space and time: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | clppng.com

Splendor & Misery is available on CD/LP/DL/CASS worldwide from Sub Pop right over here and Deathbomb Arc here. The album features highlights “Baby Don’t Sleep,” “A Better Place,” and “Air ‘Em Out,” was produced by the band, and mixed by Steve Kaplan in Los Angeles.  The Wriggle EP is also available from Sub Pop, here.

After reading through hundreds of wonderfully thoughtful and inspirational applications, we here at Sub Pop Records have chosen three extraordinarily qualified students for our 2017 Sub Pop Loser scholarship.

Our $7000 winner this year is Tia Shekelle of Bellingham High School in Bellingham Washington. Tia won us over big-time with her explosive zine work, beautiful art, eye catching photography, and incredible productivity. Between dance, drums, bass, writing, volunteering, film making, painting, and being a high school senior we were blown away by how much awesome stuff Tia is doing. In her community in Bellingham she has volunteered many hours to the Make.Shift gallery DIY space as well as planned parenthood and a local zine club. We really think that Tia has a bright future ahead of her, and her message of inclusivity really resonated with us. She is definitely one of the most talented and exciting applicants to apply for our Loser Scholarship. 

Ariana Watson will be taking home $5000 this year as a Sub Pop Loser Scholarship winner. From Seaside, Oregon, Aria won us over with her #signedbytrump photography, which was one of the best pieces we’ve seen in all of our years of looking at Loser Scholarship applications. Her photography and the message behind it works beautifully and sends a loud message of strength. In her essay Aria explained how her art and politics led to cyber-bullying and many other unfortunate incidents that young feminists often deal with but her mental toughness and resolve in the face of adversity spoke to our scholarship selection committee. At the MUSE international women’s conference Aria was able to speak about her work and inspire hundreds to represent the voiceless, to stand up for what they believe in. Montana is Aria’s next destination where she will be pursuing health studies, we wish her the best.

Raven Smith will be getting $3000 as a Sub Pop Loser Scholarship winner. Talking on the radio while truly being herself did not come easy to Raven. After moving to Spokane she struggled to find her niche but found an outlet at her local radio station KYRS. At KYRS Raven worked her way from volunteer CD organizer onto the air where she nervously stuttered her sputtered first words but eventually gained confidence and found her own voice. Wow, it turns out her radio show Basement Beats is fantastic, despite starting out nervous she has become a great on air DJ. On top of working with KYRS on their Raise Your Voice campaign Raven has also become a powerful writer and public speaker, her words are very powerful. We know there are big things coming up for Raven and we are very excited to see where the future takes her. 

This year we had so many great applicants for the Loser Scholarship, it was really hard to choose our winners. For those losers who didn’t win this year, thanks for playing, we loved your applications too, and know many of you will go on to inspire us in your future endeavors. 

[Photo by Zoran Orlic]

TOUR ALERT:  Beginning June 12th, Low will embark on a five-date co-headline tour with Japanese instrumental rock band MONO. These dates will bring the bands to intimate venues along the American West Coast. Following these shows, the two artists will also both be playing a handful of Canadian summer festivals. (full listing below)

Tour Dates + Ticket Links at www.chairkickers.com/
Jun. 12 - Los Angeles, CA - Globe Theater
Jun. 13 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Jun. 15 - Portland, OR - Wonderland Ballroom
Jun. 16 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
Jun. 17 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial
Jun. 21 - Calgary, AB - Sled Island Music and Arts Festival
Jun. 23 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival

The most recent full-length album from Low is their 2015 release Ones and Sixes, which earned Low international acclaim from the likes of NPR Music, Under the Radar, The Guardian, DIY, Q, MOJO, Uncut, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, CLASH, The Sunday Times, and a cover story interview by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon in MAGNET Magazine (view cover / read an excerpt of the story here).

For more information on Low please see here, and follow Low absolutely everywhere via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 

 

It’s that magical time of the year. You can smell the hot grease of overworked vinyl presses in the air. The cooling fans of online auction servers are humming in your ear. The seasonal change of record colors is upon us. Standard black vinyl disappears and the neon, splatters, and picture discs appear in full splendor. Friends: Record Store Day is here.

April 22, 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the indie record store holiday. We’ve come a long way since the original ten Record Store Day releases hit the shelves back in 2007. And, it’s hard to believe it’s now been a decade of grown men and women trampling each other for limited-edition releases without any major arrests. This year, y’all should come on down to Sea-Tac and avoid any of that trampling nonsense. Trust us, TSA doesn’t take very kindly to pushing and shoving. Once again, the Sub Pop Airport Store will be carrying a selection of this year’s Record Store Day releases. We have met all the requirements. We double-checked with this year’s ambassador: St. Vincent. Judging by this video, she’s taking the role very seriously.

Sure, yes, you have to buy a plane ticket to get to our store. Do yourself a favor and get that ticket to see your grandmother in Milwaukee. We won’t tell her that the only reason you finally broke down and and sprung for a visit was to have first dibs on a sweet seven-inch single. Or better yet, pack your shades and book a flight to Hawaii. You can hit up our store when we open the gates at 6 AM (we open earlier than any other participating store, so far as we are aware) and then quickly hop on a jetliner to Honolulu. If you manage to arrive around 10-10:30 AM island time, you might even have enough time to get to your favorite Hawaiian record store before it has been picked through.

While neither Sub Pop nor Hardly Art are putting out any exclusive Record Store Day releases this year, please consider an alternative: Father John Misty’s eagerly anticipated new album Pure Comedy comes out mere weeks before, on April 7th! And, if you’re lucky, we may have some remaining copies of the Deluxe 2xLP editions left at the airport on Record Store Day.

This truly DELUXE 2xLP version of Pure Comedy arrives on two pieces of colored vinyl, one of which is referred to as “aluminum,” the other “copper” (as evidenced by this not-to-be-missed Pure Unboxing video). These two opulent record albums are housed in a die-cut, customize-able jacket, with 4 interactive “backgrounds” on the 2 full-color dust sleeves within (four different sky color schemes to choose from!) all sheathed in an outer plastic slip-cover. Also included are a tri-fold poster and holographic HA card. If that doesn’t scratch your collectible itch, I don’t know what will. You can also order Pure Comedy on the Sub Pop Mega Mart right G-D now.

The Sub Pop Airport Store will (most likely*) be carrying the below-referenced Record Store Day exclusive titles. 

*No guarantees we’ll get them all, but here is what we ordered:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit-Live from Welcome To 1979

Pink Floyd- London 1966-1967

R.L. Burnside-Long Distance Call: Europe Recordings, 1982

The Districts-Ordinary day/Lover,Lover,Lover

The Pretty Things-The French EP’s 1964-69

V/A-Stories For Ways & Means

V/A-We’re Gonna Have A Party! The Sound Of Wand Records

Pearl Jam-“State Of Love and Trust” B/W “Breath” (7”)

Alice In Chains-What The Hell Have I/Get Born Again (Double 7” Single)

Dave Matthews Band-Live at Red Rocks 9.15.95 (4LP Silver vinyl set)

Moondog-Moondog

Dennis Wilson- Bambu The Caribou Sessions (2LP green vinyl set)

Santana-Woodstock Saturday August 16, 1969

Curtis Knight featuring Jimi Hendrix-Live at George’s Club 20

Robert Johnson- The Centennial Collection: The Complete Recordings (3LP)

David Bowie-Cracked Actor Live in Los Angeles, ’74 (3LP set)

David Bowie-BOWPROMO (GEM Promo LP)

The Cure-Greatest Hits Acoustic (2LP Picture Disc)

The Cure-Greatest Hits (2LP Picture Disc)

The Grateful Dead- P.N.E. Garden Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/29/66 (2LP)

The Doors- Live At The Matrix ‘67

Flaming Lips-The Flaming Lips Onboard the International Space Station Concert For Peace (Yellow Vinyl)

The Head and the Heart-Stinson Beach Sessions

Notorious B.I.G.-Born Again (2LP Gold Vinyl)

Prince-Batdance (12” Single)

Prince-I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (12” Single)

Prince-I Wish U Heaven (12” Single)

Prince-Little Red Corvette/1999 (7” Picture Disc)

Prince-Partyman (12” Single)

Prince-Pop Life (12” Single)

Prince- Sign O’ The Times (12” Single)

Vangelis-Blade Runner Original Soundtrack (Picture Disc)

V/A-Nuggets: Come To The Sunshine (2LP Orange/Yellow Marble Vinyl)

Neil Young-Decade (3LP)

Hawkwind-Best of the United Artist Years 1971-1974 (Swirl Color Vinyl)

Black Angels- Death Song RSD Exclusive (2LP Set)

Sun Ra-Janus (Yellow & Black Swirl Vinyl)

Balkans-Pedro Four-Way ft. Mike Watt (Green Vinyl)

Motörhead-Clean Your Clock (2LP Picture Disc)

Iron and Wine-Archives Series Volume No. 3 (Translucent Blue Vinyl)

Patti Smith-Hey Joe (Version)/Piss Factory (7” Single)

The Smiths- The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (7” Single)

Spoon-Hot Thoughts

Lumineers-Song Seeds

Animal Collective- Meeting The Waters

Blondie-Long Time

Big Thief-Mythological Beauty

Noise Addict-10,000 Kids With Guitars (2LP)

Blitzen Trapper-Waking Bullets At Breakneck Speed (Recorded Circa 2006)

Wipers-Better Off Dead (7” EP)

Pickin’ On Series- Pickin’ On Nirvana: The Bluegrass Tribute (ft. Iron Horse)

Pete Krebs-Western Electric (Produced by Elliot Smith)

Julian Cope-Drunken Songs

The Raincoats-Fairytale in the Supermarket EP (7”)

The Stooges-Heavy Liquid/The Album (2LP)

T. Rex-Rock N Roll (7” EP)

Sun Ra-Discipline 27-11

Danny Brown-Ain’t It Funny (10” Picture Disc)\

Black Lips- Black Lips (4xCS Box)

Policia-Lipstick Stains/Still Counts (7” Single)

Evan Dando-Baby I’m Bored (2LP+book)

Stay safe out there. If you are crazy enough to listen to me and end up going to Hawaii, say hello to our old co-worker Josh.

Check out the official Record Store Day website (and this complete list of releases) for participating stores near you.

BEHOLD: Jesca Hoop made her US TV debut on Charlie Rose last night  [Watch here], sitting for an interview with guest host Anthony Mason (of CBS News). She also delivered stellar performances of “Pegasi” and “Songs of Old” from Memories Are Now, her acclaimed new album.

 
Hoop’s international tour in support of Memories Are Now is currently underway. The U.S. leg continues tonight, Friday, March 17th, with a show in Seattle at Fremont Abbey and ends on March 21st in Los Angeles, CA at the Roxy.  The EU shows now begin March 24th in Glasgow at 6 Music Festival and run through May 25th in Rome, IT at Unplugged at Monti. Additionally, there is a festival appearance on July 21st in Thirsk, UK at the Deer Shed Festival.

Hoop has also confirmed her largest London show to date at the Union Chapel on December 1st.
 
Mar. 17 - Seattle, WA - Fremont Abbey Arts Center
Mar. 18 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Mar. 20 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
Mar. 21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy
Mar. 24-26 - Glasgow, UK - 6 Music Festival
Mar. 28 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Mar. 29 - London, UK - The Lexington [Sold Out]
Mar. 30 - Bristol, UK - Exchange
Mar. 31- Leicester, UK- The Musician
Apr. 01 - Brighton, UK - Patterns
Apr. 02 - Norwich, UK - Epic Studios
Apr. 03 - Cambridge, UK - Portland Arms
Apr. 05 - Liverpool, UK - The Magnet
Apr. 06 -  Manchester, UK -  Gorilla
May 12 - Brussels, BE - Botanique
May 13 - Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet
May 14 - Hamburg, DE - Nochwache
May 16 - Aarhus, DK - Atlas
May 17 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega Musikkens Hus (Main hall)
May 20 - Graz, AT - ForumStadpark
May 21 - Vienna, AT - Chelsea
May 23 - Zagreb, HR - TBA
May 24 - Genoa, IT - TeatroBloser
May 25 - Rome, IT - Unplugged in Monti
Jul. 21 -  Thirsk, UK - Deer Shed Festival
Dec. 01 - London, UK - Union Chapel
 
Please visit www.jescahoop.com/tour for ticket links + updates, and follow Jesca absolutely everywhere via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

 
Memories Are Now, featuring highlights “The Lost Sky”, “Pegasi” and the title track, is available on CD / LP / DL from Sub Pop right over here. LP orders through megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited Loser Edition on Robin’s Egg Blue-colored vinyl (while supplies last).

The album is Hoop’s best reviewed to date. Drowned in Sound gave the album a 10 out 10 rating, and said, “Past, present, and future rest patiently before Hoop, and she’s weaved them all into her most endearing album yet.”  The Skinny also gave the album a perfect score (5/5), calling it a “gorgeously delivered elegy to heartbreak and loss; powerful, perfectly executed songs to bring comfort and strength to the weary, broken and scorned.”
 
Meanwhile, Loud & Quiet named Memories Are Now it’s “Album of the Week,” and raved, “One of the most engagingly idiosyncratic and refreshingly broad collections of solo singer songwriting in recent memory.” And NPR Music added, “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.”