ABOUT ALU’S BLUES  (get it here.)

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
 
The Sierra Club
http://www.sierraclub.org/
 
Elemental Awareness
http://www.elementalawareness.org/
 
Planned Parenthood
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/
 
Georgia Equality
http://georgiaequality.org/

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.

Happy (almost) Festival Season!

BUKU

New Orleans, Louisiana

March 10-11

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.

SXSW

Austin, Texas

March 10-19

Bands to see: LVL UP, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Downtown Boys, Chastity Belt, IAN SWEET, Dude York, Colleen Green

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.

Ceremonia

Toluca, Mexico

April 1st

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

Indio, California

April 14-16/21-23

Bands to see: Father John Misty, Tacocat, Beyonce, Radiohead, Downtown Boys, Shannon & the Clams

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

Fort Worth, Texas

April 29-30

Bands to see: Wolf Parade, Slowdive, Alvvays

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.

Shaky Knees

Atlanta, Georgia

May 12-14

Bands to see: The Shins, Wolf Parade, Fruit Bats, The xx, Warpaint

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).

Hangout

Gulf Shores, Alabama

May 19-21

Bands to see: Band of Horses, The Head and The Heart, Frank Ocean, White Reaper

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. 

Sasquatch!

George, Washington

May 26–29

Bands to see: Kyle Craft, Porter Ray, Thee Oh Sees, Kaytranada

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.

[Photo Credit: Dan Monick]

There is cause for rejoicing! Illustrious rocker King Tuff has announced a short solo West Coast tour with his longtime friends and former-Happy Birthday bandmates Ruth Garbus and Chris Weisman opening with their own solo sets. These dates will find the King showcasing a mix of older and newer material.

King Tuff - aka Kyle Thomas - shared some words about the shows: “I’m excited to announce I will be doing a little solo tour with two of my greatest old friends and favorite musicians Ruth Garbus and Chris Weisman. This is a rare treat because these Vermont genie/geniuses rarely leave their snow holes. I will be performing mostly new songs and the vibe will be magical/rustic/spazzy. Hope to see you there.”

 
May. 12  - Big Sur, CA - Henry Miller Library
May 13 - North Fork, CA - King Tuff and Friends at Bandit Town
May 14 - Gundlach Bundschu Winery - The Old Redwood Barn
May 15 -  Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club  
May 17 - Felton, CA - Don Quixote’s
May 19 - Big Sur, CA -  Hipnic Festival  *
*King Tuff Only


For more information on King Tuff and Happy Birthday click on over to subpop.com/artists/king_tuff, and follow King Tuff everywhere in the socialverse via Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter .

Today, Rolling Blackouts C.F. (or Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever to their mothers) share the new video to the title track of their upcoming EP - and Sub Pop debut - ”The French Press,” out March 10th. The band will shortly be making their first landfall in the States as well, presumably after a 4-month journey by ocean freighter.  

The video, directed by Jamieson Moore, portrays the band performing at what appears to be a sunny and fun pool party wedding, but something more somber seems to be peeking out from underneath the surface. Please enjoy the video for “French Press” and have a look through their upcoming US and Australian tour dates, including performances at SXSW, as follows:

ROLLING BLACKOUTS C.F. TOUR DATES + Ticket Links

Mon. Mar. 13 - Fri. Mar. 17 - Austin, TX @ SXSW

Sat. Mar. 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts w/ Tennis

Sun. Mar. 19 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/ Tennis

Tue. Mar. 21 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Tennis

Wed. Mar. 22 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Tennis

Thu. Mar. 23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right

Sun. Mar. 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

Tue. Mar. 28 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza

Fri. Apr. 21 - Cats @ Adelaide, AUS @ Rocket Bar

Sat. Apr. 22 - Sydney, AUS @ Newtown Social Club

Fri. Apr. 28 - Brisbane, AUS @ Black Bear Lodge

Sat. Apr.  29 - Byron Bay, AUS @ The Great Northern

Sun. Apr. 30 - Gold Coast, AUS @ Shark Bar

Fri. May 12 - Melbourne, AUS @ The Tote

“The French Press” EP will be available on vinyl, CD and of course digitally. Preorder is on now via this here link.

You could (and should also) follow Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever everywhere in the known universe… via Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter

[Photo Credit: Rubin Utama]

[Photo credit: Guy Lowndes]

Cry those tears of joy, because Father John Misty’s first round of 2017 North American tour dates in support of Pure Comedy (out April 7th) are on the books. Headlining 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).

… and LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT’S FATHER JOHN MISTY!!!! About to be the musical guest (with host Octavia Spencer) on Saturday Night Live this coming March 4th at 11:30pm /10:30pmCT on NBC.

Father John Misty’s “Ballad of the Dying Man” is a standout track from Pure Comedy. The track has earned raves from Pitchfork (“Best New Track”), Rolling Stone, Stereogum, The Ringer, SPIN, and more. The Ringer says of the track, “It is simultaneously plaintive and winking and obnoxious and beautiful, as all the good Father John Misty songs are.”  SPIN offers this, “ It opens with a descending chord progression on acoustic guitar and piano that recalls Neil Young’s “Motion Pictures,” then slides into a patient pop arrangement worthy of Elton John.”