Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever just shared their cheeky new video for ”Julie’s Place,” the first single off their forthcoming EP (and Sub Pop debut), which we here at Sub Pop are stoked to release later this Spring.
True story: After the band spent their video budget on an idea that didn’t work out ($$¯\_(ツ)_/¯$$), they decided to film singer/guitarist Fran Keaney mowing his lawn on a Saturday morning. This simple idea actually ended up being much more in the band’s utilitarian style. So in a sense, out of defeat of an excess of options came a lean opportunity to do something more truthful.
[Photo Credit: Rubin Utama]
“Julie’s Place” levels up on everything that made Talk Tight such an immediate draw. It’s about being young and dumb but full of bravado. Sprinting guitars mimic singer Keaney’s pangs of heartache, his awkwardly sensual lyrics calling to mind the chaos and confusion of being around someone you can’t get off your mind.
You could (and should) feel the same about this band; follow Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever everywhere in the known universe… via Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
The day when the Riot grrrl of Sleater-Kinney ignited La Cigale
“The American feminist punk trio Sleater-Kinney…came to present their eighth album, No Cities To Love, on Friday, March 20th in a Cigale full to bursting. A cult concert.
For some, Friday, March 20 was synonymous with solar eclipse and peak pollution. For others, it was mainly the arrival of the Sleater-Kinney in Paris, their eighth album, No Cities To Love, under the arm. The kind of cult rendezvous for feminist punk followers, nostalgic Riot Grrrl and all those who shed a tear when the [band] announced their separation. It was in 2006, and Carrie Brownstein, Corin Tucker and Janet Weiss had decided to store their guitars for an indefinite period after shaking the feminist rock scene for twelve years. It took them nine to reform and give birth to a new album more pop than punk but still carrying a crazy energy.
To say that the Sleater-Kinney are ultra charismatic on stage would almost be an euphemism. Carrie Brownstein, who has a second career on the small screen in the satyr series Portlandia, martyred her guitar like twenty years ago, while supporting Corin Tucker…singing. Behind them, Janet Weiss, on drums, makes sure of the frenzy of the pieces. Squares of fabric hanging on the back wall float in the air, caressing a light sailing between red and blue. Sublime.
The live is in the image of their albums: abrasive. Without bass or keyboard, their songs bathe in a post-adolescent rebellion, so enjoyable that it sticks you butterflies in the belly. The kind of concert to make you want to go back in time to hang out at Olympia in 1994, preferably with their band.
The trio, accomplice, unrolls a setlist bordering on perfection. The concert opens with ‘Price Tag,’ an explosive bomb from their latest album. A good entry… All [songs are] played with the same animal ferocity.”
But these two reminders, as long as stuffed with old tubes (including the incredible Dig Me Out) will ensure the concert its label “cult”. Before concluding, Corin Tucker will call for respect for gender equality, in the purest tradition Riot Grrrl. In 1996, the Sleater-Kinneysang I’m the Queen of rock’n’roll on the delirious ‘I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone.’ Twenty years and a reformation later, the trio proves it more than ever.”
Les Inrocks
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Sleater-Kinney: Live In Paris is the first recording from the famed group that documents its blistering stage performance. This thirteen track album - which features Carrie Brownstein, Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss, and touring member Katie Harkin - was captured on March 20th, 2015 at historic Paris venue, La Cigale.
The Sleater-Kinney: Live In Paris setlist culls material from No Cities to Love, The Woods, One Beat, The Hot Rock, Dig Me Out, andCall the Doctor. The album and performance was mixed by John Goodmanson at Avast and mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, and will be available on CD / LP / DL / Cass worldwide on January 27th, 2017. Preorder is on right now [right here], and as you might suspect, LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com will receive the album on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl. (while supplies last!)
Live In Paris Tracklisting 1. Price Tag * 2. Oh! ^^ 3. What’s Mine Is Yours ** 4. A New Wave * 5. Start Together # 6. No Cities To Love * 7. Surface Envy * 8. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone ## 9. Turn It On ^ 10. Entertain ** 11. Jumpers ** 12. Dig Me Out ^ 13. Modern Girl **
* from No Cities to Love ** from The Woods ^ from Dig Me Out ^^ from One Beat # from The Hot Rock ## from Call the Doctor
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S-K “bootleg” credits:
Carrie Brownstein: guitar and vocals
Corin Tucker: vocals and guitar
Janet Weiss: drums and vocals
Katie Harkin: keyboards and guitar
Mixed by John Goodmanson
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Cover Art Photos by Joshua Mellin, Ryan Muir, Augusta Quirk, Jason Williamson
Art direction / design Jeff Kleinsmith
Recorded live on March 20, 2015 at La Cigale in Paris, France
Thank yous
Dan Mapp, Sabrina Braswell, Jeremy Lemos, Tim Nichols, Dan Mancini, Scott Adamson, Abbey Simmons, Sub Pop Records, Lever and Beam, James Alderman, La Cigale, and all our amazing fans without whom this record wouldn’t be possible.
Here at the tail-end of 2016, it’s a little tough to deny that this has been an inordinately trying year. A brief and sadly incomplete list of the events that brought us together to cry, reflect, regain composure, and then cry again would include the death of Bowie, the Orlando nightclub shooting, the death of Leonard Cohen, the Ghost Ship fire, and… Well, the list goes on. Enough so that the world actually does kind of seem like it’s a crumbling gingerbread cookie right on the fragile edge of oblivion. We should (and, we very much hope, will!) all do what we can to respond to these challenges, and those that are sure to come.
There are also, it’s worth remembering, some things to celebrate from 2016. And, some of those very things are compiled in Sub Pop’s Best of 2016 collection, which many of us here at the Airport Store contributed to, and which can be found here:http://bestof2016.subpop.com/.
Here, also, is a summary of all the neat holiday items we started carrying at the Airport Store that just may provide a welcome distraction from the horrifying chaos that is modern times:
Music
The Ventures’ Christmas Album (CD)
The New Possibility: John Fahey’s Guitar Soli Christmas Album (CD)
Jesca Hoop has some freshly made 2017 tour dates for you! She’ll be on the road soon after the release of her forthcoming Sub Pop debut Memories Are Now (out February 10th).
U.S. shows begin February 26th in Austin, TX and include stops in Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The U.K. shows begin March 28th and include stops in London, Leeds, Bristol, Norwich, Manchester, and Cambridge. (see dates below) Additional live dates will be announced soon.
[Photo credit: Angel Ceballos]
Memories Are Now is an album of stunning original songs, raw yet brimming with energy, forged from rich life experience and emotional depth. Beautifully delivered by an artist that has steadfastly honed her unique craft of musical storytelling.
For an in-depth insight into the recording of the Memories Are Now, check out this lovely short film. The release of Memories Are Now comes on the heels of Love Letter for Fire, Jesca’s acclaimed duets album with Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam. Memories Are Now 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.
Jesca recently recorded an intimate performance on Marc Riley’s BBC 6 radio show, which features select tracks off her new album [see here].
Memories Are Now will be released on CD / LP / DL and is available for pre-order now. LP pre-orders through megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited Loser Edition on robin’s egg blue colored vinyl (while supplies last).
Tour Dates
Feb. 26 - Austin, TX - 3TEN @ Austin City Limits Live Feb. 28 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West Mar. 02 - Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java Mar. 05 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle Mar. 06 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Mar. 08 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge Mar. 14 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center 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. 28 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Mar. 29 - London, UK - The Lexington Mar. 30 - Bristol, UK - Exchange Apr. 01 - Brighton, UK - Patterns Apr. 02 - Norwich, UK - Epic Studios Apr. 03 - Cambridge, UK - Portland Arms Apr. 06 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla
Since we’re not above using our (perceived, if not actual) “influence” to try to get you to do good, we’ve compiled a list of local (to Seattle / the Pacific Northwest) and national / international charities. If you’re in a position to donate a sum of money to one (or more) of them, it will certainly be put to use, and as a bonus you’ll feel good about yourself! Five or ten $s (or € or £…) would not be too little to give.
We at Sub Pop and Hardly Art are amazingly fortunate to work with a varied and creative roster. So thanks to all the artists on the label(s), and thanks to our friends in the wider community we inhabit, in Seattle and beyond. We’re grateful for all of it. With any luck, you’ll discover something in these lists that gives you many happy years of listening/watching/reading/visiting/eating/etc’ing.