Today you can hear “Dave’s Place,” a new offering from Bret McKenzie’s Songs Without Jokes, his full-length, solo debut, out August 26th, 2022, worldwide through Sub Pop.
McKenzie says of the track, “Like most of my songs I wrote this one night at home in Wellington while strumming away on my guitar. I then worked with producer Mickey Petralia in L.A. to develop the initial idea. What started off as a three chord country song, came out the other side an eighties Blade Runner, Dire Straits-esque jam. The song is called “Dave’s Place” after the late Dave Bianco. Dave was an amazing audio engineer I worked with on various occasions in L.A., but he sadly passed away not long before I started making this record. Dave had a studio in the North Hollywood he referred to as ‘Dave’s place’. After he passed I finally worked there and this is the track that came out of that session. I sometimes think Dave is watching over this one.”
McKenzie, along with his seven-piece band, has scheduled international headlining shows for the fall of 2022 in support of Songs Without Jokes, beginning September 2nd in Nelson, New Zealand at Trafalgar Center and currently ending Sunday, November 20th in Atlanta, Georgia at the Eastern. For more information on tickets please visit https://bretmckenzie.co.nz/tour/.
Fri. Sep. 02 - Nelson, NZ - Trafalgar Centre Sat. Sep. 03 - Christchurch, NZ - Town Hall Sun. Sep. 04 - Dunedin, NZ - Town Hall Mon. Sep. 05 - Invercargill, NZ - Civic Theatre Thu. Sep. 08 - Wellington, NZ - Opera House Mon. Sep. 12 - Whanganui, NZ - Royal Whanganui Opera House Tue. Sep. 13 - Hastings, NZ - Opera House Wed. Sep. 14 - Auckland, NZ - Town Hall Thu. Sep. 22 - Birmingham, UK - Town Hall Fri. Sep. 23 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy Mon. Sep. 26 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo Thu. Sep. 29 - Nottingham, UK - Royal Concert Hall Sat. Oct. 01 - Portsmouth - Guildhall Mon. Oct. 03 - Cardiff, UK - St Davids Hall Tue. Oct. 04 - Edinburgh, UK - Academy Wed. Oct. 05 - Newcastle, UK - O2 City Hall Fri. Oct. 07 - Manchester, UK - O2 Apollo Sun. Oct. 09 - Dublin, IE - The National Stadium Fri. Oct. 14 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Sat. Oct. 15 - Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center Mon. Oct. 17 - Philadelphia, PA - Fillmore (seated) Wed. Oct. 19 - Williamsburg, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg Thu. Oct. 20 - Port Chester, NY - Capitol Theatre Fri. Oct. 21 - Washington DC - Lincoln Theatre Sat. Oct. 22 - New York, NY - Webster Hall Mon. Oct. 24 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre Tue. Oct. 25 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre Wed. Oct. 26. - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Fri. Oct. 28 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre Sat. Oct. 29 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater Sun. Oct. 30 - Minneapolis, MN - Fitzgerald Theater Wed. Nov. 02 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater Thu. Nov. 03 - Salt Lake City, UT - Eccles Theater Sun. Nov. 06 - Seattle, WA - The Moore Mon. Nov. 07 - Vancouver, BC - The Vogue Theatre Wed. Nov. 09 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore Fri. Nov. 11 - Los Angeles, CA - Theatre at the Ace Hotel Sat. Nov. 12 - San Diego, CA - Magnolia Sun. Nov. 13 - Phoenix, AZ - Orpheum Theater Tue. Nov. 15 - Dallas, TX - Factory Studio (Canton Hall) Wed. Nov. 16 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theater Thur. Nov. 17 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Sat. Nov. 19 - Nashville, TN - James K. Polk Theater Sun. Nov. 20 - Atlanta, GA - The Eastern
Songs Without Jokes is available to preorder now from Sub Pop. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers in North America, UK and Europe will received the limited Loser Edition on blue vinyl (while supplies last).
Songs Without Jokes, which features the aforementioned “Dave’s Place,” along with lead single “A Little Tune,” and highlights “If You Wanna Go,” and “America Goodbye,” was produced by Mickey Petralia and McKenzie, mixed by Darrell Thorpe, with songs recorded at East West Studios and United Recordings, and mastered by Dave Ives at 101 Mastering in Los Angeles.
Following their triumphant live debut at NYC’s TV Eye in March 2022 and explosive shows at SXSW before Kevin Whelan injured his knee during a performance, Sub Pop recording artists AEON STATION are announcing a round of live shows this Summer. Their live performance as hailed by The Aquarian “created magic… It was like a sporting event where deep in your bones you knew your favorite team or athlete was not just going to win, but achieve something extraordinary.”
Kicking off July 9th at Chicago’s Square Roots Festival where they are sharing the stage with friends Guided By Voices, they will be performing more shows in August and September on the coasts.
July 9 – Chicago @ Square Roots Festival August 12 – San Francisco @ The Independent (tickets) August 13 – Los Angeles @ The Echo (tickets) August 26 – NYC @ Le Poisson Rouge (tickets) August 27 – Boston @ Brighton Music Hall (tickets) September 23 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios (tickets) September 24 – Seattle @ Tractor Tavern (tickets)
Surprising an unsuspecting public last Summer with the news of Aeon Station’s debut release (this was the first new music from any of The Wrens since 2003’s critically adored album Meadowlands), Observatory’s (released in December 2021) effect was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Pitchfork lauded, “Whelan’s instincts are exquisite. His melodies are sweet, but never overstated. His songs rise and swell, but it’s never too much, always just enough.” Referencing The Wrens’ long-awaited follow up, SPIN proclaimed, “Though this isn’t a Wrens album, which is what many of their extremely patient fans had hoped for, it’s certainly a great consolation prize.” Calling the album “arresting,” Wall Street Journal contributes their praise, “The album’s essential idea, embodied in both the words and Mr. Whelan’s gesture to form this band and get his songs out there, is that endurance matters above all.”
Joined by his Wrens bandmates drummer Jerry MacDonald and guitarist Greg Whelan (both of whom also play on the album), Aeon Station is rounded out with NYC/NJ indie rock veteran Lysa Opfer (Gramercy Arms, Big Lake) and guitarist/producer/author Tom Beaujour.
Referencing the injury that sidelined the band for the Spring while his leg healed, Whelan concludes: ”After the minor setback during SXSW which was one in a long line of rocker injuries, we can’t wait to see you at a show!”
Σtella directs and stars in the official video for “Nomad,” a new offering from Up and Away. Filmed overnight on a traditional Greek fishing boat sailing the Aegean Sea, the “Nomad” video finds Σtella singing in the shadows, with the visual perfectly capturing the longing and heartbreak in the song.
Up and Away will be available this Friday, June 17th on Sub Pop. The Athens-based painter, visual artist, and performer presents a vintage-flecked pop paean to the pangs and raptures of love. Exploring growth, change, and Σtella’s personal and musical journey so far, it proves Heraclitus was right; you never step in the same river twice.
MOJO says Up and Away “is warmer and grittier than its ’80s-polished predecessors, infused with the ’50s/’60s trad folk and hybrid pop records her grandparents and parents spun for her. UK producer Tom ‘Redinho’ Calvert, meanwhile, brings knowledge of ’60s soul traditions, creating myriad twists on two seemingly opposing strands, starting with the title track’s bouzouki/(zinger-style) kanun laced with a Motown beat. The album’s spiritual/lyrical core is ‘Manéros,’ Greece’s traditional love-struck ballad, ironically the title of the LP’s sole instrumental, and the only moment of pure Balkan, just as ‘The Truth Is’ aims for shimmering soul – a sound fit for Dusty - but then Up and Away overall feels something like Σtella In Memphis (★★★★).” Uncut had this to say, “Athens-based songwriter and painter Σtella combines traditional Greek instruments - the bouzouki and kanun are both present - with ‘70s/’80s-inspired disco; pop feel, creating a Eurovision-like mood that you probably wouldn’t expect to find on a Sub Pop release. The lack of top-line sheen, though, ensures this album retains a rough edge without sacrificing any intrinsic appeal. The poppy title track ensures the album gets off to a memorable start, and Σtella soon finds an intoxicating groove on ‘Maneros’ before bringing some indie jangle to ‘Another Nation.’ The highlight is the catchy summer charmer ‘Titanic,’ which floats on an effortless whistling. Meanwhile, DJ Mag raves, “Future-retro pop perfection… impossibly catchy and effortlessly intoxicating.”
Gorilla Vs. Bear says, “As on super dreamy recent single “Charmed”, Σtella hooks up again with London producer Redinho here to conjure an elegant and sophisticated union of vintage Greek music and sleek modern pop. But while “Charmed” was all balmy, laid back groove, [“Up and Away” is] a decidedly more rousing affair.” Meanwhile, Brooklyn Vegan calls the track “joyous, effervescent…”, and High Clouds says of “Up and Away,” “This vintage vibe is definitely palpable in the title track, a tale of consuming romance driven by blistering blasts of bouzouki.” Of “Charmed”, Impose offers this, “The beauty is that such songs have evolving and powerful lives that match the times. Σtella…succeeds in this modified pop crafting with her latest track.”
Tracklisting: 1. Up and Away 2. Nomad 3. Manéros 4. Charmed 5. Another Nation 6. Black and White 7. Titanic 8. The Truth Is 9. Who Cares 10. Is It Over
Today Naima Bock is sharing a new video for “Campervan,” directed by Cassidy Hansen, and a standout from Giant Palm, her forthcoming full-length debut.
Naima says of the track, “Campervan” is another collaboration between myself and producer Joel Burton. This is a song about the falling apart of a relationship and the bleak impact that it seems to have on us as humans and the renewal that it can provide afterwards. We thought it would be fun to approach the song from a more tongue-in-cheek perspective; Joel’s arrangements draw on western cowboy nostalgia as well as orchestral influences such as ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ by Joaquin Rodrigo and ‘Pure Imagination’ from the 1971 Willy Wonka film. The process of writing the song was a joyful and creative one, turning something depressing into something that doesn’t take itself too seriously whilst preserving the poignancy and melodrama of heartache.”
Naima Bock’s international touring schedule in support of Giant Palm resumes Friday, June 17th with a stop at Edinburgh, Scotland’s Hidden Door Festival, and currently runs through Monday, October 27th for a show at London’s ICA. Please find a full list of dates below and on naimabock.com
Fri. Jun. 17 - Edinburgh, UK - Hidden Door Festival Sun. Jun. 26 - Somerset, UK - Glastonbury Festival Fri. Jul. 01 - London, UK - Rough Trade East Sat. Jul. 23 - Southwold, UK - Latitude Festival Thu. Sep. 01- Sun. 04 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival Fri. Sep. 09 - Sat. Sep. 10 - Vienna, AT - Waves Festival Thu. Sep. 15 - Sat. Sep. 17 - Oslo, NO - by:Larm Tue. Sep. 20 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz * Wed. Sep. 21 - Hamburg, DE - RBF * Thu. Sep. 22 - Berlin, DE - Prachtwerk * Fri. Sep 23 - Cologne, DE - Theater der Wohngemeinschaft * Sat. Sep. 24 - Munich, DE - Heppel & Ettlich * Tue. Sep. 27 - Nijmegen, NL - Doomrosje * Thu. Sep. 29 - Brugge - BE - Cactus * Tue. Oct. 11 - Brighton, UK - The Prince Albert Wed. Oct. 12 - Bristol, UK - The Cube Thu. Oct. 13- Manchester, UK - Guillivers Sun. Oct. 16 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds 2 Fri. Oct. 21 - Glasgow, UK - Hug & Pint Sat. Oct. 22 - Leeds, UK - Mill Hill Chapel Sun. Oct. 23 - Newcastle, UK - Cumberland Ave Mon. Oct. 27 - London, UK - ICA * w/ Dana Gavanski
Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth and the handing down of music through generations.
What People Are Saying About Naima Bock: “Hugely ambitious - the individual pieces are delicately arranged, the end product solid as steel” [Giant Palm / “Music of the Month”] - The Quietus
“Naima Bock sounds like no one else around,” [“30 Degrees”/ Track of the Day] - Clash
“A grand statement.” [“Artist of the Week”] - The Line of Best Fit
“A ray of optimism” [“Every Morning”] - The Guardian
“Superb” [“Giant Palm”/ “’Neu Recommended”] - DIY
“Bock’s music is like discovering you have a false wall when renovating your house. That, once knocked down, reveals a chamber of trinkets to unearth” [“Toll” / Single of the Week] - Secret Meeting
“Delightfully gentle” [“Toll”] - The Times
“A compelling first step into the spotlight that suggests great things to come” [“30 Degrees”] - The Forty Five
“Wistful and subtly eerie” [“30 Degrees”] - Our Culture
“Spiralling folk” [“30 Degrees”] - Loud and Quiet
“’30 Degrees’ oozes and surprises across its run time, opening up new melodies and instrumental dimensions from imperceptible trap doors within the song” - Beats Per Minute
“Strange but catchy bossa-folk” [“30 Degrees”] - Uncut
“A mightily impressive introduction” [“30 Degrees”] - God Is In The TV
“There’s a bit of ’70s Brian Eno in her vocal delivery and an echo of John Cale in her arrangements, but the fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own.” [“Giant Palm”] -New York Times
“It’s unhurried but magnetic, the kind of song that isn’t flashy but leaves a deep impact if you’ll let it. I guess you could say … it takes a toll. [“Toll” / #3, “Songs of the Week”] - Stereogum
“…Dark, smoky, folk sound, close harmonies and production touches that nod towards her upbringing in Brazil.” [“30 Degrees”] - Brooklyn Vegan
“‘30 Degrees’ is hushed and mournful, with Bock’s deep voice at the center.”- Stereogum
“A strong contender to be one of 2022’s breakout stars” [“30 Degrees”] - For The Rabbits
You can now hear the new contributions to the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 7 from avant pop band Dummy and free jazz group Irreversible Entanglements, both out today worldwide on all DSPs from Sub Pop.
Los Angeles-based Dummy follows up their debut LP, Mandatory Enjoyment, with two songs for the Sub Pop Singles Club. The A-Side, “Mono Retriever,” is a baroque-drone-pop rager that imagines what a punk Free Design song might sound like. The lyrics criticize the corporate greenwashing and dishonesty at the root of ecological devastation. On the B-Side, “Pepsi Vacuum,” the band experiments with sampling and digital editing, taking inspiration from ‘90s ambient and chill-out music. As a lyrical counterpoint, “Pepsi Vacuum” is about the spirituality of nature; the powerful feeling of universality and connection, down to the molecular level. The two songs function as mirrors, referencing the other musically, and both sharing oceanic lyrical themes.
Dummy’s debut LP Mandatory Enjoyment came out in October 2021 on Trouble In Mind, following two cassette EPs on Pop Wig and Born Yesterday, respectively. Dummy is Emma, Nathan, Mark, Alex and Joe, and they appear courtesy of Trouble In Mind.
Irreversible Entanglements are a Philadelphia/NY/DC-based free-jazz group featuring Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother) (voice, synth); Keir Neuringer (saxophone, synth, percussion); Aquiles Navarro (trumpet, synth); Luke Stewart (double bass, bass guitar); and Tcheser Holmes (drums, percussion). In 2015, Keir, Camae, and Luke came together to perform at a Musicians Against Police Brutality event organized after the slaying of Akai Gurley by the NYPD. Months later the group added Navarro and Holmes (a duo who also performed at the MAPB event) and recorded their debut album in 2017. Since then, they’ve released two more full-lengths, some singles, and played a ton of shows in the U.S. and internationally.
In a joint statement, the group offers this, “Here’s two new tracks we recorded one afternoon mid-tour in June 2021. Pandemic contingencies necessitated some overdub and studio assembly flexing later on, a first for our band. Listening back now, almost a year after the session, our need to get rooted—following so many of those pandemic months separated from each other—sounds as apparent as our need to get all the way cosmic with it.”
Subscribe to the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 7 to get twelve exclusive, limited-to-1,000-copies, colored-vinyl 7” records that you will, undoubtedly, love and adore. In addition to the Dummy and Irreversible Entanglements singles announced today, subscribers will get 7”s by Bartees Strange, Party Dozen, Matthew “Doc” Dunn, The William Loveday Intention (feat. Billy Childish!), The Shadracks (feat. the son of Billy Childish!), Sidney Gish, Hunx and His Punx, and more TBA. Vol. 7 runs from April, 2022 through February, 2023.
The Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 6 series included subscription-only 7” singles by John Waters, Kim Gordon/J Mascis, Jeff Tweedy, Duma, LIDS, Washed Out, Hand Habits, Porridge Radio, Sheltered Workshop Singers, TV Priest, BNH Deluxe, and The Black Tones. Hear music from the series via the Singles Club playlist, and grab one of the last remaining subscriptions here (we only made 1,000 and they’re almost gone!).
