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.
Southern gentlemen Arbor Labor Union share the stage with notorious knuckleheads The Gotobeds for the rest of this week (July 19-23), as they shred their way through the sultry South. What could go wrong?
Shows begin tonight, July 19th at Cats Cradle in Carrboro, NC and wrap Saturday, July 23rd in Nashville, TN at Foobar.
The Gotobeds fans can also catch them in the daylight hours; they’ve got TWO live in-store performances coming up 7/23 at Grimey’s in Nashville and 7/24 at Shake It Records in Cincinnati. And in that meantime, Arbor Labor Union continue on the road supporting the one and only Dinosaur Jr.!
Georgian rippers Arbor Labor Union have shared their self-directed, official video for “Volume Peaks” - an illuminating track from I Hear You, their Sub Pop debut - watch it now by way of The A.V. Club.
The band had this to say of their surreal new visual: ”Four elemental entities take human form and instinctively set out in search for one another. Once the merry band is together, they fall deep into a dream of shared vision. They awake again with clear purpose and directive. They set out to attain their grandiose mission (see video premiere May 18th).”
Arbor Labor Union’s U.S. tour in support of I Hear You, is currently underway, with a show tonight, May 18th in Philadelphia, PA at Kung Fu Necktie. The tour ends Friday, June 17th in Athens, GA at the 40 Watt. Highlights for the tour include: New York’s Mercury Lounge on Thursday, May 19th; Chicago at Schubas on May 24th; Minneapolis at 7th Street Entry on May 26th; And June 8th at Bootleg Hi-Fi in Los Angeles. (complete dates below.)
Arbor Labor Union’s I Hear You is available right this very minute via Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp and independent record shops near you, and we still have a few copies of the limited “Loser” edition on pink vinyl for you in the Mega Mart.
Tour Dates
May 18 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
May 19 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
May 20 - Cambridge, MA - Club Bohemia
May 21 - Buffalo, NY - The Leopard Lounge at Town Ballroom
SPIN says of the album, “The quartet combines the droning jams of Luna with the tender tension of Ought (and the squealing yawps of Meat Puppets frontman Curt Kirkwood) on debut album I Hear You, one of the most satisfying full-band records of 2016’s first half. The tracks are long, the six-strings are loud, and the grooves are absolutely transfixing. Though the feeling they produce is old, the songs themselves feel new, just the latest in a proud lineage (see album premiere May 6th-13th).”
Arbor Labor Union’s previously announced U.S. tour in support of I Hear You, begins next Saturday, May 14th in West Columbia, SC at New Brookland Tavern and ends Friday, June 17th in Athens, GA at the 40 Watt. There will be additional live dates announced soon. (Complete tour routing below.)
I Hear You will be available worldwide May 13th on CD/LP/DL/CASS through Sub Pop, and is available for preorder now via Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp and independent retailers near you. LP preorders viamegamart.subpop.com and independent retailers near you will receive the limited “Loser” edition on marbled pink vinyl (while supplies last).
Here’s what The People are saying about Arbor Labor Union:
“It’s seven-plus minutes of stodgy desert rock delivered with a southern drawl that recalls QOTSA’s more groove-based moments, as well as cult Swede act The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. “Go ahead and say out loud: ‘I AM NOT INSANE!!!’” screams singer/guitarist Bo Orr at one point, sounding both insane and hell-bent on alerting the white coat brigade. It’s a swirling, motorik and wilfully heavy beast.” [“Mr. Birdsong”] - NME
“It’s a chugging, ballsy rock squall… that’ll stomp its way straight into your heart.” [“Radiant Mountain Road”] - NOISEY
“Jammy, slightly sludgy indie rock, owing more than a little to the early ’90s, with the impassioned shoutings of Bo Orr.” [ “Belief’d”] -Brooklyn Vegan
“Arbor Labor Union are deeply in hock to a certain strain of garage rock bordering on heavy metal as performed by the likes of The Stooges or Blue Cheer, spiced with a dash of Fall-like post-punk.” [Review, 7/10] - Uncut
“The Georgia outfit seems to have found a strange middle ground between Queens of The Stone Age and The Hold Steady on their new track, with thick chugging rhythms and talk-sing vocals perfect for drives down dangerous roads with reckless friends.” [“Mr. Birdsong”] - Crave Magazine
“Unsurprisingly, I Hear You‘s first single “Radiant Mountain Road” continues the band’s reputation for a raw, furiously passionate sound and aesthetic that draws from Neil Young and Crazy Horse (think of “Cinnamon Girl“), and Pearl Jam (think of “Last Exit,” “Spin The Black Circle,” off Vitalogy and “Blood” off Vs.) as the song was a towering, noisy squall consisting of layers upon layers of chugging power chords, thundering drumming and rumbling bass chords paired with Orr’s howling and shouting above the fray. “Belief’d,” I Hear You‘s latest single is a slow-burning, sludgy power chord number with deeply metaphysical leanings and intensely visual poetic lyrics — in my mind’s eye, I can picture a “stacking of faceless heads into a totem pole,” and looking up to the heavens to see “an army of stars,” and feel “blankets of wind,” while Bo Orr howls lyrics that focus on mysticism and higher states of consciousness within the cosmos, and of our place within it.” [“Belief’d” / “Radiant Mountain Road”] - Joy of Violent Movement
“Regimented, slothful or otherwise, Arbor Labor Union have the habit of eeking out a smoky, barbequed riff and sticking to it with minimal variation for four-to-eight minutes while frontman Bo Orr yelps Bukowskian poetry as if his blackened lungs are about to run out of breath for good. There’s a pleasing half-time intermission that sounds like a Goo-era Sonic Youth instrumental and then it’s back to the alternative indie-rock shanties with earthy beats that are virtually irresistible to air-drum along to. “I am destroyed by the joyful noise,” barks Orr, “And when the volume peaks, then I rejoice”. Amen to that. Back of the net.” [Review] - The Quietus
Tour Dates May 14 - West Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern May 15 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Back Room May 16 - Washington, DC - DC9 May 18 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie May 19 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge May 20 - Cambridge, MA - Club Bohemia May 21 - Buffalo, NY - The Leopard Lounge at Town Ballroom May 22 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop May 24 - Chicago, IL - Schubas May 25 - Madison, WI - The Frequency May 26 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry May 27 - Iowa City, IA - The Mill May 28 - Omaha, NE - Milk Run May 29 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake Lounge May 31 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Jun. 02 - Nampa, ID - Flying M Coffee Jun. 03 - Seattle, WA - Barboza Jun. 04 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios Jun. 06 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop Jun. 07 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room Jun. 08 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Hi-Fi Jun. 10 - San Diego, CA - Hideout Jun. 11 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar Jun. 13 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk Jun. 14 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada Jun. 15 - Houston, TX - Rudyard’s Jun. 17 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt
Ticket links are yours for the clicking, right over here.
Georgian rippers Arbor Labor Union’s “Mr Birdsong” is a 7-minute, psychedelic, joyful rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut that opens I Hear You, their forthcoming Sub Pop debut.
London’s NME premiered the track and had this to say, “It’s seven-plus minutes of stodgy desert rock delivered with a southern drawl that recalls QOTSA’s more groove-based moments, as well as cult Swede act The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. “Go ahead and say out loud: ‘I AM NOT INSANE!!!’” screams singer/guitarist Bo Orr at one point, sounding both insane and hell-bent on alerting the white coat brigade. It’s a swirling, motorik and wilfully heavy beast (see premiere April 25th).”
Arbor Labor Union’s previously announced U.S. tour in support of I Hear You, begins May 14th in West Columbia, SC at New Brookland Tavern and ends June 17th in Athens, GA at the 40 Watt. (Complete tour dates below.)
I Hear You will be available worldwide May 13th on CD/LP/DL/CASS through Sub Pop, and is available for preorder now via Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp and independent retailers near you. LP preorders via megamart.subpop.comwill receive the limited “Loser” edition on pink vinyl.
The album features highlights “Radiant Mountain Road,” “Belief’d,” the aforementioned “Mr. Birdsong” and “Volume Peaks.” I Hear You was produced and recorded by Randall Dunn and Arbor Labor Union in the fall of 2015 at Avast Studio in Seattle, WA and mastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering.
Tour Dates May 14 - West Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern May 15 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Back Room May 16 - Washington, DC - DC9 May 18 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie May 19 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge May 20 - Cambridge, MA - Club Bohemia May 21 - Buffalo, NY - The Leopard Lounge at Town Ballroom May 22 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop May 24 - Chicago, IL - Schubas May 25 - Madison, WI - The Frequency May 26 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry May 27 - Iowa City, IA - The Mill May 28 - Omaha, NE - Milk Run May 29 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake Lounge May 31 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Jun. 02 - Nampa, ID - Flying M Coffee Jun. 03 - Seattle, WA - Barboza Jun. 04 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios Jun. 06 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop Jun. 07 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room Jun. 08 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Hi-Fi Jun. 10 - San Diego, CA - Hideout Jun. 11 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar Jun. 13 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk Jun. 14 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada Jun. 15 - Houston, TX - Rudyard’s Jun. 17 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt
Arbor Labor Union has announced a U.S. tour in support of their upcoming album, I Hear You, and has made a new track off the album, “Belief’d” available today via Brooklyn Vegan.
I Hear You is set for worldwide release May 13th on CD/LP/DL/CASS through Sub Pop and is available for preorder now Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp and independent retailers near you. LP preorders via megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited “Loser” edition on pink vinyl.
