On May 20th, Sub Pop will release the debut album from Weird Nightmare, the electrifying new project from METZ guitarist and singer Alex Edkins. Hot on the heels of the album’s debut track, “Searching For You,” comes this anthemic new single “Lusitania.” Edkins says of the song, “‘Lusitania’ was a big breakthrough for the entire Weird Nightmare album. I realized that, musically, my goal was to make songs that would make people feel good! This idea of waking up from a terrible dream or winter changing into spring. Momentary relief. We all need that feeling right now and music has always been what I turn to most.” The video for the song was directed by Colin Medley, and you can/really should click here to watch.
As previously announced, Weird Nightmare has a clutch of North American shows, including a hometown album release show on May 21st in Toronto, ON at The Baby G. The band will also hit the road on a 7-date co-headlining tour with labelmates Kiwi Jr. See below for a full list of shows.
NORTH AMERICAN DATES
Sat. May 21st - Toronto, ON - Baby G (Toronto Record Release Show)
Fri. June. 17th - Detroit, MI - Third Man Records *
Sat. June 18th - Chicago, IL - Schubas *
Thu. July 28th - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s Alright *
Fri. July 29th - Rehoboth Beach, DE - Dogfish Head Brewery *
Sat. July 30th - Washington, DC - Songbyrd *
Sun. July 31st - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s *
*w/ Kiwi Jr
Weird Nightmare is now available for preorder/presave on CD/LP/Cassette/DSPs from Sub Pop. The LP is packaged in a special embossed jacket with semi-transparent obi-strip along the spine, and pre-orders from megamart.sub pop.com, select independent retailers in North America, and in the UK, and in Europe will receive the Loser Edition of the album on Transparent Cotton Candy Swirl vinyl and Clear Coke Bottle vinyl, respectively.
Weird Nightmare
S/T
1. Searching for You
2. Nibs
3. Lusitania
4. Wrecked
5. Sunday Driver
6. Darkroom
7. Dream
8. Zebra Dance
9. Oh No
10. Holding Out
Long considered one of the planet’s most bombastic live acts and foremost purveyors of abrasive melodicism, METZ has spent the majority of their 11-year tenure crisscrossing the globe and bringing their unparalleled energy directly to the people. Determined to connect with their fans and to find a way within the confines of the pandemic to create a live experience as dynamic as their most recent full length, Atlas Vending, METZ took to the stage in October 2020 at the Opera House in Toronto to livestream a performance of Atlas Vending in its entirety. Directed by the band’s longtime video collaborator Scott Cudmore, you can now watch this stunning performance on YouTube. Click here to watch.
The film is a reminder of METZ’s intense, life-affirming performances, which they are bringing back to the stages of North America this November and December with longtime friends and equally excellent bands, Preoccupations and FACS. The tour begins November 18th in Phoenix and will close with METZ headlining a two-night stand in Toronto at Lee’s Palace on December 17th-18th. The band will return to Europe and the UK in the spring of 2022.
Live at the Opera House was recorded by Graham Walsh, mixed by Seth Manchester and is available now on all digital service providers. The limited-edition 1,000-piece pressing on tricolor (Black/White/Oxblood) vinyl is practically sold out. If you miss the chance to buy this handsome, collectible LP online, you can and should (FINALLY) go see METZ at one of their upcoming shows where they will have a limited number of these Live at the Opera House LPs for sale.
METZ on the road:
2021
Thu. Nov. 18 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
Fri. Nov. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
Sat. Nov. 20 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
Mon. Nov. 22 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
Tue. Nov. 23 - Seattle, WA - The Tractor Tavern
Wed. Nov. 24 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore
Fri. Nov. 26 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Sat. Nov. 27 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room
Mon. Nov. 29 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Park Theatre
Tue. Nov. 30 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
Thu. Dec. 02 - Milwaukee, WI - The Back Room - Colectivo
Fri. Dec. 03 - Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art
Sun. Dec. 05 - Ottawa ON - Bronson Centre
Mon. Dec. 06 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount
Tue. Dec. 07 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
Thu. Dec. 09 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere: Hall
Fri. Dec. 10 - New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom
Sat. Dec. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry at The Fillmore
Mon. Dec. 13 - Washington, DC - Union Stage
Tue. Dec. 14 - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar
Thu. Dec. 16 - Chicago, IL - Metro
Fri. Dec. 17 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only)
Sat. Dec. 18 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only)
All shows w/ Preoccupations and FACS except Toronto.
2022:
Fri. Apr. 01 - Leicester, UK - O2 Academy 2
Sat. Apr. 02 - Blackpool, UK - Bootleg Social
Sun. Apr. 03 - Manchester, UK - YES
Mon. Apr. 04 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny
Wed. Apr. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Stereo
Thu. Apr. 07 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Fri. Thu. Apr. 08 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Sat. Apr. 09 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store
Sun. Apr. 10 - London, UK - Scala
Mon. Apr. 11 - Lille, FR - L’Aeronef
Tue. Apr. 12 - Antwerp, BE - Trix
Wed. Apr. 13 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain
Fri. Apr. 15 - Biarritz, FR - Atabal
Sat. Apr. 16 - Vigo, ES - La Iguana
Sun. Apr. 17 - Porto, PT - Hard Club
Mon. Apr. 18 - Lisbon, PT - LAV
Wed. Apr. 20 - Madrid, ES - Independence Live
Thu. Apr. 21 - Barcelona, ES - LA 2
Fri. Apr. 22 - Nimes, FR - Paloma
Sat. Apr. 23 - Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn
Sun. Apr. 24 - Lausanne, CH - Les Docks
Mon. Apr. 25 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F
Wed. Apr. 27 - Munich, DE - Kranhalle
Thu. Apr. 28 - Vienna, AT - Arena Wien
Fri. Apr. 29 - Berlin, DE - Lido
Sat. Apr. 30 - Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU - Out of the Crowd Festival
Sun. May 01 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown
Tue. May 03 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen
Wed. May 04 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang
Thu. May 05 - Groningen, NL - Vera
Fri. May 06 - Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg
Sat. May 07 - Cologne, DE - Artheater
All shows w/ Psychic Graveyard
Tickets for all 2021 and 2022 shows at https://www.metzztem.com/live.
METZ have announced a long-awaited return to North American stages this year. In support of their 2020 critically-acclaimed album, Atlas Vending, METZ will take their intense, life-affirming performances on a co-headline run with longtime friends and fellow Canadians, Preoccupations. The tour will begin on Nov. 18 in Phoenix, AZ with stops including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Detroit, Montreal, Brooklyn, and Chicago before closing when METZ make a two-night hometown stand on Dec. 17 & 18 at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, ON. These dates are in addition to their previously announced European tour with Psychic Graveyard. See below for a full list of all global 2021 and 2022 shows.
Of their impending post-pandemic tour, frontman Alex Edkins shares, “We are incredibly excited to be announcing a real in-person tour for later this year! We cannot wait to share Atlas Vending with you and to reconnect with our musical friends and family worldwide.”
Today the band has also unveiled a live video of their stand-out single “A Boat to Drown In,” a clear reminder of the unparalleled energy and spirit of METZ live. The concert footage was shot at the Opera House in Toronto during their livestream performance of Atlas Vending at the end of 2020. Like what you see and hear? Then stay tuned for some exciting news the group will be sharing around their Live at the Opera House performance in the coming weeks.
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METZ on the road:
2021:
Nov. 18 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
Nov. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
Nov. 20 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
Nov. 22 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
Nov. 23 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile - Showroom
Nov. 24 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore
Nov. 26 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room
Nov. 27 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Nov. 29 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Park Theatre
Nov. 30 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
Dec. 02 - Milwaukee, WI - The Back Room - Colectivo
Dec. 03 - Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art
Dec. 06 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount
Dec. 07 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
Dec. 09 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere: Hall
Dec. 10 - NY, NY - The Bowery Ballroom
Dec. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry at The Fillmore
Dec. 13 - Washington, DC - Union Stage
Dec. 14 - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar
Dec. 15 - Chicago, IL - Metro
Dec. 17 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only)
Dec. 18 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only)
*All shows w/ Preoccupations except Toronto, Toronto on sale now, all additional shows on sale Friday, June 18th at 10 am local.
2022:
Apr. 01 - Leicester, UK - O2 Academy 2
Apr. 02 - Blackpool, UK - Bootleg Social
Apr. 03 - Manchester, UK - YES
Apr. 04 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny
Apr. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Stereo
Apr. 07 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Apr. 08 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Apr. 09 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store
Apr. 10 - London, UK - Scala
Apr. 11 - Lille, FR - L’Aeronef
Apr. 12 - Antwerp, BE - Trix
Apr. 13 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain
Apr. 15 - Biarritz, FR - Atabal
Apr. 16 - Vigo, ES - La Iguana
Apr. 17 - Porto, PT - Hard Club
Apr. 18 - Lisbon, PT - LAV
Apr. 20 - Madrid, ES - Independence Live
Apr. 21 - Barcelona, ES - LA 2
Apr. 22 - Nimes, FR - Paloma
Apr. 23 - Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn
Apr. 24 - Lausanne, CH - Les Docks
Apr. 25 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F
Apr. 27 - Munich, DE - Kranhalle
Apr. 28 - Vienna, AT - Arena Wien
Apr. 29 - Berlin, DE - Lido
May 01 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown
May 03 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen
May 04 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang
May 05 - Groningen, NL - Vera
May 06 - Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg
May 07 - Cologne, DE - Artheater
All shows w/ Psychic Graveyard
Sub Pop proudly presents new, exclusive, two-song singles by Duma, Hand Habits, and LIDS. The three singles are part of the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 6, which continues Sub Pop’s incessant pandering to record collectors by way of limited-edition, subscription-only 7” vinyl singles. While the vinyl editions are only available to Singles Club subscribers – which you can become via the Sub Pop Mega Mart! – the music can now be heard on all digital music services. If you want the 7”s, hurry up and subscribe, as the 1,000 available subscriptions are nearly sold-out. Now that you’ve suffered through the sales pitch, here’s a bit about the artists!
Nairobi, Kenya’s Duma wowed us with their self-titled 2020 debut on Nyege Nyege Tapes. The duo – vocalist Martin Khanja (aka Lord Spike Heart) and producer/guitarist Sam Karugu - slams together metal, punk, industrial, and aggressive electronic music to blistering, boundary smashing effect. Their two songs, “Cannis” and “Mbukinya,” are a thrilling taste of Africa’s metal/experimental underground.
Hand Habits, the songwriting outlet of guitarist Meg Duffy, brings us two lovely new tracks: “motherless” and “no reply.” Lest the fact that we are releasing a Hand Habits record not make it clear, we at Sub Pop are huge fans of these specific songs, and Meg’s thoughtful, innovative, and all-around gorgeous music in general. Hand Habits’ next LP, produced by Sasami Ashworth, is out later this year on Saddle Creek.
LIDS is a new-ish band and veritable Canadian supergroup featuring Alex Edkins of METZ, Brian Borcherdt of Holy Fuck/Dusted, and Doug MacGregor of Constantines. Their single, “Furniture” b/w “Half Twin,” is LIDS’ second vinyl release (following the “Sarsfest” b/w “Blank Flag” single). The tracks make for a thoroughly engrossing 1-2 punch of melodic post-punk, with hints of Suicide and Television Personalities, and more than a hint of the rock-par-excellence LIDS’ members are known for.
