On August 26th, 2022, Bret McKenzie will release Songs Without Jokes, his full-length, solo debut, worldwide through Sub Pop. The album, which features lead single “A Little Tune,” and additional highlights “Dave’s Place,” “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.
Watch the charming, official (and officially charming…) video for a “A Little Tune,” which stars McKenzie, directed by Ezra Simons, and shot at Royal Whanganui Opera House, the last Victorian theatre remaining in New Zealand.
As you can probably glean from that gleaming album title above, McKenzie—whom you know from such modern musical treasures as comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, The Muppets movie reboots and other ace family-film soundtracks, Lord of the Rings fan blogs, guest songs for The Simpsons, cycling around the streets in his native New Zealand, and more— has a new solo record coming out filled with songs that ARE NOT COMEDY SONGS! For members of the press, we thoughtfully provide some irresistible story headlines below, for Bret’s sake and your convenience.
-Kiwi Flies, and Solo! -Songs From One Bloke -Three (Con)chords (Minus Two Conchords) and the Truth -Uh-Oh! Rhymenoceros on the Loose! -Bretty or Not, Here He Comes
There. Now doesn’t that feel better? Sometimes it helps just to get it out in the open.
So, yeah, Bret’s a ridiculously funny dude, and you might even call him one of the best comedy songwriters in the biz. He’s had smash hits, he’s won major awards, he’s the better-dressed part of his duo…he’s got a good thing going! So, what gives with this whole “songs without jokes” solo stuff, man?
“Post-Conchords, I’d been working on songs for the Muppets films, and during a session I had the thought that it would be fun someday to work on some songs that weren’t for someone else, that don’t have to tell a story or be funny or continue the narrative plot, checking all the boxes for the character in the movie,” McKenzie says. “I thought it’d be fun to do a record like that, something different.”
Adding to his successful track record writing and performing across most genres of pop music, McKenzie is a fan of wry, literate artists like Harry Nilsson, Steely Dan, Randy Newman and Dire Straits. He’s a talented player of multiple instruments and a veteran of several non-comedy bands in New Zealand back in the day, most notably the reggae-based fusion group The Black Seeds. Yet, while songs without jokes are just as much in his blood as those with, he recognizes that most people who know his work will arrive expecting a laugh. Hence, the album’s title (read full bio at Sub Pop).
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.
Seated registration for these shows begins today, and runs through Tuesday, May 17th at 10pm (local). Fan presales begin Wednesday, May 18th at 10am (local; PW: SONGSWITHOUTJOKES), with tickets on sale to the general public on Friday, May 20th at 10am (local). 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 - El Cajon, CA (San Diego) - 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).
Bret McKenzie Songs Without Jokes
Tracklisting: 1. This World 2. If You Wanna Go 3. Dave’s Place 4. Here for You 5. That’s L.A. 6. Up in Smoke 7. Carry On 8. A Little Tune 9. America Goodbye 10. Tomorrow Today 11. Crazy Times
Today you can watch the “courtroom drama” official video for Σtella’s “The Truth Is,” a new highlight from Up and Away, the Greek artist’s mesmerizing Sub Pop debut. The song transports its listeners forward to acceptance (“alright, but still I miss you every night.”) capturing the conflicting emotions of love as it lives on in ways beyond our understanding or control. Its bittersweet and whimsical video is based on a concept by Σtella (who also stars as the “stenographer”) and directed by Gregoris Rentis.
Up and Away features the aforementioned “The Truth Is” along with “Charmed” and the title track, and will be out June 17h worldwide on Sub Pop.
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.”
What people have said about Σtella: “Σtella’s honey-rich vocals overlie a crisp, no-frills backing that has echoes of classic ’60s pop” - Line of Best Fit
“Bold, streamlined pop” - PASTE
“…Infectious disco-infused art-pop.” - I-D
Up and Away Σtella
Track Listing: 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
Suki Waterhouse today released her debut album, I Can’t Let Go, via Sub Pop Records. I Can’t Let Go is produced by Grammy-Nominated Producer & Songwriter Brad Cook (Bon Iver, War On Drugs, Snail Mail, Waxahatchee). Recently, it was announced that Suki will be opening on Father John Misty’s tour from July 31st – October 8th, 2022. Tickets are on sale now.
TOUR DATES:
July 31st – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ The Colorado Symphony
August 3rd – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s
August 5th – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels
August 6th – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
August 8th – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
August 9th – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
August 11th – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
August 12th – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater
August 13th – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
August 14th – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
August 18th – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Forever Cemetery
August 20th – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
August 23rd – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre
August 25th – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum
August 26th – Port Townsend, WA – THING Festival
August 27th – Portland, OR – Pioneer Square
September 12th – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!
September 13th – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia
September 16th – Richmond, VA – Brown’s Island
September 17th – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit
September 19th – Charleston, SC – The Riviera Theater
September 20th – Washington, DC – The Anthem
September 22nd – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall w/ NY POPS
September 23rd – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
September 24th – Bridgeport, CT – Sound on Sound
September 26th – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
September 27th – Toronto, ON – Roy Thomson Hall
September 29th – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
September 30th & October 1st – Saint Paul, MN – Palace Theatre
October 3rd – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
October 4th – Indianapolis, IN – Clowes Memorial Hall
Today, Australia’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever release their new album, Endless Rooms, out digitally today on Sub Pop. The vinyl edition will be available in the EU/UK on May 20th and the rest of the world on June 3rd.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is Fran Keaney, Joe White, Marcel Tussie and brothers Tom Russo and Joe Russo. Following 2020’s Sideways To New Italy, Endless Rooms is a testament to the collaborative spirit and live power of the band, and is them “doing what we do best: chasing down songs in a room together.”Endless Rooms is the band’s most cinematic, stylistically diverse and ambitious album yet, as presented in a string of previously-released singles: “My Echo,” “Tidal River,” and “The Way It Shatters.”
Self-produced by the band with Matt Duffy, and mixed by Scott Horscroft (DMA’S, Silverchair, The Presets), Endless Rooms pulls back the curtain on what Rolling Blackouts C.F. can achieve, revealing a wider screen, deeper narrative currents, more confident shades, and an excitement at letting their tumbling brand of ragged, nervy pop wander and breathe.
Following dates in Australia and Europe, Rolling Blackouts C.F. will head stateside. A full list of dates are below and tickets are on sale now.
ROLLING BLACKOUTS C.F. TOUR DATES
Fri. May 20 - Madrid, ES @ Tomavistas
Sun. May 22 - Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 *
Mon. May 23 - Norwich, UK @ Waterfront *
Tue. May 24 - Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy *
Wed. May 25 - Bristol, UK @ Motion *
Thu. May 26 - Cardiff, UK @ Tramshed *
Sat. May 28 - Northampton, UK @ Roadmender *
Sun. May 29 - Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute *
Mon. May 30 - Leeds, UK @ Leeds Irish Centre *
Tue. May 31 - Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz *
Thu. Jun. 2 - London, UK @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire *
Fri. Jun. 3 - Sheffield, UK @ The Foundry *
Sat. Jun. 4 - Glasgow, UK @ Queen Margaret Union *
Sun. Jun. 5 - Edinburgh, UK @ The Liquid Room *
Mon. Jun. 6 - Newcastle upon Tyne, UK @ Boiler Shop *
Wed. Jun. 8 - Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street *
Fri. Jun. 10 - Parque Da Cidade, BR @ Primavera Porto
Sat. Jun. 11 - Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
Sun. Jun. 12 - Mannheim, DE @ Maifield Derby
Mon. Jun. 13 - Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia *
Wed. Jun. 15 - Bergen, NO @ Bergenfest
Thu. Jun. 16 - Oslo, NO @ John Dee *
Fri. Jun. 17 - Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset *
Sun. Jun. 19 - Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie *
Tue. Jun. 21 - Brussels, BE @ Botanique Orangerie *
Wed. Jun. 22 - Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje *
Thu. Jun. 23 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso *
Fri. Jul. 22 - North Byron Parklands, AU @ Splendour In The Grass
Wed. Jul. 27 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
Mon. Aug. 1 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Tue. Aug. 2 - Montréal, QC @ L’Escogriffe Bar
Wed. Aug. 3 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Sat. Aug. 6 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sun. Aug. 7 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Mon. Aug. 8 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Wed. Aug. 10 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal west
Fri. Aug. 12 - Austin, TX @ Empire
Sat. Aug. 13 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips
Mon. Aug. 15 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Tue. Aug. 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Thu. Aug. 18 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Fri. Aug. 19 - Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre
Sat. Aug. 20 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Mon. Aug. 22 - San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
Tue. Aug. 23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
Today, Australia’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever release a new single, “Dive Deep,” off of their forthcoming album, Endless Rooms, out this Friday on Sub Pop. “Dive Deep” features a slow-burn rhythm and an enormous lead guitar hook. “This is a simple song of devotion,” says Tom Russo. “It’s about if you are going to give in to love, you need to go all in, and accept that you have no control in the matter. It began as a home recording during lockdown. I recorded the guide vocals and guitars with my new baby strapped to my chest. When we could finally get together to play it, Joe White came up with the perfect lead guitar tone. He was given full license to wail, and did so.. I remember sitting by the fire, looking up at the stars, and hearing the guitar echoing all around the valley’”
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is Fran Keaney, Joe White, Marcel Tussie and brothers Tom Russo and Joe Russo. Following 2020’s Sideways To New Italy, Endless Rooms is a testament to the collaborative spirit and live power of the band, and is them “doing what we do best: chasing down songs in a room together.”Endless Rooms is the band’s most cinematic, stylistically diverse and ambitious album yet, as presented in a string of previously-released singles: “My Echo,” “Tidal River,” and “The Way It Shatters.”
Self-produced by the band with Matt Duffy, and mixed by Scott Horscroft (DMA’S, Silverchair, The Presets), Endless Rooms pulls back the curtain on what Rolling Blackouts C.F. can achieve, revealing a wider screen, deeper narrative currents, more confident shades, and an excitement at letting their tumbling brand of ragged, nervy pop wander and breathe.
Following dates in Australia and Europe, Rolling Blackouts C.F. will head stateside. A full list of dates are below and tickets are on sale now.
ROLLING BLACKOUTS C.F. TOUR DATES
Fri. May 20 - Madrid, ES @ Tomavistas
Sun. May 22 - Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 *
Mon. May 23 - Norwich, UK @ Waterfront *
Tue. May 24 - Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy *
Wed. May 25 - Bristol, UK @ Motion *
Thu. May 26 - Cardiff, UK @ Tramshed *
Sat. May 28 - Northampton, UK @ Roadmender *
Sun. May 29 - Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute *
Mon. May 30 - Leeds, UK @ Leeds Irish Centre *
Tue. May 31 - Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz *
Thu. Jun. 2 - London, UK @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire *
Fri. Jun. 3 - Sheffield, UK @ The Foundry *
Sat. Jun. 4 - Glasgow, UK @ Queen Margaret Union *
Sun. Jun. 5 - Edinburgh, UK @ The Liquid Room *
Mon. Jun. 6 - Newcastle upon Tyne, UK @ Boiler Shop *
Wed. Jun. 8 - Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street *
Fri. Jun. 10 - Parque Da Cidade, BR @ Primavera Porto
Sat. Jun. 11 - Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
Sun. Jun. 12 - Mannheim, DE @ Maifield Derby
Mon. Jun. 13 - Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia *
Wed. Jun. 15 - Bergen, NO @ Bergenfest
Thu. Jun. 16 - Oslo, NO @ John Dee *
Fri. Jun. 17 - Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset *
Sun. Jun. 19 - Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie *
Tue. Jun. 21 - Brussels, BE @ Botanique Orangerie *
Wed. Jun. 22 - Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje *
Thu. Jun. 23 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso *
Fri. Jul. 22 - North Byron Parklands, AU @ Splendour In The Grass
Wed. Jul. 27 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
Mon. Aug. 1 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Tue. Aug. 2 - Montréal, QC @ L’Escogriffe Bar
Wed. Aug. 3 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Sat. Aug. 6 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sun. Aug. 7 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Mon. Aug. 8 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Wed. Aug. 10 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal west
Fri. Aug. 12 - Austin, TX @ Empire
Sat. Aug. 13 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips
Mon. Aug. 15 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Tue. Aug. 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Thu. Aug. 18 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Fri. Aug. 19 - Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre
Sat. Aug. 20 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Mon. Aug. 22 - San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
Tue. Aug. 23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
In 2021, CHAI made their Sub Pop debut with WINK, securing their position as “a professional purveyor of whimsy” (The New York Times). Today, they are sharing the official video for “SURPRISE,” the band’s new single.
CHAI says of “SURPRISE,” “We all have that precious “something” that we can’t express in words. But sometimes those things happen to make it out as words, and we want to feel and love that “surprise”. Those become the surprises of our lives, and I become a brand new me♡. That’s what we had in mind when we wrote “SURPRISE”. Check it out♡”
As for the song’s official video, CHAI offers this, “When our trailer was stolen during our North American tour, we were able to continue our shows because of the overwhelming support and love from all of you. We never forget how much we appreciate you, and we want to continue to give back to our fans through music, forever and ever. This music video was shot under the blue skies of Los Angeles, with gratitude. Check it out♡.”
This weekend, CHAI will also be one of the artists featured in YouTube Japan’s streaming event “YouTube Music Weekend Vol. 5”, where they will premiere footage from their sold out Brooklyn show that took place on February 15th as part of their WINK TOGETHER NORTH AMERICA TOUR. The livestream will take place on May 7th 1:40 pm JST / May 6th 9:40 pm PDT, on CHAI’s official YouTube channel. Check out the livestream here (Available on archive until May 15th - 1:40 pm JST/May 14th - 9:40 pm PT).
CHAI’s international tour schedule in continued support of WINK spans Friday, June10th through Sunday, November 13th, 2022. In June, the band will visit Australia for a short tour, which includes stops at Vivid Sydney at Carriageworks (Jun. 10th) and Rising 2022 at Forum Melbourne (Jun. 11th). CHAI will then return to the US and Canada in September for appearances at Primavera Sound LA (Sep 18th) and Dover, DE’s Firefly Music Festival (Sep. 25th), and a direct support slot opening for Hippo Campus (Oct. 3rd-30th). Finally, in November CHAI will head to South America for appearances at Primavera Sound’s Sao Paolo, Brazil (Nov. 6th), Santiago, Chile (Nov. 12th) and Buenos Aries, Argentina (Nov. 13th). Please find a full list of tour dates below.
Fri. Jun. 10 - Sydney, AU - Vivid Sydney at Carriageworks Sat. Jun. 11 - Melbourne, AU - Rising 2022 at Forum Melbourne Sun. Sep. 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Primavera Sound LA Sun. Sep. 25 - Dover, DE - Firefly Music Festival Mon. Oct. 03 - Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater * Tue. Oct. 04 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe * Thu. Oct. 06 - Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theater * Sat. Oct. 08 - Omaha, NE - The Admiral * Mon. Oct. 10 - Louisville, KY - Paristown Hall * Tue. Oct. 11 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater* Thu. Oct. 13 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre * Fri. Oct. 14 - Montreal, QC - Le National * Sat. Oct. 15 - Portland, ME - State Theater * Mon. Oct. 17 - Providence, RI - The Strand * Tue. Oct. 18 - New Haven, CT - College Street Music Hall * Fri. Oct. 21 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz * Sat. Oct. 22 - Charlotte, NC - The Filmore* Tue. Oct. 25 - Miami, FL - North Beach Bandshell * Wed. Oct. 26 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues * Fri. Oct. 28 - St.Pertersburg, FL - Jannus Live * Sat. Oct. 29 - Mobile, AL - Soul Kitchen * Sun. Oct. 30 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City * Sun. Nov. 06 - Sao Paolo, BR - Primavera Sound Sao Paulo Brazil Sat. Nov. 12 - Santiago, CL - Primavera Sound Santiago Chile Sun. Nov. 13 - Buenos Aires, AR - Primavera Sound Buenos Aires Argentina * with Hippo Campus
