Fire Note Staff

Los Angeles-based artist, Hand Habits has shared “can’t calm down,” the latest single from their upcoming album, placeholder. Of the song, Meg Duffy says “this song took the longest lyrically for me to finish. i started it about 3 years ago and kept it in progress throughout different cycles of feeling. ‘ancestral damage’ and learned behaviors and conditioning to react/hold and place certain emotions are patterns i’m interested in taking part and understanding better. what can one do with rage? with pain? with sadness? and is it is possible to learn how to wipe away completely the knee jerk reactions to situations that are buried deep in one’s dna? and the role models that taught us how to behave, whether directly or residually…are they the ones who should be held responsible or is memory partially to blame?” The song features vocal contributions from Elizabeth Powell of Land of Talk.

Duffy, who you might recognize as a long-time member of Kevin Morby’s touring band, sounds more assured and confident than ever on their new album, placeholder, available for pre-order now HERE and due out March 1st, 2019 via Saddle Creek. Additionally, Hand Habits has announced a 2019 spring tour in support of placeholder that kicks off its US leg in March, and its European one in May. All dates below.

TOUR DATES:
3/22 – Bolinas, CA @ Bolinas Community Center >
3/23 – San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall < $ 3/25 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios % 3/26 - Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern % 3/29 - Salt Lake City @ Kilby Court 3/30 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge 4/1 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown * 4/2 - Eau Claire, WI @ The Gallery at The Oxbow Hotel * 4/3 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry * 4/4 - Chicago, IL @ Hideout * + 4/8 - Troy, NY @ Post Contemporary Church # 4/9 - Hudson, NY @ The Half Moon Hudson # 4/10 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^ 4/11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's ^ 4/12 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd DC Vinyl Lounge ^ 4/13 - Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight ^ 4/14 - Nashville, TN @ The End ^ 4/15 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl ^ 4/16 - New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa ^ 4/18 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk (Inside) ^ 4/20 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sanitary Tortilla Factory ^ 4/21 - Tucson, AZ @ Hotel Congress ^ 4/22 - Long Beach @ Living Room LBC ^ 4/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg ^ 5/3 - Vlieland, NL @ Here Comes The Summer Festival 5/7 - Bristol, UK @ Crofters Rights 5/8 - London, UK @ The Lexington 5/9 - Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape Festival 5/11 - Leeds, UK @ Gold Sounds Festival 5/12 - Manchester, UK @ YES 5/14 - Lille, FR @ La Bulle Cafe 5/15 - Paris, FR @ Supersonic 5/17 - Nyon, CH @ La Paranthese 5/18 - Zürich, CH @ Lauter Festival 5/20 - München, DE @ Hauskonzerte 5/21 - Jena, DE @ Trafo 5/22 - Berlin, DE @ Kantine am Berghain 5/24 - Brugge, BE Cactus Club 5/25 - Amsterdam, NL @ London Calling

> w/ Alex Bleeker
< w/ Wizard Apprentice $ w/ Stephen Steinbrink % w/ Mega Bog * w/ Tomberlin + w/ Gia Margaret # w/ Eleanor Friedberger (solo) ^ w/ Tasha

Durand Jones & The Indications will release their sophomore album, American Love Call, on March 1st via Dead Oceans/Colemine Records. After sharing lead single, “Don’t You Know”, the band returns with the follow-up cut: the poignant, politically charged album opener, “Morning In America”. “It’s a fraught moment in our history. ‘Morning in America’ is a song for this moment,” says the band. Penned by drummer Aaron Frazer, the band has this to say regarding the track:

The lyrics speak to how many of us feel every day in this time of political and environmental uncertainty— flitting between anger, despair, anxiety but ever returning to a sliver of hope that there’s still a path forward.

We so often divide ourselves by our differences. Acknowledging those differences is crucial; listening to those different from us is crucial. But viewed solely through that lens, we are fragmented and few. When we look at the country along economic lines, however, a different picture emerges. Suddenly people of all of colors, in every part of this country, can find themselves on the same side, united by a shared struggle to simply survive in the richest nation to ever exist.

This song was inspired by The Poor People’s Campaign, a movement started by Martin Luther King Jr. shortly before his assassination. It functions today as a nonpartisan organization that promotes intersectionality and inter-movement unity as a tool of addressing systemic injustices.

It’s accompanying video, directed by Ellie Foumbi, find’s immense inspiration in the song’s message. “It’s impossible to hear this song and not connect its message to the current political climate in America,” says Foumbi. “It makes you stop and question the ways in which our country has changed and whether we’re as far along as we should be. The themes of inequality, social and economic oppression, and the disparity between the haves and the have-nots jumped out at me. The juxtaposition between past and present, rich and poor, black and white are so prevalent in our society that it only felt right to highlight them in the video.”

You can pre-order the new album HERE. Catch the band live at the dates below!

Durand Jones & The Indications’ Tour Dates:
Wed. Jan. 23 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
Fri. Jan. 25 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso-Noord
Sun. Jan. 27 – Cologne, DE @ Artheater
Mon. Jan. 28 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
Mon. March 18 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Tue. March 19 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Thu. March 21 – Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroots
Fri. March 22 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Sat. March 23 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah — SOLD OUT
Mon. March 25 – Tustin, CA @ Marty’s On Newport — SOLD OUT
Tue. March 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom — SOLD OUT
Wed. March 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom — SOLD OUT
Thu. March 28 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Restaurant & Music Club
Fri. March 29 – Oakland, CA @ The New Parish — SOLD OUT
Sat. March 30 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent — SOLD OUT
Mon. April 1 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
Tue. April 2 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Thu. April 4 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
Fri. April 5 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Sat. April 6 – Kansas City, MO @ recordBar
Sun. April 7 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
Tue. April 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Wed. April 10 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Thu. April 11 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Fri. April 12 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
Sat. April 13 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Sun. April 14 – North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival
Tue. April 16 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
Wed. April 17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri. April 19 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Sat. April 20 – Uncasville, CT @ Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Resort
Sun. April 21 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Mon. April 22 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Wed. April 24 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Woodward Theater
Fri. April 26 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
Sat. April 27 – Oxford, MS @ Double Decker Arts Festival
Sun. April 28 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Sat. May 11 – Bloomington, IN @ Indiana University w/ Neko Case
Sun. Sep. 15 – Telluride, CO @ Blues & Brews Festival

Today, Mozes and the Firstborn have released a new music video for their latest single “Blow Up.” The psychedelic glitch-y inspired visuals were co-created by bassist Corto Blommaert.

The worldwide release of their third full-length album, Dadcore, is on Jan 25th via Burger Records. The band has an extensive US tour planned along with a newly announced EU tour which can all be found below.

Mozes US Tour Dates:
WED 23 JAN Soda Bar, San Diego
THU 24 JAN The Wayfarer, Costa Mesa
FRI 25 JAN Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles
SAT 26 JAN Bottom of the Hill, San Fran
MON 28 JAN Doug Fir Lounge, Portland
TUE 29 JAN The Sunset Tavern, Seattle
WED 30 JAN The Bartlett, Spokane
THU 31 JAN Neurolux, Boise
FRI 01 FEB Kilby Court, Salt Lake City
SAT 02 FEB Larimer Lounge, Denver
MON 04 FEB The Riot Room, KCMO
TUE 05 FEB Triple Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel, Davenport
WED 06 FEB First Avenue, Minneapolis
THU 07 FEB Cactus Club, Milwaukee
FRI 08 FEB The Ready Room, St. Louis
SAT 09 FEB Schubas Tavern, Chicago
SUN 10 FEB Ace of Cups, Columbus
TUE 12 FEB The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub, Cambridge
WED 13 FEB Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia
THU 14 FEB DC9 Nightclub, Washington
FRI 15 FEB Rough Trade NYC, NY
SAT 16 FEB Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro
SUN 17 FEB The EARL, Atlanta
MON 18 FEB The Basement, Nashville
TUE 19 FEB The Hi Tone, Memphis
WED 20 FEB Gasa Gasa, New Orleans
THU 21 FEB White Oak Music Hall, Houston
FRI 22 FEB The Independent Bar & Kitchen, Dallas
SAT 23 FEB HOTEL VEGAS, Austin
MON 25 FEB Valley Bar, Phoenix

Mozes and the Firstborn European Tour Dates:
27th Feb – Berlin, Lido
28th Feb – Hamburg, Knust
1st March – Frankfurt, Das Bett
2nd March – Osnabrück, Rosenhof
7th March – Amsterdam, Bitterzoet
11th March – Paris, Supersonic
12th March – London, Shacklewell Arms
13th March – Hasselt, Muziekodroom
14th March – Utrecht, EKKO
16th March – Amsterdam, AFAS Live

Los Angeles four-piece FEELS today shared the new video for “Awful Need,” the second song released off their forthcoming new album, Post Earth, produced by Tim Green (the former guitarist of punk iconoclasts Nation of Ulysses, who has worked with Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, Joanna Newsom, and Jawbreaker, among others) and directed by Shane McKenzie and the band.

Talking about the track, the band’s Shannon Lay said: “’Awful Need’ is about our search for identity, it is a journey we will be on all our lives; but it is also a reminder that we do not have to be defined by those things. We are always learning to shed what no longer benefits us, we are building on the grave of useless thought. Who you are does not need a title, a label, you are simply and perfectly you.”

Post Earth will be released on February 22, 2019 via Wichita Recordings and is now available for pre-order on all formats, including a limited edition red vinyl, HERE. FEELS are also confirmed to support Ex Hex on a run of April and May North American tour dates, following a lengthy UK and EU tour that includes dates with Screaming Females. All dates are below.

FEELS tour dates:
2/19 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (record release show)
3/07 Brighton, UK @ The Hope & Ruin
3/08 Manchester, UK @ Yes
3/09 Glasgow, UK @ Nice & Sleazy
3/10 Leeds, UK @ Headrow House
3/11 London, UK @ Moth Club
3/12 Margate, UK @ Elsewhere
3/13 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
3/14 Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang
3/15 Offenbach, DE @ Hafen 2
3/16 Halle, DE @ Huhnermanhattan
3/17 Berlin, DE @ Westgermany
3/18 Aarhus, DK @ Tape
3/19 Malmo, SE @ Plan B
3/20 Stockholm, SE @ Hus 7*
3/21 Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen*
3/22 Groningen, NL @ Vera*
3/23 Rotterdam, NL @ Rotown*
3/24 Gent, BE @ De Aap
3/25 Liege, BE @ La Zone
3/26 Lille, FR @ DIY Cafe
3/27 Rennes, FR @ Mondo Bizarro
3/28 Paris, FR @ Mains D’oeuvre
3/29 Vevey, CH @ Rocking Chair
3/30 Zurich, CH @ Gonzo Club
3/31 Lugano, CH @ Lido San Domenico
4/02 Oviedo, ES @ Lata De Zinc
4/03 Madrid, ES @ Wurlitzer Ballroom
4/04 Valencia, ES @ 16 Toneladas
4/05 Barcelona, ES @ Barcelona Psych Fest
4/06 Bordeaux, FR @ Void
4/07 Le Havre, FR @ Mc Daids
4/17 Boise, ID @ Neurolux**
4/18 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre**
4/19 Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore**
4/20 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile**
4/23 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall**
4/24 Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s**
4/26 Tustin, CA @ Marty’s On Newport**
4/27 Phoenix, CA @ Rebel Lounge**
4/28 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress**
4/30 Austin, TX @ Barracuda**
5/01 Dallas, TX @ Curtain Club**
5/03 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In**
5/04 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle**
* with Screaming Females
** with Ex Hex

In anticipation of his US tour beginning this Friday in Philadelphia (see all dates below), Jon Spencer and his band, the Hitmakers, have launched the video for their latest “Beetle Boots.” The track appears on Spencer’s debut solo album, Spencer Sings The Hits!, which is out now via In The Red Records.

01/11/19 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s (w/ Taiwan Housing Project
01/12/19 – Washington, DC – Black Cat (w/ The Ar-Kaics)
01/13/19 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall (w/ The Ar-Kaics)
01/14/19 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall (w/ Dex Romweber Duo)
01/15/19 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle (w/ Uncle Kurtis)
01/16/19 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl (w/ Subsonics)
01/17/19 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn (w/ Dan Sartain)
01/18/19 – New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks (w/ Chicken Snake)
01/19/19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues – Bronze Peacock (w/ Poizen)
01/20/19 – Austin, TX – 3TEN ACL (w/ Hey Jellie)
01/21/19 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger (w/ Rocket 808)
01/22/19 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada (w/ Mind Spiders)
01/23/19 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz
01/24/19 – Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone Café (w/ NOTS)
01/25/19 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In (w/ NOTS)
01/26/19 – Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light (w/ NOTS)
01/27/19 – Charlotte, NC – Side Stage at the Neighborhood Theatre (w/ Dex Romweber Duo)
01/28/19 – Virginia Beach, VA – Bunker Brewpub & Cadence Hall (w/ Des Demonas)
01/29/19 – Harrisonburg, VA – The Golden Pony (w/ Shagwuf, Des Demonas)
01/30/19 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club (w/ Des Demonas)
01/31/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade (w/ Bodega)
02/01/19 – Allston, MA – Great Scott (w/ Bodega)
02/02/19 – Pawtucket, RI – The Met (w/ Bodega)
2/20/19 – Toyko, Japan – Liquid Room
2/21/19 – Osaka, Japan – Shangri –La (w/ King Brothers)
2/23/19 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
2/24/19 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
2/26/19 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
2/27/19 – Portland, OR – Dante’s

RAT BOY have a new album titled Internationally Unknown, coming on January 25, 2019 via Hellcat Records. The album was produced by Rancid’s Tim Armstrong and the band were just confirmed to perform at Coachella.

“Don’t Hesitate” is the primer for what to expect from Internationally Unknown. RAT BOY blends an anthemic aggro punk with boisterous hip-hop beats, all the while maintain the personality and attitude that first earned him attention. Meanwhile, the lyrics explore a conflict between outlaws and the police during a post-apocalyptic disorder.

RAT BOY first found Tim Armstrong’s punk/hip-hop band Transplants in his father’s record collection, and subsequently delved into his back catalogue with Rancid and Operation Ivy. RAT BOY had repeatedly mentioned his admiration of Armstrong in interviews, which led to the L.A. punk veteran discovering the young Essex upstart.

Separated by 30 years of age and the Atlantic Ocean, RAT BOY and Armstrong sound like the very definition of an odd couple. But they immediately connected on their first phone call, through a shared love for mixing the visceral energy of punk with hip-hop beats. In many ways, it’s hardly surprising: both musicians share similar influences and often reflect on their upbringing in their lyrics.

The pair met at Armstrong’s Shiprec Studios where he had just finished producing The Interrupters’ latest album and immediately captured three demos on their first day together, with members of The Interrupters backing them on bass and drums. Not only did they have chemistry but they had a wealth of unorthodox creative ideas, such as chopping up live drums before filtering them through an old tape machine or RAT BOY playing Armstrong’s left-handed guitar upside down.

The momentum was such that the project was entirely written and recorded during three visits, which amounted to a total of two months’ work. RAT BOY’s live band joined him in Los Angeles, while other collaborators include former Aggrolites bassist J Bonner and The Interrupters’ vocalist Aimee Interrupter. John King of The Dust Brothers (Beastie Boys, Beck) also contributed production. The result is twelve tracks which amplify RAT ROY’s rabble-rousing riot act to a new level.