Fire Note Staff

Manchester Orchestra had always prided themselves on their approach. The Atlanta-based band, led by Andy Hull and co-writer Robert McDowell (who is also Hull’s brother-in-law and lifelong friend), had spent their career challenging each other to build a poignant, exhilarating narrative with each new album and EP. The band had worked relentlessly to cultivate a passionate fan base the old-fashioned way: releasing music, making music videos, and touring (most recently with drummer Tim Very and bassist Andy Prince). Their previous long-player, 2014’s Cope, had even spawned a cover album of itself by its creators, an acoustic-reworking and reimagining of its songs with a heavily emotional bent that they called Hope. But now — thirty years old, stable, and a first-time father — Hull found himself facing a crisis of inspiration.

A Black Mile to the Surface is a bold record of vision and purpose, inspired by and dwelling in a sensory, cinematic experience. It’s a reinvention of sorts, both musically and personally—a sort of cosmic worldview shift. But in the end, the record’s themes are universal. On the stunning final track, Hull sings, “Let me watch you as close as a memory/ Let me hold you above all the misery/ Let me open my eyes and be glad that I got here.” Certainly, that’s a father speaking hope to his daughter, but it’s also a message to listeners. How do you write songs about being happy? With your eyes wide open, your loved ones in front of you, and the misery of the world waiting just outside the door.

A Black Mile To The Surface is out July 28 via Loma Vista Recordings. The album – features production by Catherine Marks (Foals, The Killers, Interpol), John Congleton (St. Vincent, Explosions In The Sky, Angel Olsen, Cloud Nothings), and Dan Hannon (Manchester Orchestra’s longtime producer).

Los Angeles-based Wand have announced their new release of Plum, out September 22nd via Drag City Records. Watch the video for “Plum” below. As Hanson describes it, “The song transpires between our collective harmony and individual dissent. It felt like we were each trying to obstruct a clear path in order to discover new space. As a total accident, ‘Plum’ wound up being a miniature blueprint to the musical language we developed together over months of dedicated writing.” You can see the album’s tracklist below along with the band’s tour dates.

Plum Tracklisting:
1. Setting
2. Plum
3. Bee Karma
4. Charles De Gaulle
5. High Rise
6. White Cat
7. The Trap
8. Ginger
9. Blue Cloud
10. Driving

Wand Tour Dates:
Sat. Sep. 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour #
Sun. Sep. 24 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah #
Mon. Sep. 25 – Las Vegas, NV @ Bunkhouse #
Wed. Sep. 27 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake #
Thu. Sep. 28 – Lincoln, ME @ Lincoln Calling
Fri. Sep. 29 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club #
Sat. Sep. 30 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall #
Mon. Oct. 2 – Toronto, ON @ Baby G #
Tue. Oct. 3 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz #
Wed. Oct. 4 – Cambridge, MA @ Cambridge Elks Lodge #
Fri. Oct. 6 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom #
Sat. Oct. 7 – Philadelphia, PA @ Everybody Hits #
Sun. Oct. 8 – Washington, DC @ DC9 #
Tue. Oct. 10 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings #
Wed. Oct. 11 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 #
Thu. Oct. 12 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa #
Fri. Oct. 13 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda #
Sat. Oct. 14 – Dallas, TX @ Dada #
Sun. Oct. 15 – Norman, OK @ The Opolis #
Wed. Oct. 18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar #
Thu. Oct. 19 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux #
Sat. Oct. 21 – Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt #
Sun. Oct. 22 – Seattle, WA @ The Vera Project #
Tue. Oct. 24 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel #
Tue. Jan. 23 – Brighton, UK @ Patterns
Wed. Jan. 24 – London, UK @ Dome
Thu. Jan. 25 – Bristol, UK @ Louisiana
Fri. Jan. 26 – Manchester, UK @ Soup Kitchen
Sat. Jan. 27 – Glasgow, UK @ Garage 2
Sun. Jan. 28 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell (main room)
Mon. Jan. 29 – Birmingham, UK @ Hare & Hounds (room 2)

# = with Darto

We just featured The I.L.Y’s (Zach Hill and Andy Morin of Death Grips) on Friday with the Fire Track “I Love You Man,” but now they have a video for the first track on their record, “Wash My Hands Shorty.” We are really grooving on this album and suggest you check it out soon over at Castle Face. Also – we hope you like ladybugs!!!

NYC’s Charly Bliss have released a music video for “Westermarck,” a track from their debut album, Guppy, out now via Barsuk Records. Charly Bliss have also announced a UK run and a Brooklyn, NY show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in September.

The band is currently on tour and have dates with Death Cab For Cutie, Pup and Kevin Devine. All dates below.

TOUR DATES:
6/13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall *
6/14 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club *
6/15 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
6/16 – New Haven, CT @ Café Nine
6/17 – Somerville, MA @ Once
6/23 – Portchester, NY @ Garcias ^
9/8 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren #
9/9 – San Bernardino, CA @ High and Low Fest
9/12 – Cardiff, UK @ Clwb iFor Bach
9/13 – London, UK @ The Old Blue Last
9/14 – London, UK @ The Garage +
9/15 – Liverpool, UK @ Studio 2
9/16 – Leeds, UK @ Headrow House
9/17 – Glasgow, UK @ Hug & Pint
9/19 – Manchester, UK @ The Eagle Inn
9/20 – Birmingham, UK @ The Sunflower Lounge
9/28 – Brooklyn, NY @ MHOW @

* with Pup
^ with Kevin Devine
# with Death Cab for Cutie
@ with Sad13
+ with Chastity Belt

Foo Fighters have a just hit everyone with the surprise-release new single, “Run.” “Run” is the first new Foo Fighters music since the band released the free Saint Cecilia EP in late 2015.

The track is accompanied by a time-traveling mind-warp of a video directed by the band’s own Dave Grohl. No word on a new record yet but hopefully soon!

Vagabon has just shared a music video for “Fear & Force.” The track is another excellent song off her Headphone Approved debut, Infinite Worlds.

Vagabon has also announced tour dates with Teagan & Sara, Pinegrove, Girlpool and headlining dates with Nnamdi Ogbonnaya. All dates below.

TOUR DATES:
6/7 – Norfolk, VA @ The Norva ^
6/8 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore ^
6/9 – Raleigh, NC @ North Carolina Museum of Art ^
6/11 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel ~
7/10 – Easthampton, MA @ The Flywheel
7/11 – Allston, MA @ The Great Scott
7/12 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
713 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo *
7/14 – Detroit, MI @ El Club *
7/15 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
717 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival *
718 – Columbus, OH @ Park Street Saloon *
8/11 – New York, NY @ Lincoln Center (Damrosch Park)
9/12 – Providence, RI @ Columbus Theater #
9/13 – Portland, ME @ Space Gallery #
9/14 – Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal
9/15 – Toronto, ON @ Smiling Buddha #
9/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club #
9/20 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge #
9/21 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge #
9/22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court #
9/23 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux #
9/24 – Portland, OR @ Holocene #
9/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret #
9/26 – Seattle, WA @ The Vera Project #
9/28 – San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall #
9/29 – Santa Cruz,CA @ Crepe Place #
9/30 – Long Beach, CA @ Music Tastes Good
10/2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge #
10/5 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda #
10/6 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s #
10/7 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa #
10/8 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade #
10/11 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter #

^ w/ Teagan & Sara
~ w/ Girlpool
* w/ Pinegrove
# w/ Nnamdi Ogbonnaya

Melbourne’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have announced a second run of US tour dates in 2017, confirming fall headlining shows set to extend throughout September and October in Nashville, Denver, Portland and more. The band will also be releasing their next and new studio album Murder of the Universe next month on June 23rd.

The tour dates are below but make sure you check out this 360 concert video that features 16 sets across 7 sold out dates. It not only will get you ready for a show but does a nice job of giving you the full King Gizzard experience!

US TOUR DATES
9/26 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
9/28 – New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jack’s
9/30 – Austin, TX – Mohawk Outside
10/1 – Dallas, TX – Trees
10/3 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister Bar
10/4 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
10/5 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
10/6 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
10/7 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
10/8 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
10/9 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
10/10 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
10/12 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
5/31 – 6/4 – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival 2017
6/3 – London, UK – Field Day 2017
6/5 – 6/8 – Marina di Ravenna, Italy – Beaches Brew 2017
6/8 – 6/10 – Porto, Portugal – NOS Primavera Sound 2017
6/9 – 6/11 – Nimes, France – This Is Not A Love Song 2017
6/13 – Brighton, UK – Concorde 2
6/14 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall
6/15 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town
6/16 – 6/18 – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands – Best Kept Secret Festival 2017
6/16 – 6/18 – Mannheim, Germany – Maifeld Derby 2017
6/22 – Paris, France – Cabaret Sauvage
7/21 – 7/23 – Byron Bay, NSW, Australia – Splendour in the Grass Festival 2017

Peter Perrett – former frontman of The Only Ones – recently announced his debut solo album, How The West Was Won, and shared the title track. Today, he shares another new song, “An Epic Story” from the forthcoming album, out June 30th on Domino.

Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) has just released the second video from his album No Shape, which came out last Friday. “Die 4 You” is directed by Floria Sigismondi (David Bowie, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake) and features the artwork of Rosa Verloop.

The No Shape tour starts tomorrow:

Wed, May 10 – Magic Stick Lounge – Detroit, MI
Thu, May 11 – Virgin Mobile Mod Club – Toronto
Fri, May 12 – Theatre Fairmount – Montreal, QC
Sat, May 13 – Royale – Boston, MA
Mon, May 15 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
Tue, May 16 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
Thu, May 18 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Fri, May 19 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Sat, May 20 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
Sun, May 21 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN
Tue, May 23 – Back Room at Colectivo – Milwaukee
Wed, May 24 – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis
Thu, May 25 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
Fri, June 16 – Eaux Claires Festival – Eau Claire, WI
Sat, June 17 – Eaux Claires Festival – Eau Claire, WI
Sat, July 15 – Imperial – Vancouver, BC
Sun, Jul 16 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
Tue, Jul 18 – The Independent – San Francisco CA
Wed, Jul 19 – The Independent – San Francisco CA
Sun, Jul 23 – Capitol Hill Block Party – Seattle WA

Ty Segall has just released a new video for “Break a Guitar,” which is the lead track off his excellent self-titled record released earlier this year.

The video projects a kaleidoscopic (literally) mashup of rock ‘n’ rollers rockin’, with the full band in full effect (Emmett Kelly, Mikal Cronin, Charles Moothart and Ben Boye) while a stream of familiar faces roll with a guitar mash-up!

Ty Segall and the Freedom Band are headed back on tour in early May to select US cities, and then it’s across the water for even MORE shows! Dates below.

Ty Segall Tour Dates:
Sat. May 6—Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s
Mon. May 8 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
Wed. May 10 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
Thu. May 11 – Indianapolis, IN @ Irving Theater
Sat. May 13 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
Sun. May 14 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Wed. May 17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
Thu. May 18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
Fri. May 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
Sat. May 20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theater
Sun. May 21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theater
Mon. May 22 – Louisville, KY @ Headliner’s Music Hall
Thu. May 25 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
Fri. May 26 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s
Sat. May 27 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre
Sun. May 28—El Paso, TX @ Neon Desert Festival
Mon. May 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Pressroom
Tues. June 2—Thu. June 4—San Francisco, CA @ Colossal Clusterfest
Fri. July 21—Sun. July—Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
Fri. Aug. 4 – Sun. Aug. 6 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon
Thu. Aug. 3—Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theatre
Thu. Aug. 17—Hasselt, BE @ Pukkelpop Festival
Fri. Aug. 18 — Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands Festival
Sat. Aug. 19—Paredes de Coura, PT @ Festival Paredes de Coura
Sun. Aug. 20—Saint Malo, FR @ La Route du Rock Festival
Wed. Aug. 23 – Copenhagen, DK @ Den Grå Hal
Thu. Aug. 24 – Berlin, DE @ Astra
Fri. Aug. 25—Mezieres, FR @ Le Cabaret Vert Charleville
Sun. Aug. 27—Paris, FR @ Rock En Seine
Tues. Aug. 29—Biarritz, FR @ Atabal
Wed. Aug. 30—Toulouse, FR @ Le Bikini
Thu. Aug. 31 – Miranda De Ebro, ES @ Ebrovisión Festival
Fri. Sep. 1—London, UK @ The Coronet
Sat. Sep. 2.—Larmer Tree Gardens UK @ End of The Road Festival

Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter Trapper Schoepp will be releasing a six-song concept EP on June 2nd via Xtra Mile Recordings. The EP is centered around a 125-year-old wooden rollercoaster named The Zippin Pippin, which is located in Green Bay, WI on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Schoepp celebrates the Pippin and the other classic rides with these six songs that take the listener on six different adventures. Schoepp sings in the first single “Bumper Cars,” where pop culture rivalries such as Jerry Seinfeld and Newman and the Jedi and Sith collide on the ride. Check out the music video for “Bumper Cars.”

Schoepp – who has already crisscrossed the country sharing stages with The Wallflowers, The Jayhawks and Old 97’s – will be back on the road throughout 2017 in support of Bay Beach Amusement Park, starting with a three-week run throughout the U.S. supporting Ha Ha Tonka. Dates below with more to be announced soon.

04/22 – Milwaukee, WI @ Estabrook Park
05/18 – Kansas City, MO @ recordBar *
05/19 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway Music Venue *
05/20 – Chicago, IL The Empty Bottle *
05/31 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club *
06/01 – Green Bay, WI @ Lyric Room Live Music *
06/02 – Milwaukee, WI @ Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. *
06/03 – Indianapolis, IN @ The White Rabbit Cabaret *
06/04 – Cleveland, OH @ The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern *
06/06 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch *
06/07 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
06/08 – Rochester, NY @ Abilene Bar and Lounge *
06/09 – Providence, RI @ Firehouse 13 *
06/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy *
06/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn *
06/14 – Washington DC @ DC9 Nightclub *
06/15 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe *
06/16 – Newport, KY @ The Southgate House Revival
07/16 – Sheboygan, WI @ Midsummer Festival of the Arts
07/21 – Cedarburg, WI @ Summer Sounds
08/03 – Green Bay, WI @ Green Bay Botanical Garden
08/04 – Appleton, WI @ Mile of Music Festival
08/10 – Oshkosh, WI @ Waterfest
08/12 – Shell Lake, WI @ Potter’s Shed
08/31 – Wauwatosa, WI @ Tosa Tonight

* = supporting Ha Ha Tonka

Another solid song from one of our Australian favorites – The Murlocs. The band is set to release their third album mid-year on Flightless Records. Here is the first single “Noble Soldier.”