Yawn Mower at the Could Eat, Would Sleep release show in 2018
"Operators"
Almost 2 years ago to the day, on 4/20/2018, Yawn Mower released their EP Could Eat, Would Sleep on Mint 400 Records. Around that time, they began working on a video for the song "Operators" off of that record. For reasons known only to Yawn Mower and their collaborators -- the great talents at Hologram Visuals and Burke Multimedia -- the video is just seeing the light of day today. And that's fine. More than fine, really, because this is a perfect time to revisit the song's message about supporting one another.
YM's lyrics are historically pretty dystopian and critical of various social structures we live with every day... ...Every day we are flooded with negativity from the news and people, so I don't want to write about that all the time. "Kickstand" and "Operators" are songs about your friends and family being there for you no matter how bad things are. It's YM's version of PMA.
In that same interview, drummer Biff Swenson added:
Those are also the 2 songs ["Operators" and "Kickstand"] that hit me emotionally more than any other tunes Chick and I have written together.
Lyrics like "It's the little things / We all could do / To keep things running / Relatively smooth" contain some real wisdom during this time when everyone's lives have been turned upside down.
Check out the video for "Operators" below; and, if you're ever feeling down, you can feel free to reach out to me here anytime. Operators are standing by.
Could Eat, Would Sleep, along with the rest of Yawn Mower's discography, is available over at Yawn Mower's Bandcamp page.
Back on Leap Day 2020, before the era of social distancing and shelter-in-place, The Vansaders celebrated the release of Quixote x Broken Bird, their 7" split with latewaves, with a show at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Today, The Vansaders are sharing the lyric video for one of the songs from that split, "Red and Blue."
Our relationship here with Doug Zambon and The Vansaders goes way back. I first caught the band back in, probably, 2013 when I stumbled into The Saint just as they were hitting the stage. The lineup was different from the current one, but the songs were there. At the end of 2014, Doug performed at the first-ever CoolDad Music-presented show when we joined forces with Little Dickman Records for our first holiday benefit. Since then, The Vansaders have shown themselves to be one of the crown jewels of the Asbury Park music scene, fusing fist-pumping, punk energy with a knack for crafting crowd-pleasing, shout-along anthems. I'm grateful for our connection with The Vansaders, and I'm always honored when we get to showcase one of those anthems here. "Red and Blue" delivers on everything we've come to love about The Vansaders.
Maybe you missed that show at Wonder Bar or maybe you were looking forward to another Vansaders gig that got canceled. I won't speculate as to when you'll be able to see the band live again. I'll only say that, when you get the chance, make sure you take advantage of it if you're able. In the meantime, shout along with "Red and Blue." Pump your fist in the air and look forward to the time when we'll all be able to do that together again.
Stay safe and sane.
Quixote x Broken Bird is out now. You can stream "Red and Blue" wherever you like to stream stuff or grab it from The Vansaders' Bandcamp page.
It's that time of year again: time for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Yesterday, Rudy Meier of Wetbrain shared a solo contribution. Filmed at Lampshade Studios by Kris Khunachak with audio handled by Connor Hanson, the video showcases Meier's virtuosity and the level of complexity it's possible to achieve with just one person and an acoustic guitar.
Check out "Two-Way Mirror." As a reminder, Bandcamp are waiving their fees for all artists today, March 20th; so it's a great day to purchase some of Wetbrain's (or any other band's) music over there.
The Battery Electric have been part of the CoolDad Music family since some of our earliest days. Things haven't been the same here in Asbury Park since Brent (Bergholm) and Ron (Santee) took the band out to sunny Southern California. A few days ago, Brent surprised me with news of a new Battery Electric single, the first recorded by Brent and Ron as a duo.
On "Big Tears," Brent handles bass, keys, and -- of course -- guitar; while Ron brings it on drums and vocals. The duo recorded and mixed all of the instruments themselves, tracking drums at Jesse Hughes's Dangerous House of Thoughts Studios and doing the rest in Brent's LA loft space. They shot the video in Joshua Tree with creative duo Ian & Bonnie just before the pair left Hollywood for their native Chile.
And, just like that, we have a new song from our prodigal sons in The Battery Electric. Created and released into the world in the same shoot from the hip style that the band have always been known for, "Big Tears" draws on a long rock and roll tradition. It blends the disparate influences of punk, hard rock, and soul that have long characterized The Battery Electric's sound.
The video, directed by Ian Sepulveda and co-starring Bonnie Carvaccio, features images of seedy motels, pawn shop robberies, and dusty getaways. Every scene is touched by a retro sheen and the heat of the California desert.
Check out the latest from The Battery Electric right here. "Big Tears" is streaming everywhere, including over at The Battery Electric's Bandcamp page.
Coupla Videos for Your Valentine The Red Room, "Joke in Utopia"
NJ four-piece, The Red Room, have been out there working hard for the last little while now. Their name comes up in the weekly listings post here just about every weekend. They recently put together shows with Spookey Ruben, and they opened for Richard Lloyd of Television just last month. We even had them on one of our shows back in the spring.
At the end of last year, the band released their debut album, Mind Razor. The record showcases The Red Room's combination of 90s grunge and heavy psych rock. Last week The Red Room released a video for Mind Razor single, "Joke in Utopia." Shot at Atlantic Highlands Art Council by Kris Khunachuk, the clip is a performance video augmented by some psychedelic visuals.
High Waisted, "Boys Can't Dance"
NYC's High Waisted are a band who work hard and play hard -- or maybe it's more accurate to say that High Waisted are a band who work hard at making sure their audience plays hard. At any rate, encouraging people to let out their inner wild side has always been part of the High Waisted playbook. That ethos is on full display in the video for the band's latest single, "Boys Can't Dance."
Singer / guitarist Jessica Louise Dye says in a press release announcing the single, "There's nothing more freeing than getting lost in your favorite song and letting your body wiggle, shake and twist void of worry or insecurities in the middle of a crowded room. Everyone deserves to dance."
"Boys Can't Dance" ratchets up the energy of High Waisted's 60s-inspired garage surf, and the Zachary Wright-directed video does a great job of bringing that freeing feeling Dye was talking about to life.
"Boys Can't Dance" is the lead single from High Waisted's upcoming sophomore LP, Sick of Saying Sorry. Co-produced by The Hold Steady's Tad Kubler and Saves The Day's Arun Bali, the album is due on May 22nd.
So, wedged in with going to swim meets, obsessing on CoolDaughter 1's college search, not taking pictures at shows, and catching up on movies I missed over the last couple of years (Hereditary and The Lighthouse are both bonkers and truly amazing), I've been trying to keep up with new music coming down the 'pike. Here's some stuff.
Heart Bones, "Don't Read the Comments"
Heart Bones is a collaboration between Sabrina Ellis (A Giant Dog, Sweet Spirit) and Sean Tillmann (aka Har Mar Superstar). Each is a lay-it-all-on-the-line performer, and the combination of their powers produces infectious pop that draws inspiration from influences as varied as doo wop and electronica. "Don't Read the Comments," the second single from the duo's forthcoming Hot Dish (February 21st), is good advice in an age when people anonymously tear each other apart. The song encourages ignoring toxicity and hanging onto your self-worth.
I've seen a few Heart Bones live performances at this point, and I have to say that the experiences have been full of community and life-affirming energy. That's why I'm happy to say that Little Dickman Records and I have Heart Bones coming to The Saint in Asbury Park on Saturday, March 7th, along with our bestest besties in Dentist and Lowlight. Grab tix and come on out.
Heart Bones on tour:
2/14 - St Paul MN -- Turf Club (SOLD OUT)
2/28 - Milwaukee WI -- The Cooperage
2/29 - Moline IL -- Rust Belt
3/1 - Chicago IL -- Empty Bottle
3/3 - Columbus OH -- Rumba
3/4 - Brooklyn NY -- Knitting Factory
3/5 - Philadelphia PA -- Johnny Brendas
3/6 - Millersville PA -- Phantom Power
3/7 - Asbury Park NJ -- The Saint
3/8 - Boston MA -- Great Scott
3/10 - Baltimore MD -- Metro Gallery
3/11 - Carrboro NC -- Cats Cradle Backroom
3/12 - Atlanta GA -- The Earl
3/15 - Houston TX -- White Oak Music Hall
4/4 - Fargo ND -- The Hall
4/5 - Omaha NE -- The Reverb
4/6 - Kansas City MO -- Record Bar
4/7 - Denver CO -- Globe Hall
4/8 - Salt Lake City UT -- Urban Lounge
4/10 - Seattle WA -- The Sunset
4/11 - Portland OR -- Jack London Revue
4/12 - San Francisco CA -- The Chapel
4/13 - Palm Springs CA -- The Alibi
4/14 - Los Angeles CA -- The Echo
4/15 - San Diego CA -- Soda Bar
4/16 - Phoenix AZ -- Valley Bar
4/17 - Marfa TX -- Lost Horse Saloon
4/18 - San Antonio TX -- Paper Tiger
Waxahatchee, "Fire"
As unbelievable as this is to me, Katie Crutchfield has been making music as Waxahatchee since before there ever was a CoolDad Music. Waxahatchee has been a big favorite around here since 2012's American Weekend, and Crutchfield has evolved with each successive release. "Fire" features Crutchfield's heartbreaking Alabama lilt and soul-baring songwriting. Crutchfield calls the song a "personal pep talk" about loving herself unconditionally despite past mistakes and regrets. Sonically, the song peels back some of the more rocking sounds of 2017's Out in the Storm in favor of a softer, Americana vibe.
"Fire" is the lead single from Waxahatchee's Saint Cloud, which is due from Merge on March 27th. Waxahatchee will be at Philly's Union Transfer on April 14th, and at Elsewhere in Brooklyn for two nights on April 18th & 19th.
Waxahatchee on tour:
4/10 - Detroit, MI -- Jam Handy *
4/11 - Pittsburgh, PA -- Rex Theater *
4/14 - Philadelphia, PA -- Union Transfer *
4/15 - Holyoke, MA -- Gateway City Arts *
4/16 - Boston, MA -- Royale
4/17 - Providence, RI -- Columbus Theatre *
4/18 - Brooklyn, NY -- Elsewhere ^
4/19 - Brooklyn, NY -- Elsewhere ~
4/23 - Washington, DC -- 9:30 Club *
4/24 - Saxapahaw, NC -- Haw River Ballroom *
4/25 - Nashville, TN -- Mercy Lounge *
4/26 - Atlanta, GA -- Terminal West *
4/27 - Birmingham, AL -- Saturn *
4/29 - Baton Rouge, LA -- Mid City Ballroom *
4/30 - Houston, TX -- The Satellite *
5/1 - Dallas, TX -- Sons of Hermann Hall *
5/2 - Austin, TX -- Scholz Garten *
5/4 - Tucson, AZ -- Club Congress +
5/7 - Pioneertown, CA -- Pappy and Harriet's +
5/8 - Los Angeles, CA -- First Congregational Church of LA +
5/9 - San Francisco, CA -- The Castro Theatre
5/10 - Sonoma, CA -- Gundlach Bundschu Winery +
5/12 - Portland, OR -- The Old Church +
5/13 - Portland, OR -- Aladdin Theater +
5/14 - Vancouver, BC -- Christ Church Cathedral +
5/15 - Seattle, WA -- The Neptune Theatre +
5/20 - Maquoketa, IA -- Codfish Hollow Barn
5/21 - Minneapolis, MN -- Fine Line Music Cafe *
5/22 - Madison, WI -- Majestic Theatre *
Wye Oak, "Fear of Heights"
The North Carolina via Baltimore duo of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack have come a long way from the 90s-infused indie folk of 2011's Civilian that initially drew me to Wye Oak. On "Fear of Heights," their collaboration is expansive and dreamlike. Wasner's voice and guitar work are still centerpieces, but side projects like Wasner's Flock Of Dimes and Stack's Joyero have clearly helped to stretch Wye Oak's sound into new directions.
Wasner says the song "likens the deepening of a relationship to the feeling of ascending to the top of a very tall place" with all of the exhilaration and fear that entails.
"Fear of Heights" is available now to stream / download, and Wye Oak will be at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 4th.
Wye Oak on tour:
2/27 - Asheville, NC -- The Mothlight
2/28 - Durham, NC -- Baldwin Auditorium
2/29 - Philadelphia, PA -- Johnny Brenda’s [SOLD OUT]
3/1 - Baltimore, MD -- 2640 Space [SOLD OUT]
3/3 - Cambridge, MA -- The Sinclair
3/4 - Brooklyn, NY -- Music Hall of Williamsburg
3/5 - Richmond, VA -- The Broadberry
3/20 - Seattle, WA -- The Crocodile
3/21 - Portland, OR -- Aladdin Theater
3/23 - San Francisco, CA -- The Independent
3/24 - Los Angeles, CA -- Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
3/25 - Los Angeles, CA -- Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Jersey City duo, Fascinations Grand Chorus, released their debut full-length, Presentations of Electrical Confectionery, in November of last year. That album's charming combination of nostalgia and straight-up excellent pop songcraft made it one of my favorites from 2019.
Yesterday, Fascinations Grand Chorus released the video for single "Can't Let Go." Co-directed by the band and Bob Sweeney, the clip doubles down on the nostalgic vibes. It follows Stephanie Cupo (vocals, keys) and Andrew Pierce (drums) as they dash along the boards and through the retro streets of Wildwood, NJ.
This seems like as good a place as any to announce that, after a couple years' worth of back and forth and checking of schedules, I've finally been able to book Fascinations Grand Chorus for a show in Asbury Park. The duo will be coming down to play The Asbury Hotel on March 6th along with Natalie Newbold (Well Wisher) and Deaglan Howlett (Beauty, The Vansaders).
I got the chance to see Philadelphia post-punk trio, Control Top, for two nights earlier this month when they opened for Titus Andronicus. I may have mentioned at the time that I loved their set both nights. In Jersey City, singer / bassist Ali Carter talked briefly about how rage isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can be a great motivator, and screaming together as a crowd at a punk show can feel good.
Today, the band released a video for "Office Rage" from their Covert Contracts LP. The song, well, rages. Screaming, "Service with a smile? EAT SHIT!" along with the band at a punk show feels good, and it feels pretty good to scream it along with the frantic video.
Control Top will be on tour throughout November. Covert Contracts is out now on Get Better Records, and you should buy it.
Some CoolDad Music mainstays have been putting out some cool stuff lately, and I decided to get off my ass and tell you about it.
Lowlight, "Coastlines"
Lowlight had a big summer. August saw the band head out on a jaunt around the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. They released their fantastic Endless Bummer LP on September 13th, and they capped everything off with a triumphant weekend at Asbury Park's Sea.Hear.Now. Festival just as the summer was officially drawing to a close.
Well, there was one more thing. As September gave way to October, Lowlight released the video for Endless Bummer and live set standout, "Coastlines." Using footage gathered from that August tour, the band give us a glimpse into life on the road and time spent with friends. The song is a twangy, rocking rambler that I've loved from the moment I first heard it. It's the perfect soundtrack to Lowlight's mini road movie and, really, to any of life's literal or figurative journeys.
And we get some bonus RockNRoll Hi-Fives in there, too.
Lowlight will be at The Saint in Asbury Park on Halloween with America Part Two, Shred Flintstone, Idle Wave, and Blaise.
Dentist, "Someone Like You"
At our show with A Giant Dog, Dentist, and The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at The Saint back in July, Dentist treated us to a new song they'd been working on. They took "Someone Like You" into Oceanport's Simple Sound Studio; and, yesterday, the band released the single accompanied by a new video.
"Someone Like You," like a lot of Dentist tracks, presents a sunny, smiling face to the world; while something slightly more melancholy sits just beneath the surface. Dentist have their sound so dialed in at this point that creating dreamy, reverby, crunchy pop seems almost effortless for them.
The Sean Bell-directed video reveals that Dentist's pop expertise doesn't translate to home improvement. The clip features power tools, an attempt to hammer a screw into a block of wood, and comedic gore. It's also probably the only 3-minute song to feature a lunch break.
Dentist are currently out on tour with Brick + Mortar. That run makes its final stop at the new Lanes on 11/2.
Screaming Females, "Ancient Civilization"
Here's something I probably should have told you about by now, but I'm getting in just under the wire. This Friday, 10/18, Screaming Females will release Singles Too via Don Giovanni Records. The collection brings together around 15 years' worth of non-album tracks including early 7-inches and digital-only releases. Download and CD versions of the album will add 6 covers, including songs originally done by Neil Young, Taylor Swift, and Patti Smith.
This morning, Screaming Females released the final pre-release track, "Ancient Civilization." The song originally appeared, I think, on a 2013 split with Wisconsin's Tenement (which I own). It's a doomy storm of Marissa Paternoster guitar heroics from right around that time when I took my buddy to see Screaming Females, Tenement, and Waxahatchee at the old Asbury Lanes and he just about lost his shit.
Screaming Females have a couple of area shows this weekend. They play a set at OctFest 2019 at Knockdown Center in Queens on Saturday, 10/19. On Sunday, 10/20, the band headline the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market after party at Championship Bar and Grill with Dusk and Freya Wilcox & The Howl.
Singles Too is out Friday, 10/18, via Don Giovanni.
Asbury Park singer / songwriter, Pamela Flores, has been a fixture of her local music scene for a few years now. Flores brings her emotive and soulful voice to everything she does; and, today, we're pleased to be hosting the online premiere for her latest effort, "Grace."
If you were on the ball yesterday, you caught the viewing party at Asbury Park's Transparent Gallery. There, Flores shared the video and raised money for the ACLU. If you missed that event, never fear. We've got you covered this morning.
"Grace was written about three years ago based mainly on my own personal experiences of 'falling from grace,'" says Flores. "Going against your better judgement and the deep, deep darkness that is from guilt and shame from our own human errors. It's dark but it's real.
"The concept of the video came about from that idea and how we, as a whole, have had so many societal falls from grace and my belief in the only way to rise from the ashes, so to speak, is to become so incredibly aware of our imperfections and learning from them to do better."
Howl Peak Productions directed and edited the clip. The track features Dan Haase -- who co-wrote the song with Flores -- on bass and guitar, Steve Honoshowsky on drums, Roshane Karunararne on keys, and Paul Ritchie who played synths and also produced.
Check out Pamela Flores's video for "Grace" right here. You can donate to the ACLU, who have some very important arguments coming up before the Supreme Court very soon, here.
I made a concerted effort to check out new things at South By Southwest this past year. In that spirit, I placed strict limits on repeat visits with bands. There were just three bands that I saw even twice in Austin: Our Dentist family, New Zealand's The Beths, and Tallies from Toronto.
Today, Tallies released the video for my favorite song from one of my favorite albums of 2019. Anyone who knows me won't be surprised that I love this one. Hints of Johnny Marr, The Sundays, and Tallies' Canadian paisanos, Alvvays.
The song calls to mind dreamy memories of staying out late on summer nights.The Christopher Mills-directed video plays like a dreamy memory of its own.
I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of new videos that came out during the last week or so involving friends of the site.
Reese McHenry, "Bye Bye Baby"
Earlier this year, North Carolina's Reese McHenry released her first solo album, No Dados, via Suah Sounds, the label run by our longtime friend and sometimes contributor Michael VM. I caught McHenry down in Carrboro and in Austin during SXSW when she was singing with longtime collaborators, Spider Bags. Her bluesy vocals are enough to carry any backing band; and that comes through on McHenry's video for No Dados single, "Bye Bye Baby."
Shot by Mike and our good pal, Joe Centeno (with assistance from Gloree Centeno), and edited by Mike and Suki Hawley, the clip takes us inside the crowd at Ruby Deluxe in Raleigh, NC. It's a boisterous, booze-soaked, sweaty affair driven by those down and dirty vocals from Reese McHenry.
Reese McHenry will be making her way to our area in the fall. In the meantime you can grab No Dados over at Bandcamp.
The Nick Cucci-directed clip finds SHUT UP in full-on demolition mode. This really isn't that far off from the intensity level you can expect at the Pony this Saturday. I mean, nobody will be breaking anything. We here at CoolDad Music never advocate breaking anything at a show, but you know what I mean.
Earlier this year, Asbury Park duo Yawn Mower released Why Work Harder Than You Have To, an EP of 90s covers, with Mint 400 Records. One of that collection's stand-out tracks is the band's take on 1999 single, "Jersey Shore," by Milwaukee's The Promise Ring. It's a pretty faithful interpretation; but the song does get an added layer of authenticity since Yawn Mower are from, you know, the Jersey Shore.
Today, we're happy to premiere the video for "Jersey Shore." Yawn Mower worked with the team at Rosi's Art (Rose Lamela, Christo Apostolou, and Allison Councill) and shot the clip at Fusaro Pizza in Manahawkin, NJ. The video takes us through a workday with Yawn Mower at the restaurant. Let's just say that neither Biff nor Chick is in the running for Fusaro Employee of the Month. But, I mean, why work harder than you have to, right? The collaboration does a great job of capturing the personality of probably the most fun band on the Jersey Shore.
There's DIY, and then there are those who are even more DIY. UK-based SUPER 8, aka Trip, aka Paul Ryan, writes, sings, plays all of the instruments, records, produces, mixes, and masters his songs in the shed in his backyard. He has also released some of my favorite music in the last year and a half including his HI LO album from last October which was my top of the pops for 2018. In addition, he and his wife have handmade his videos including the adorable video for his new song "Love Like Ours."
Last month, just before the release of his recent compilation album Backers & Maracas (which included two new songs: the jangle gem "Something New" and a great cover of Michael Head’s "X Hits the Spot"), Trip took a holiday to Greece carrying an acoustic guitar and a portable four-track recorder. During those two weeks, he wrote a bunch of new songs and compared the quantity to what The Beatles had produced during their stay in India.
"Love Like Ours" is the first of these songs to be given the shed treatment and get released. It's got a great 60s pop/rock vibe and the 'backers return in full force. There's also a wonderful Beach Boys-sounding bridge, a really terrific guitar solo, and handclaps. I'm a sucker for handclaps, and it must be because The Beatles used them throughout their recording career starting with "I Saw Her Standing There."
"Love Like Ours" is now available on SUPER 8's Bandcamp page.
Asbury Park's Well Wisher at our Rock Or Die VI day party.
You Are There
Here's a YouTube playlist featuring all of the bands booked by Little Dickman Records and CoolDad Music for the sixth installment of the Austin Rock or Die Day Party at Hard Luck Lounge. Thursday, March 14th, 2019, was the most beautiful day of our week down in Austin; and, as usual, Rock or Die was a great opportunity for some of the bands from our Tri-State Area scene to get together between harried dashes from set to set and venue to venue down in Austin.
Our portion of the show featured Gustaf, Stuyedeyed, Grim Streaker, Yawn Mower, Dentist, Looms, Sharkmuffin, Well Wisher, and Old Lady. We heard great music. We enjoyed some cold drinks and family bonding. We got sunburned.
Thanks to Rosi for capturing all of these. She was a one-woman video and audio wrecking crew that day, and I think her hard work paid off. All of these vids are up at the CoolDad Music YouTube Channel. Every time I watch a video on YouTube, people are asking me to subscribe; so I guess that's a thing you could do if you wanted.
Sharkmuffin were one of the bands who played the Rock or Die VI showcase we co-presented with Little Dickman Records at Hard Luck Lounge in Austin on March 14th. I caught up with them for a short and kinda shouty interview right after their set. And, speaking of their set, along with our chat, Rosi caught a few songs from Sharkmuffin's performance. Check all of that out below.
Then, head out to ALPHAVILLE. tomorrow for the EP release show.
On a gray Sunday morning, Rosi and I headed over to Hot Dog House in Asbury Park to meet up with Natalie Newbold and Lucas Dalakian at their band's practice space. Natalie and Lucas should be familiar faces to readers here. Natalie was a member of CDM faves, dollys; and Lucas has played in ROMP, Ragged Lines, and other bands that we've written about or booked over the years here at CoolDad Music. Together with Mike Lindardi and Lynsey Vandenberg, the pair form the indie / pop-punk quartet, Well Wisher.
Last fall, Well Wisher put out the excellent This Is Fine with 6131 Records; and, in the last year, the band have been on a steady, upward climb, opening for The Front Bottoms, Manchester Orchestra, Newfound Glory, and more.
When we got together with Natalie and Lucas, Well Wisher were preparing to head out on tour with their pals in Maine's Weakened Friends. It's a tour that will take them to Austin, TX for this year's South By Southwest Music Festival. While there, Well Wisher will be playing the Little Dickman Records / CoolDad Music-presented Rock or Die VI showcase at Austin's Hard Luck Lounge on March 14th.
Natalie and Lucas were kind enough to spend some time chatting with me about, among other things, the origins of Well Wisher, the making of the band's recent video for "Sweet," whether Natalie prefers drums or guitar, and their upcoming tour. Natalie also performed a pair of songs for us on her newly set up acoustic guitar. Check out our conversation below, and stay tuned at the end of the interview for "Sweet." You can also check out bonus song, "All My Love."
Once again, Rose Lamela did all the video, sound, and editing for this; and I owe her a whole bunch of tacos.
This Is Fine is out now on 6131 Records. All of Well Wisher's tour dates are listed below.
Interview / "Sweet"
Bonus Song! "All My Love" (Who says we don't love you?)
I have to admit. I've been kind of slacking today. The cooldaughters were off from school for a 4-day, Presidents Day weekend, so we were all able to sleep in (relatively speaking). I've also developed this nervous tic over the last several months of becoming obsessed with something and really riding it into the ground. Today, that consisted of going back and forth with the various pairs of headphones I use for listening to music in my office and the different ways I connect them to my computer. Hours. Don't ask me why. It was a pretty mindless and unproductive exercise. Kind of worrying in a way...
Anyway...
Over the last day or so, we got some cool, new videos that I wanted to share with you.
Sharkmuffin, "Liz Taylor"
Sharkmuffin are back with another of their mind-bending videos. This time, the trio give us the clip for 2018 single "Liz Taylor." Shot and edited by Andrea Karo, "Liz Taylor" includes some pretty wild animation and, just maybe, a few glimpses of each of the members of Sharkmuffin in their true form.
Well Wisher, "Sweet"
Well Wisher released their video for This Is Fine track, "Sweet," to coincide with yesterday's holiday. The song is an ode to the redeeming power of new love, and the video -- produced and directed by Okie Dokie Studio -- is pretty darn sweet. It's nice to see something so optimistic during these troubled times.
Pecas, "T-Shirt"
Pecas (Brooklyn via Madrid artist Sandy Davis) released the video for "T-Shirt" yesterday. Another well-timed Valentine's Day release, "T-Shirt" explores the darker, more obsessive side of love as it slinks along on a sultry, kind of R&B vibe.
Pecas will be joining us at The Saint on March 25th as part of yet another bill we're co-hosting with Little Dickman Records that also includes Them Fangs and Gustaf.
Dear Boy, "Semester"
Los Angeles quartet, Dear Boy, aren't playing any shows for us, but they are releasing their The Strawberry EP on March 1st. Today they gave us the video for a track I've been absolutely loving over the last few weeks, "Semester."
It's that dreamy, ethereal kind of pop that I always find irresistible.
The band may not be playing any shows with us, but they will be down in Austin for SXSW. They're already on my must-catch list.
Have a great weekend.
Wow. I Don't Think They Know What's Happening Right Now.
This past weekend, Screaming Females played two, sold-out shows at Asbury Park Brewery. Each set clocked in at just about an hour; and, over the course of two nights, the band did not play the same song twice. Both shows maintained a relentless energy as the band powered through more than a dozen songs per night with minimal banter save the requisite thank yous and calls to support the openers. Selections ranged from "Baby Jesus" off of 2006's Baby Teeth and "Limbs" from 2007's What If Someone Is Watching Their T.V.? to many of the tracks off of 2018's outstanding All at Oncelike "Agnes Martin," "I'll Make You Sorry," "Glass House," and "Black Moon." The New Brunswick, NJ trio have this uncanny knack for achieving that "always leave them wanting more" feeling, while also sending their crowds home completely satisfied.
Since I started here at CoolDad Music -- since the very first post actually -- I've written quite a bit about Screaming Females. I've probably seen the band upwards of 30 times since that first post, and they've been an important source of inspiration and motivation for me over the past 7 years. Screaming Females are a touring machine and one of the hardest working bands in the business. They are deeply committed to a DIY ideal. They choose supporting acts for their shows -- like Algebra II and Penetrode this past weekend -- in an effort so support up-and-coming bands who they love and who they believe deserve more attention. Marissa Paternoster, King Mike Abbate, and Jarrett Dougherty are always accessible to their fans; and they've cultivated a fanbase that is inclusive, respectful, and that absolutely loves to rock with the band.
With all of that in mind, I was super-excited and more than a little nervous at the prospect of getting to interview one of the bands without whom there would be no CoolDadMusic.com. We spent a little while on Saturday afternoon having a chat at the Asbury Park Music Foundation. Our discussion ranged from some reminiscing about the very first time we crossed paths to the new direction Marissa's art has taken to "dad bands." Rose Lamela and Sarah Wrede shot the whole thing, and Rosi did all of the editing.
Check out our conversation below.
Screaming Females head over to Europe on tour at the end of this month. All at Once is out now on Don Giovanni Records.
Screaming Females on Tour
Feb 15State House, New Haven, CT
Feb 16Paradise Rock Club*, Boston, MA
Feb 26Supersonic, Paris, FR
Feb 27Le Zinor, Montaigu, FR
Feb 28Urban Rock Concept, Vitoria, ES
Mar 01Wurlitzer Ballroom, Madrid, ES
Mar 02Pergola de La Marina, Valencia, ES
Mar 03Almo2bar, Barcelona, ES
Mar 04Le Sonic, Lyon, FR
Mar 05Bad Bonn, Düdingen, CH
Mar 06Rote Fabrik, Zürich, CH
Mar 07Bronson, Ravenna, IT
Mar 08Astro Club, Pordenone, IT
Mar 09Klub Mocvara, Zagreb, HR
Mar 10Durer Kert, Budapest, HU
Mar 11Chelsea, Vienna, AT
Mar 12Unter Deck, München, DE
Mar 13Klub 007, Prague, CZ
Mar 14Klub Re, Krakow, PL
Mar 15Hydrozagadka, Warsaw, PL
Mar 16Cassiopeia, Berlin, DE
Mar 18Plan B, Malmö, SE
Mar 19Revolver, Oslo, NO
Mar 20Hus 7, Stockholm, SE
Mar 21Loppen, Copenhagen, DK
Mar 22Vera, Groningen, NL
Mar 23Rotown, Rotterdam, NL
Apr 08PhilaMOCA+, Philadelphia, PA
In the fall of 2018, we got the debut LP, Hard Times in Two Dimensions, from aBIRD. The new project of Adam Bird, formerly of Those Mockingbirds, aBIRD trades that old band's baroque alt-rock for synth-soaked pop. When Adam came to me and asked if I'd like to share aBIRD's lyric video for single "The Lights," I said sure. I also asked if aBIRD would like to contribute to our ongoing series of year-end lists.
Bird and bandmate Nick Ivory went a little high-concept in the list department, giving us a peek into the absurdity that can befall a band's group texts. In Bird's own words, "Like any band, the aBIRD group text is 90% jokes and memes, 10% actual planning and constructive conversation. So we decided to share some of our most favorite and absurd John Lennon-themed memes for our end of year list. Though we love the music of John and the Beatles, it's healthy to find macabre things funny too."
But before we get to the list, here's aBIRD's lyric video for "The Lights." Bird has found himself with this new sound, and the song's theme of being yourself despite what others may think is one that has come up a few times now in aBIRD songs. The synths give this one kind of a retro, cyber-punk disco vibe. The video was put together by Rob Fitzgerald.
Now, with that out of the way, I give you aBIRD's Favorite John Lennon-Themed Memes of 2018. [The views expressed in the list below are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not represent or reflect the opinions of CoolDadMusic.com, its affiliates, or employees.]
