It's Time To Finish What We Started And #SaveOurStages

To date, over 1.5 million live music lovers nationally have written letters to their elected officials via SaveOurStages.com, but it’s not enough. Without an influx of federal funding 90% of independent music venues across the nation will collapse before congress reconvenes in the fall.

Within the next week, both the Save Our Stages Act and Restart Act, two bills that have been introduced and can ensure the survival of independent venues across the nation, will be up for vote in Congress. It’s time to make sure that these pieces of legislation get passed. Keep in mind that the Save Our Stages Act also impacts Broadway, so this isn’t just us fighting for our sacred music spaces. It’s up to the people to fight for the communal art spaces where we gather to connect over art.

We need to step up and finish what we started, y’all.

Today the New York Independent Venue Association (NYIVA) alongside with the newly formed National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) are calling for a day of action. If you were one of the 1.5 million angels who already submitted a letter with ease via the SaveOurStages site, there’s a new letter for you to fire off to your representatives urging them to pass these bills.

The list of NIVA members/venues speaks volumes in terms of both how hard our industry was hit and how many locally owned businesses have been impacted due to COVID. I think of how many times I have felt my heart sink walking past Knitting Factory, Baby’s All Right, or Music Hall of Williamsburg since the pandemic shut down NYC, unsure of how long it’s going to be until it’s safe to be sweating profusely in sold out show, grinning from ear to ear as the bass from the band I’m seeing shakes my entire body. These spaces are sacred and precious. We need to do everything we can to protect them right now against all of this uncertainty.

I know in NYC alone there are more than 1.5 million people appreciating music or Broadway at any given moment. If show going is your moment of sanctuary against the insanity of this thing we called life, I encourage you to take time out of your day today to first (obviously) send the latest letter to your representatives and then identify at least 5 friends you love being at shows with and directly put this in front of them. You can put this in your Instagram stories or post it on Facebook all you want, too, but take a moment to check in and make sure that the people you’re eager to share space with again are doing their part, too.

Please take the time to reach out to your representatives RIGHT NOW.

An Attempt At Mitigating Concert Related COVID-19 Contamination

Photo by Anthony DELANOIX on Unsplash

WHEW it’s getting real up in here y’all!

Cancellations galore in the music industry is increasingly stressing everyone out, both fans and industry folk alike. As a person who doesn’t want to see anyone get hurt from this, I have been weighing this decision heavily about how to proceed as a person for the next few months. I think we can all agree that missing your favorite band is better than someone getting really sick or dying.

THAT ALL SAID. If you’re going to give it a shot, here are some tips for how to navigate going to shows in a COVID-19 infested world:

• Don’t go to the show! No but really, REALLY have a conversation with yourself if it’s worth potentially being exposed and subsequently exposing someone to something that can get you killed is worth seeing someone.

  Social distancing is the most effective way to make sure no one gets hurt. It absolutely fucking sucks, but assume that the second things are free and clear that bands will be clamoring to hit the road so they can be adored by you. If you feel bad about missing the show, I strongly suggest you find their online merch store and buy enough merch to cover the ticket price you would have paid PLUS what you would have probably spent at the show on drinks/merch.

  Give that band all your fuckin money.🤑🤑🤑

  It’s an intentional move they will absolutely appreciate. If they don’t have enough of a variety and you have to buy multiples of the same thing, who cares!? Give it to a friend. You’re actually doing the band a bigger favor because merch is a gift that keeps on giving in terms of marketing. SPEAKING OF! Since we’re all about to be Very Online™ for awhile, now would be the time to like, RT, share, etc. as much of the band’s content as you can. I imagine some folks are gonna get really creative with ways to entertain you while we’re all laying low. Make it worth it to them! SHARE THAT SHIT.

Fuck okay you actually wanted to read more which means you’re actually gonna try go go okay remember I’M NOT A DOCTOR I’VE JUST BEEN READING A LOT THROUGH THE LENS OF A SHOW-GOER OKAY. Also industry fam if you see this and have thoughts I am SO HAPPY TO EDIT THIS!!!!

• Wash your fucking hands: Don’t be gross. Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer if you can’t get to a sink. We’re all sharing the WashYourLyrics memes. Use that fuckin thing. 20 seconds minimum. No exceptions. Touch a thing you didn’t see someone wipe down with a fresh sanitizing wipe of some sort? Yep, you gotta do it fam. Your hands will sting by the end of the night, so this better fucking be worth it.

• Don’t touch your face: This doesn’t really have a lot to do with being a person at a show specifically, but you touch your face way more than you think you do, so if I tell you again not to do it, hopefully you’ll be more mindful of it. In general be really mindful of where your hands are going in general when you’re among other people. You should be doing this at shows anyway—keeping your hands to yourself, that is.

• Cough/sneeze into your elbow/shoulder: Remember that whole ✨we’re not tryna spread a deadly disease✨ thing? Even if you never get COVID-19, at least help other people stay calm by doing everything you can to keep your potential germs to yourself. If you find yourself in a coughing/sneezing fit, try to get the fuck away from everybody. WHO is saying you gotta be at least 3 feet away from someone who’s coughing. If you use a tissue or something, get rid of that shit ASAP. No pockets. Garbage can. Now. Not later. No chances.

• Arrive early to the show: This sounds weird and possibly uncool (*gag*), but if you’re the kinda stan who needs to be in the front row and don’t wanna have to push through people…. get there early! See all the openers instead of just the band you came to see! Oh no poor you, you saw more music in the process and possibly got another favorite band out of it. Wah wah You know what’s worse? Death, but you’re still doing this anyway.

• Bouncer/Ticketing interactions: these brave souls have to touch your IDs, put wristbands on you, stamp you, etc. Offer to put on your own wristband to limit the time you have to interact. Hand sanitizer is your bff. Consider being a fucking hero and bringing some disinfectant wipes and wipe the counter in front of any ticket windows. Pave that good germ free shit forward when you can.

• Limit your drinking: Try and be hydrated before you get to the show so you don’t have to pee and wash your hands a billion times. Also you don’t know who is taking the same precautions as you, so wading through a crowd, resting your hands on bars while you wait for your drinks, etc etc is just asking for more opportunities to make your hands sting with hand sanitizer. If you’re into green things, consider that instead and (I hate saying this) be greedy and don’t share. You don’t *need* a substance to enjoy a show. That said, if you don’t want to pregame, hand sanitizer is your friend. Tip the shit out of the bartenders because they’re taking risks too. Avoid cash if you can. Credit Cards + Hand Sanitizer/Wipes. Ugh. Are your hands not fucking burning yet?

• Avoid using your phone: Unless you have the receipts to prove that you wiped your phone down with a sanitizing wipe as you walked through the door of the venue, your phone is probably gross as fuck with god knows what. You should be paying attention to the band anyway, but that’s for another rant.

• Limit convos. See how fucking annoying this is getting to be outside? Having conversations at shows requires you to get super close to people because it’s loud as hell. Being super close to people is how this kinda germy stuff gets around real fast, which is why everyone is championing social distancing. Are you hype to have a really awkward time at a show? Welcome to #COVID19Concerts, my friends!

• Don’t touch anyone, especially not the band: I know you wanna shake their hand or give them a hug and tell them their show was so fucking worth risking your life and the lives of others, but for fucks sake have you been reading any of this? The band is already risking their livelihood by touring, don’t complicate shit any further. People are crushing it with the high elbows and foot tapping, if you insist on human contact of some sort, do that. Also, be content with where you’re at in the room. I imagine shoving your hand in between people to get through a crowd right now will result in someone screaming at you or worse, so just hold still.

• IRL MERCH interactions: Speaking of interactions with the band, think about your options here. Cash? 😬 Credit Cards? 😬 It’s already gonna be kinda iffy with the handing merch off bit (we are assuming bands are taking precautions obvi), but in an effort to spare everyone’s hands, offer to use Venmo or Paypal if you’re able to. If I were a band/merch person, I wouldn’t want you touching my device that has Square/whatever on it, although you might get lucky and they have one of those credit card machines with the tapping or where you could insert the card in yourself, but again with the screen touching on someone else’s device. Again, be mindful. If you’re too weirded out to touch shit, just make note of what you could get online and do that.

• Don’t come if you kind of feel sick: Tucking this here at the bottom because I’m trying to give y’all the benefit of the doubt, but don’t be an asshole and show up if you think you might be sick at all. You shouldn’t do this ever anyways, btw.

So yeah if all that seems doable for you, best of luck out there. Remember: you don’t have to be in full panic mode, you just have to be smart and more thoughtful of others around you than we have in the past. Common sense, facts, and keeping your hands clean are your new best friends when you go outside now. Also, moisturize your hands when you get home and wash your hands one more time before bed. This is gonna be a rough few months on your hands.

Spread love, not germs. 💖

[SONG OF THE DAY] Methyl Ethel - "Majestic AF"

image courtesy of Methyl Ethel

Just a week after their third studio full-length Triage officially turned a year old West Australia’s Methyl Ethel have returned with a brand new single along with news of a brand new EP and a slew of tour dates. The new track, “Majestic AF”, is a captivating opening for the forthcoming EP, Hurts To Laugh, which is due out on April 10th. Full of a variety of burbling synth melodies, kick-free drum beats, and brainchild Jake Webb’s signature falsetto, it comes of somewhat minimalist at first and then builds incrementally, incorporating layer upon layer of texture until it swiftly comes to a close.

Hurts To Laugh was recorded at the same time as Triage, so it’s fitting that both album covers feature art by Sydney-based artist Loribelle Spriovski. Despite being recorded simultaneously, Triage was the final of the trilogy of albums, following 2016’s Oh Human Spectacle and 2017’s Everything Is Forgotten.

On the heels of the release update, the band unveiled a slew of solo tour dates in Australia and support dates in the US for Peter, Bjorn, and John in March and April.

Did the whistling from “Young Folks” immediately slam straight into your head the second you saw their name, too?

ANYWAY.

Tickets for the dates in Australia go on sale tomorrow (2/28) over on their website.

PS - the Webby Hall date is 3 days before my birthday, so you should come party with me I am just saying.

Methyl Ethel - Solo - Tour Dates [Australia]
Wed 15 April - The Outpost, Brisbane
Thur 16 April - The Night Cat, Melbourne
Fri 17 April -  Mary’s Underground, Sydney
Sun 19 April - Goodwill Club, Perth
Tickets on sale Friday 28 February via methylethel.com 

Methyl Ethel - Solo - Supporting Peter, Bjorn & John [USA]
Mon 23 March - Teregram Ballroom, Los Angeles CA
Tues 24 March - La Santa, Santa Ana CA
Wed 25 March - New Parish, Oakland CA
Fri 27 March - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR
Sat 28 March - Crocodile, Seattle WA
Tues 31 March - Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City UT
Wed 1 April - Bluebird, Denver CO
Fri 3 April - Amsterdam, St. Paul MN
Sat 4 April - Empty Bottle, Chicago IL
Sun 5 April - Loving Touch, Ferndale MI
Tues 7 April - Johnny Brendas, Philadelphia PA
Wed 8 April - Union Stage, Washington DC
Fri 10 April - Webster Hall, New York City NY
Sat 11 April - Brighton Music Hall, Boston MA

Hurts To Laugh EP

Release Date: April 10, 2020

1. Majestic AF
2. Honest
3. Charm Offensive
4. What Memory Found
5. The Quicker

pre-order

[SONG OF THE DAY] Yung Bae - "Bad Boy (feat. bbno$ & Billy Marchiafava)

As of yesterday the future funk sensation that’s sweeping across the nation, Portland’s Yung Bae dropped his latest album, Bae 5. His latest single, “Bad Boy”, has been on repeat a good bit in the week leading up to the release so of course I gotta make sure you have a listen.

Bae enlisted some extra help from rappers bbno$ and Billy Marchiafava to get the party going on this one. You can really tell that the yungest of baes had so much fun making this record. It really comes through on tracks like this one.

If you haven’t snatched tickets yet to his upcoming North American tour, then clearly you’re not into having any fun and imma pray 4 u.

YUNG BAE TOUR DATES

Fri Oct 11 - Austin, TX @ Parish
Sat Oct 12 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
Sun Oct 13 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Tue Oct 15 - Atlanta, GA @Aisle 5"
Thu Oct 17 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
Fri Oct 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry
Sat Oct 19 - Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
Sun Oct 20 - Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
Tue Oct 22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
Wed Oct 23 - Columbus, OH @ Basement
Thu Oct 24 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Fri Oct 25 - Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
Sat Oct 26 - Detroit, MI @El Club
Tue Oct 29 - Kansas City, MO @ RecordBar
Fri Nov 01 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
Sat Nov 02 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
Mon Nov 04 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Thu Nov 07 - Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
Fri Nov 08 - Vancouver, BC @ Celebrities Underground
Sat Nov 09 - Portland, OR (Night 1) @ Holocene
Sun Nov 10 - Portland, OR (Night 2) @ Holocene

YUNG BAE FESTIVAL APPEARANCES

7/14 @ High Seas West
7/20 @ Camp Bisco
8/2 @ Summer Meltdown
8/30 @ North Coast
9/21 @ Life Is Beautiful
9/29 @ CRSSD
11/17 @ Corona Capital

[SONG OF THE DAY] Tycho - "Japan"

photo credit: Scott Hansen

San Francisco soundscape crafters Tycho have returned with a new track, “Japan”, from their forthcoming album WEATHER, out on July 12th. "I had just returned from spending some time in Hakone, Japan with my wife's Japanese relatives," shares project brainchild Scott Hansen. "I was thinking a lot about the kinds of electronic music instruments I had been using when I first started making music in the late '90s. With 'Japan,' I was trying to recapture a part of that sound and combine it with the imagery and experiences from my trip to Hakone. I sent the song to Hannah with nothing more than the title of 'Japan' and she wrote all of the lyrics." As with the recent string of singles they’ve released from this album cycle, the band has offered a 2-pack, which includes the album version and an accompanying instrumental.

Speaking of said instrumental, I wanna talk about how frustrating it was to watch a large portion of the Tycho fandom essentially have a total fucking meltdown about the addition of angelic vocalist Saint Sinner to the mix. As previously mentioned, Hansen has shared how he’s really excited about incorporating the most “organic instrument” on the planet into the Tycho soundscape. I even admitted it was gonna take me a second to get used to the idea. That all said, as someone who lives to watch bands evolve and challenge themselves to push beyond any self or fan-made boundaries, to say I’m disappointed that some folks can’t see the opportunity the band is giving us to reflect on how truly powerful either type of performance is would be an understatement. Hansen is quick to detail the amount of thought that goes into each version, "I wanted to explore the idea of approaching songs from two entirely different perspectives,” he explains, “Similar to 'Pink & Blue,' the instrumental versions are not just the songs with vocals muted, they are different arrangements with different instrumentation and melodies in place of the vocals."

Even before skimming the press release to do this post, just this morning (almost a full month since the “Pink & Blue” writeup mind you) I found myself lost in thought while listening to both versions of “Japan”. I couldn’t help but reflect on how fascinating it is to watch this band begin to be able to articulate into words certain things that maybe their music hadn’t been able to previously. Maybe prior to now Tycho music was akin to those in religious settings who speak in tongues, not sure the exact or best way to fully express themselves, but deep down the sound does enough to speak for itself.

It’s certainly a concept that is worth taking some time to sit with, if only to deepen your appreciation for the band. I hope that those who were upset come around. Personally it just makes me love this band all the more knowing that they’re the ultra meticulous musicians I’ve grown to appreciate them to be busily fretting over every painstaking detail every step of the way with this release.

PS - have you pre-ordered Weather yet? Do you have your tickets for their extensive af world tour coming up? If not, get on that shit, fam!

TYCHO

"WEATHER WORLD TOUR"

2019

JULY

21 - Byron Bay, Australia - Splendour In The Grass *

23 - Melbourne, Australia - Forum Melbourne

24 - Sydney, Australia - Sydney Opera House

26 - Niigata Prefecture, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival '19 *

SEPTEMBER

5 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre **

6 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre #

7 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall #

8 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre #

11 - Denver, CO - The Mission Ballroom #

13 - Minneapolis, MN - Palace Theatre #

15 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom #

16 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre for the Performing Arts #

18 - Boston, MA - Wang Theatre - Boch Center #

19 - New York, NY - Summerstage #

20 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall #

21 - Slippery Rock, PA - Resonance Music & Arts Festival *

23 - Detroit, MI - The Masonic #

24 - Columbus, OH - Express Live #

26 - St Louis, MO - The Pageant #

27 - Kansas City, MO - CrossroadsKC #

2020

FEBRUARY

9 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller #

10 - Stockholm, Sweden - Vasteatern #

11 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega Main Hall #

13 - Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefahrlich #

14 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall #

15 - Paris, France - Elyse Montmartre #

17 - Brussels, Belgium - AB Ballroom @ Ancienne Belgique #

18 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso #

19 - Berlin, Germany - Huxley's #

21 - Warsaw, Poland - Praga Centrum #

23 - Prague, Czech Republic - Roxy #

24 - Budapest, Hungary - Akvarium #

25 - Vienna, Austria - WUK #

27 - Milan, Italy - Fabrique #

28 - Bologna, Italy - Estragon #

MARCH

1 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Apolo #

5 - London, UK - Printworks #

* Festival Performance

** Chrome Sparks

# Poolside

[SONG OF THE DAY] Yung Bae - "Must Be Love"

VIBE

OCLOCK

FRIDAYYYYY

HERE WE GO HERE WE GO HERE WE GOOOO✨⚡️🙌🏻💖🙏🏻🥰

For a few years now the bottle of neon and sunshine that is Yung Bae has been gallivanting across the internet tossing all the glittering futurefunk disco vibes with every breath he takes. Today the Portland-based producer has announced a brand new album, Bae 5, which is slated for release on June 28th, and shared the lead single, “Must Be Love”, our first taste of what’s to come. In true fashion for Yung Bae, it’s all meticulously crafted high energy futurefunk that will def make you break a sweat grooving out to on the dance floor. Bae 5 is a followup to his 2017 album, B4E that if you have not blessed your earholes with please add that to your queue after you fall for this new track.

In addition to the big news, the smol yungest bae has also shared that he’s going on tour!!!!!! That’s right! 21 dates across North America this fall in addition to some festival appearances, baby! Tickets are on sale now! Get the fuck hype!

October 17th!

Brooklyn Bowl!

Imma be wearing so much body glitter lmao

It gonna be 🔥✨⚡️

YUNG BAE TOUR DATES

Fri Oct 11 - Austin, TX @ Parish

Sat Oct 12 - Dallas, TX @ Trees

Sun Oct 13 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall

Tue Oct 15 - Atlanta, GA @Aisle 5

Thu Oct 17 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl

Fri Oct 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry

Sat Oct 19 - Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall

Sun Oct 20 - Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs

Tue Oct 22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

Wed Oct 23 - Columbus, OH @ Basement

Thu Oct 24 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop

Fri Oct 25 - Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground

Sat Oct 26 - Detroit, MI @El Club

Tue Oct 29 - Kansas City, MO @ RecordBar

Fri Nov 01 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre

Sat Nov 02 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf

Mon Nov 04 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court

Thu Nov 07 - Seattle, WA @ Crocodile

Fri Nov 08 - Vancouver, BC @ Celebrities Underground

Sat Nov 09 - Portland, OR (Night 1) @ Holocene

Sun Nov 10 - Portland, OR (Night 2) @ Holocene

YUNG BAE FESTIVAL APPEARANCES

6/21 @ Firefly

6/28 @ Electric Forest

7/14 @ High Seas West

7/20 @ Camp Bisco

8/2 @ Summer Meltdown

8/30 @ North Coast

9/21 @ Life Is Beautiful

9/29 @ CRSSD

11/17 @ Corona Capital

[SONG OF THE DAY] !!! - "UR Paranoid"

I could attempt to quantify how happy I am that in spite of them still being one of the hardest bands to talk to people about via text that !!! (Chk Chk Chk) are still around and consistently cranking out the hits but tbh it would take awhile and you came here for bops so let’s just keep things moving along, shall we?

Following their latest LP MEGAM!!!X Vol. 1: Shake Shake Shake the legendary dance punk outfit has returned to share a double single, “UR Paranoid” x “Off The Grid” along with the promise of more music to come.

In addition to the tracks the band also unveiled a music video for, “UR Paranoid” that according to a post on the band’s Facebook was partially shot in an abandoned mall that they broke into.

In addition to new music (and allegedly more on the way), the band also has a handful of festival gigs and such lined up. Dates below!

Upcoming !!! Shows

JUNE
8 Lanzarote Spain Sonido Liquidos Festival

AUGUST
9 Bethlehem PA Musikfest
10 Harrisburg PA Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center

SEPTEMBER
7 Raleigh NC Hopscotch Festival

[SONG OF THE DAY] Tuxedo - "The Tuxedo Way"

TUXEDO ARE BACK!

I’ll toast to that.

The dopest dapper dudes are back to make sure you know that the funk is here to stay with their brand new track, “The Tuxedo Way”. It’s the perfect return for the duo, full of retro funk and boogie vibes. I’m a little obsessed with the glass clinking at the opening of the song as their little heads up that we’ll soon be toasting to the Tuxedo way of life.

“Tuxedo is music for celebrating,” the duo shared about the new song. “Yet, as we were working on new music, we realized, much to our surprise, that we didn’t actually have a quintessential celebration song in our catalog. ‘The Tuxedo Way’ is the answer to that problem.”

I love that Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One have this project to escape to when they need a breather from their respective solo efforts. Speaking of solo efforts, Hawthorne hinted in an update to fans that we can expect some new solo music from him as well.

I’ll toast to that.

If you’re looking to “dust your shoulders off and let your hair down” anytime soon, the Tuxedo fellas will be hitting the road for a North American tour starting in late July. Pre-sale tickets go on sale for the tour today (5/15) for those who subscribe to the Mayer Hawthorne or Tuxedo mailing lists, while tickets go on sale to the casuals/ general public on Friday the 17th. You can grab tickets over on their website.

7/20       Santa Ana, CA    The Observatory
7/26       Las Vegas, NV    NoMad Pool (DJ SET)
7/28       Denver, CO    The UMS
7/30       Austin, TX    Empire
7/31       Dallas, TX    Trees
8/2         Atlanta, GA    Masquerade
8/4         Washington, DC    9:30 Club
8/5         Philadelphia, PA    The Foundry
8/6         New York, NY    Webster Hall
8/7         Boston, MA    Brighton Music Hall
8/9         Toronto, ON    Danforth Music Hall
8/11       Detroit, MI    El Club
8/13       Chicago, IL    Thalia Hall
8/14       Minneapolis, MN    Cedar Cultural Center
8/17       Seattle, WA    The Showbox
8/18       Vancouver, BC    Fortune Sound Club
8/19       Portland, OR    Wonder Ballroom
8/21       San Francisco, CA    Regency Ballroom
8/22       Santa Cruz, CA    The Catalyst
8/23       Los Angeles, CA    The Globe Theater
8/24       San Diego, CA    The Observatory