Cali-based desert rockers Avon unveiled their H42 Records single Six-Wheeled Action Man Tank here this past Spring before embarking on a considerable round of European touring that included stops at Desertfest in London and Berlin. The trio, who just so happen to boast the considerable percussive presence of former Kyuss/Yawning Man drummer Alfredo Hernandez in their ranks, have signed to Heavy Psych Sounds to issue the follow-up to the 2016 debut album, Mad Marco, which is expected out in February.

And onto the list of 2018’s most anticipated records it goes. Not that said list is in progress or anything. Oh wait, yes it is. Why would I even feel the need to keep that shit a secret?

Whatever. Save me, PR wire!

Heavy rockers AVON signing for Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the new album!!!

Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking is really proud to announce the signing of Californian rockers Avon. The band which features the mighty Alfredo Hernandez (ex Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age) is going to release the sophomore album via Heavy Psych Sounds in february 2018.

The band features the mighty Alfredo Hernandez who has played on some of the very best Desert Rock Albums ever, including ‘and The Circus Leaves Town’ by Kyuss and the critically acclaimed self titled debut LP by Queens of the Stoneage.

His distinctive drum sound can also be heard on Josh Homme’s desert sessions where Alfredo worked with many acclaimed musicians. He teamed up with fellow desert musician and former Kyuss drummer Brant Bjork for the Che Sounds of Liberation album. He is also a founding member along with Gary Arce and Mario Lali of the experimental psychedelic instrumental group Yawning Man. He worked again with Nick Oliveri in Mondo Generator. Over the last decade Alfredo has worked with Avon’s lead singer James and with former Kyuss member Chris Cockrell in Vic du Monte’s Persona Non Grata signing to Cargo records Germany and performing on four studio albums and two live releases.

James Childs saw success with British rock group Airbus and it was indeed one of the last artists of it’s kind to sign to the label giant BMG for a deal with a large advance for recording and development before the millennium. James has also seen success in Film and Televison having written the theme tune to Disney’s worldwide hit cartoon “Kick Buttowski”.

Charles Pasarell is a musician from the California desert who had cut his teeth with the Palm Springs band ‘Waxy’ that has worked with the likes of Kyuss singer John Garcia and toured with successful artists such as Volbeat. Waxy later went on to tour with Kyuss Lives. In 2005 he toured Europe on the same bill with Alfredo and James in Vic du Monte’s Persona Non Grata and again in 2007 with James and members of his UK group Airbus. Since 2007 Charles joined LA based Honky Tonk Punk band ‘Devastaing Karate’ releasing a string of albums and touring America. Charles joined James for the Lakota project in 2014 and also payed bass with ‘Vic du Monte’s Persona Non Grata’ prior to the formation of Avon with Alfredo.

AVON released their debut LP called Mad Marco on Spira Records in 2016 and have already completed 4 tours in Europe including Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium and UK. They also appeared at the prestigious London and Berlin desert fests in 2017 supporting their H42 records release ‘Six Wheeled Action Man Tank’.

AVON are
James Childs – Vocals/Guitar
Charles Pasarell – Bass
Alfredo Hernandez – Drums

www.avonway.com/
www.facebook.com/Avonband/
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/
www.heavypsychsounds.com

Desert rock trio Avon begin their next round of tour dates in the UK and Europe on April 26. Anytime you can write words about a group like, “features former members of Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age/Yawning Man,” that’s a noteworthy opportunity not to be missed, but Avon — which in addition to drummer Alfredo Hernandez, who played in the three landmark acts above at one point or another (as well as Brant Bjork‘s underrated and shortlived Che), also includes English transplant James Childs (Vic du Monte’s Persona Non Grata) and Waxy’s Charles Pasarell — prove to be more than the sum of their pedigree. Having made their debut in 2016 with the full-length Mad Marco on their own Spira Records, the band mark their return trip abroad this spring with a new single on H42 Records, given the righteous title Six Wheeled Action Man Tank.

Should you ever doubt that the roots of desert rock are in a grown-up version of punk: don’t. The hook of Avon‘s “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank,” catchy and as straightforward as it could possibly be, is a fervent reminder otherwise. Unpretentious in tone and straightforward in its structure, the song and its B-side counterpart, “The Kurgan” (like in The Highlander!), both stand at right around three and a half minutes long, both are catchy as hell and neither neglects melody in their delivery of that catchiness. Taken one into the next, they demonstrate how unnecessary tonal trickery is when you have quality songcraft, and whether it’s the garage-style push of “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” or the warmer vision of grunge in “The Kurgan,” Childs, Pasarell and Hernandez give a quick showing of groove and push in these tracks that, while they probably don’t need to do much convincing anyway, should have no trouble lodging themselves in the frontal lobes of their audiences for the coming run in the UK, Germany and Belgium.

That tour, by the way, includes stops at Desertfest London and Desertfest Berlin 2017, and plenty of clubs besides, so while “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” may or may not actually be about a plastic toy, the three-piece seem to be using it as a standard to live up to as well. Fair enough. May they roll over anything and everything in their path. You know, with rock and roll. Not actually with a tank. That would be weird and probably illegal.

Go ahead and get Avon‘s “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” stuck in your head by streaming the premiere of the track on the player below. I hear tell they’ll have copies on hand from H42 Records by the time they get to Desertfest.

Comment from Childs on the track and the tour dates follow beneath.

Please enjoy:

James Childs on “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank”:

After getting back from our recent Mad Marco tour, right away we knew that we needed to record “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” as the song killed it on every show! We are very excited about H42 Records releasing the track on 7″ limited vinyl and super stoked about being invited to Desertfest both in London and Berlin along with 18 more tour dates for us to smash out!

AVON UK & EU Tour Dates:
April 26 The Old Ham Tree Holt UK
April 27 The Greyhound Midsomer Norton UK
April 28 The Old Road Tavern Chippenham UK
April 29 Desertfest London UK
April 30 Desertfest Berlin DE
May 1 Jagerklause Berlin DE
May 3 Schaubude Kiel DE
May 04 Bambi Galore Hamburg DE
May 5 Chemiefabrik Dreden DE
May 6 Ragga Oelsnitz DE
May 7 Black Label Leipzig DE
May 8 Cosmic Dawn Jena DE
May 9 Alltra Chemnitz DE
May 10 Limes Cologne DE
May 11 Gerber 3 Weimar DE
May 12 Rare Guitar Munster DE
May 13 Freak Show Essen DE
May 14 JH Tijl Diest BE
May 16 Radio Benelux Paal BE

Avon are:
Alfredo Hernández (Ex-Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age, Che)
James Childs (Vic Du Monte’s Persona Non Grata, Airbus, Little Villains)
Charles Pasarell (WAXY)

Avon website

Avon on Thee Facebooks

H42 Records on Thee Facebooks

H42 Records on Twitter

H42 Records on Bandcamp

Anyone who’s ever asked ‘what’s in a title?’ should have to write out Six Wheeled Action Man Tank 100 times on the blackboard. Cali desert rockers Avon offer a weighty answer to that cliche-as-hell question with the likewise weighty title of their new single. Being a trio, the name of the track may or may not actually refer to the band itself, but either way, there’s artwork posted and an audio snippet playing now and it’ll be out on H42 Records in time for Avon — which draws pedigree lines to the likes of Kyuss, Vic du Monte and Waxy — to hit Europe at the end of next month for Desertfest 2017 in London and Berlin and other shows besides, so right on.

Plus, if you missed it, it’s friggin’ called Six Wheeled Action Man Tank. I don’t care what bands you used to be or are still in — you call your single Six Wheeled Action Man Tank, you automatically win. Look out, Best Short Releases of 2017 list.

From the PR wire:

AVON unvealed cover artwork + first audio snippet for new upcoming 7″ on H42 RECORDS

OUT april 2017

We are so happy to present you the cover art for the new upcoming Avon 7″ ‘Six Wheeled Action Man Tank”.

Avon are:
Alfredo Hernández (Ex-Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age, …)
James Childs (Vic Du Monte’s Persona Non Grata, Airbus, Little Villains)
Charles Pasarell (WAXY)

AVON play heavy rock and are from California USA. The music is psychedelic, raw, melodic and has something to say. Their musical bond comes from years of playing in their respective bands often together in California’s desert cities, Los Angeles and on many European tours. Each member brings with them influence and experience to form a unique and driven sound. So if you like heavy desert rock, then you have come to the right place. After their 2016 debut ‘Mad Marco’ they will be back soon on european stages with new tunes!

confirmed dates so far
April 29 Desertfest London
April 30 Desertfest Berlin
May 04 Bambi Galore, Hamburg
May 10 Limes, Cologne
May 12 Rare Guitar, Munster
May 13 Freak Show, Essen

www.avonway.com/
www.facebook.com/Avonband/
http://www.facebook.com/H42Records
https://twitter.com/H42Records
https://h42records.bandcamp.com/track/six-wheeled-action-man-tank-snippet

Avon, “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” snippet

Can we talk honestly about Desertfest Berlin 2017 for a minute? You want to know the terrible truth? Of course you do. You love terrible truths. The terrible truth is I should’ve gone to this fucking festival years ago. I should’ve been there when Gozu went from London to Berlin. I should’ve tagged along with Lo-Pan on their European run. I should be campaigning to go over and embed myself with Lowrider or somebody this year, and even now I’d be about four years late in getting there. At least. Stupid. No money, no time. My loss. Always.

These lineups get stronger and stronger and I sit my fucking cubicle and daydream. That’s what happens. That’s the terrible truth. I’m gonna miss Desertfest Berlin again this year, and London, and Freak Valley, and Duna Jam and Desertfest Belgium and Athens, and Keep it Low and the fests Heavy Psych Sounds is throwing, and a bunch of cool shit in the US — Desert Generator, all that stuff happening in Colorado, Montana, Oregon, the Days of Darkness this fall in Baltimore — because basically I suck. There you have it. The terrible truth. I’m terrible.

Oh yeah, and Desertfest Berlin 2017 has new lineup adds. Here they are:

As promised, here come 5 new bands that we are proud to add to the DesertFest Berlin 2017 line-up! On Friday 28th, Desert Mountain Tribe (Uk), Elephant Tree (Uk) & Bellhound Choir (Dk). On Saturday 29th Domkraft (Swe) and on Sunday 30th, Avon Desert Rock (Usa). 3-day passes and Saturday tickets are sold out, but we still have a few for Friday and Sunday! Hurry up if you want to be part of this year’s Desertfest Berlin: http://www.desertfest.de/tickets-desertfest-berlin

Desert Mountain Tribe got off to a flying start with early standout track ‘Coming Down’, which was featured on Reverb Conspiracy Volume 2. The band quickly progressed to perform at leading festivals within the psych community and finally released their debut album “ Either That Or The Moon” in the spring of 2016 to a wealth of positive notices. They are now about to release new material…

Desert Rock trio Avon is Alfredo Hernández (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Yawning Man), James Childs (Airbus, Little Villains) and Charles Pasarell (WAXY). They made their debut early in 2016 with “Mad Marco”, a full-length collection distinct in its still-inimitable Californian style. The music is psychedelic, raw, melodic and has something to say. So if you like heavy desert rock, then you have come to the right place. They will be back with new tunes in April.

Elephant Tree are a relatively new band blasting a combination of ballsy blues rock and heavy riffs, who, after cutting their teeth in the London metal scene, have established a place within the current growing Stoner Metal genre. Their self-tilted sophomore released in April 2016 is spaced out, bizarre, unafraid to expand what doom can be, and featured in many “top of 2016” lists… You guys don’t know them yet, check it out now!

Bellhound Choir is songwriter, singer and guitarist Christian Hede Madsen (ex Pet The Preacher). He released his debut album “Imagine The Crackle” last year, and is now about to release his second effort, “Worried Kid”: a contemporary blues album dealing with the struggles and winding roads of the soul… A record comprised of songs in their most basic form, without filter, without vanity; songs that leads the way into a very human universe, that will unfold, as one gives back.

Domkraft, whose name combines the Swedish “DOM” for judgement and “KRAFT” for power, blasts forth towering dirges of annihilating doom, mindbending psychedelia, and hypnotic minimalism. Their first full-length “The End of Electricity” was released in November 2016 and is a spacious yet crushing mix of grinding riffs, syrupy warmth, blistering power and inexorable motion. Check out their unique vibe as soon as possible !

Also confirmed for our 2017 edition: SLEEP, SAINT VITUS, JOHN GARCIA BAND, BONGZILLA, SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT, MARS RED SKY, STONED JESUS, LOWRIDER, FARFLUNG, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, DEATH ALLEY, TOUNDRA, MAMMOTH MAMMOTH, 1000MODS, SUMA, RUBY THE HATCHET, ECSTATIC VISION, THE COSMIC DEAD, TUBER, SATAN’S SATYRS, PONTIAK, WUCAN, GIOBIA, DUEL, GOLD, VENOMOUS MAXIMUS, THE WELL, GLITTER WIZARD, BASK, ODD COUPLE, RIFF FIST, TSCHAIKA 21/16 + more acts still to be unveiled.

http://www.desertfest.de/tickets
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
http://woolheads.com/shop-2/festivalmerchandise/desertfest-berlin-2016-early-bird-ticket-action-1/
https://shop3.ticketscript.com/channel/html/get-products/rid/4MGC3S6H/eid/327518/validity/any_day/language/en

Elephant Tree, “Attack of the Altaica” Live, Feb. 8, 2017

I have no problem admitting to feeling overwhelmed looking at the full lineup and individual day splits for Desertfest London 2017. I mean, seriously. Look at that poster. What a way to spend a weekend.

Likewise, I have few grand reflections to offer in light of that overwhelming feeling, except perhaps to take a step back and be massively impressed at how much this event has grown in just six incarnations. Along with Desertfest Berlin, the London edition has become an anchor not only for the UK heavy rock underground — which is well represented here as ever in Elephant Tree, Black Spiders, Stubb, Vodun, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Terminal Cheesecake, Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, and so on — but for bands from abroad as well. You’ll note the three headliners: two American, one Norwegian, and the next line down on the poster is two Swedish, one American. Desertfest London 2017’s reach feels wider than ever. Staring at the final lineup, it’s clear just how much of a big fucking deal this festival has become.

Wish I could be there to see it.

Here’s the announcement of the individual day lineups from their website:

DESERTFEST 2017 DAY SPLITS AND DAY TICKETS ARE HERE!

Finally, the Desertfest 2017 day and stage splits are here, along with individual day tickets. It’s the point of the year where you can start planning the weekend, you can imagine the sets in your head and you can curse those god damned clashes.

Last things first, let’s get straight to that insane Sunday main-stage. To celebrate The Roundhouse joining the Desertfest family, we made their debut appearance something special. Not only will stoner doom icons Sleep be topping the bill, but the Roundhouse hosts a full bill of huge acts. Candlemass, with over three decades of underground acclaim to their name, bring the epic doom metal. USA’s Wolves in the Throne Room bring the atmospheric black metal. Traditional doom metal stalwarts Saint Vitus bring the classic riffs. And how about this for a ‘curtain jerker’? Bongzilla bring the raw weed metal for their second show of the weekend; more on the first later.

It’s not just about the Sunday though. Friday’s stage at the Electric Ballroom is headlined by returning heroes Slo Burn whose short run in the mid 90s furthered the then fledgling stoner rock scene. One band they surely had an impact on is Lowrider, who play Europe’s finest stoner rock alongside them. Ukraine’s Stoned Jesus celebrate their resonant album Seven Thunders Roar, and 1000Mods and Pontiak round up the main stage on the Friday.

The Electric Ballroom on Saturday will be swarming with Turbojugends as death-punk grandmasters Turbonegro turn Camden into party central. John Garcia sticks around for a solo show, sure to feature classics from his years of nonstop mastery in the stoner rock scene. Sheffield’s rock and roll five piece Black Spiders visit London for one last time on their farewell tour, with Satan’s Satyrs and Avon rounding up the main stage.

As ever though, it doesn’t stop at the main stages. Our regular partners have delivered three stages with diverse lineups. Human_Disease_Promo and When Planets Collide take over The Underworld on Saturday in a bill headlined by Bongzilla with a special set celebrating the band’s early work. The Quietus stage is led by synth wavers Zombi, and Nightshift Promotions bring an eclectic mix led by Hungary’s Apey & the Pea. To be honest, just stick a pin in the lineup poster and you’re guaranteed a good time.

For those who can’t make the full weekend, we have a limited number of individual day tickets. Priced at £40 for Friday tickets, £40 for Saturday tickets and £45 for Sunday tickets, links are below.

So there we have it. Our final lineup for Desertfest 2017. We hope you’re as excited as we are to get back to Camden this April and riff London to the ground.

DESERTFEST LONDON 2017 Final Lineup:
SLEEP
SLO BURN
TURBONEGRO
CANDLEMASS
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM
SAINT VITUS
JOHN GARCIA BAND
BONGZILLA
LOWRIDER
SCISSORFIGHT
BLACK SPIDERS
SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT
THE PICTUREBOOKS
STONED JESUS
SATAN’S SATYRS
INTER ARMA
WEAR YOUR WOUNDS
1000MODS
STEAK
AVON
DEATH ALLEY
DEAD LORD
BOSS KELOID
PONTIAK
YURI GAGARIN
HARK
VODUN
CHRON GOBLIN
PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS
THE WELL
MAMMOTH STORM
CELESTE
STUBB
MONOLITHIAN
WUCAN
VENOMOUS MAXIMUS
BRUME
APEY & THE PEA
ELEPHANT TREE
GRAVE LINES
IRON WITCH
EARTH SHIP
BACKWOODS PAYBACK
WIZARD FIGHT
BRULE
CLOSET DISCO QUEEN
GRAND MAMMOTH
CHUBBY THUNDEROUS BAD KUSH MASTERS
MAMMOTH WEED WIZARD BASTARD
SAMAVAYO
WELCOME BACK DELTA
DEAD LETTUCE
MONSTERTONE
LEDFOOT
ZOMBI
TERMINAL CHEESECAKE
KHÜNNT
BASK
BRUXA MARIA

http://www.desertfest.co.uk/#tickets-section
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/desertfest-2017-tickets-27305267791
http://www.desertfest.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestLondon
https://twitter.com/DesertFest
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_london/

Dead Lettuce, Booze and Blues EP (2015)

Desert rock trio Avon made their debut early in 2016 with Mad Marco, a full-length collection distinct in its still-inimitable Californian style. The band is distinguished by its lineup, which features drummer Alfredo Hernandez, of Yawning Man, Kyuss, Che, and Queens of the Stone Age fame, as well as Charles Pasarell of Waxy and James Childs of Vic du Monte’s Persona non Grata and Airbus. As such, it’s little surprise ultimately they’d have their head screwed on right when it comes to knowing what they want to sound like, and as tracks like “Yvone the Avon Lady” and “Bloodlike Rain” — both of which you can sample below as part of the full-album stream — demonstrate, they’ve got a sphere that extends beyond sandy origins to a wider psychedelia.

I’ll admit the album got by me last year when it was issued by Spira Records — trying to run down a CD copy as we speak, actually — but the three-piece have a new single coming in April on respected German purveyor H42 Records and that’s well worth looking forward to.

A quick announcement came down the PR wire:

New 7″ from AVON released in April 17

We from H42 Records are so Happy to announce to release Avon’s new 7″ in April.

Avon is:
Alfredo Hernández (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Yawning Man)
James Childs (Airbus, Little Villains)
Charles Pasarell (WAXY)

AVON play heavy rock and are from California USA. The music is psychedelic, raw, melodic and has something to say. Their musical bond comes from years of playing in their respective bands often together in California’s desert cities, Los Angeles and on many European tours. Each member brings with them influence and experience to form a unique and driven sound. So if you like heavy desert rock, then you have come to the right place. After their 2016 debut ‘Mad Marco’ they will be back with new tunes soon.

www.avonway.com/
www.facebook.com/Avonband/
www.h42records.com
www.facebook.com/H42Records/
h42records.bandcamp.com

Avon, Mad Marco