Posted in Whathaveyou on July 6th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
I was hoping we’d get a Kadabra record this year after seeing the Washington-based trio were announced as support for the upcoming West Coast tour of their Heavy Psych Sounds labelmates Bongzilla. The new album is called Umbra — following on from their debut, 2021’s deserved-more-hype-than-it-got Ultra (review here) — and will see release once again via Heavy Psych Sounds on Oct. 6. Preorders are up at the link below, if you’re the type to handle these things early.
A first single called “The Devil” arrives with a video accompanying, and it just straight up rules. I’m not sure any more complex analysis than that is needed. Like the first record, it sees the band cherry-picking aspects of modern heavy to suit the needs of their songwriting. I’d have to check to be certain, but I’m fairly sure this isn’t the first rock song ever written about the devil, even as a metaphor, but Kadabra aren’t trying to tell you otherwise. They revel in the bleak vibe as much as the central riff of the song — and you know there’s some reveling going on there — and a seeming uptick in production clarity and the separation of the instruments seems to be a factor as well, though I’m saying that as I’ve seen the video once and I’m standing on the line for a kiddie rollercoaster at Six Flags on a Wednesday afternoon, so maybe not the best place to really dig in. I guess what I’m saying is if that’s wrong, don’t hold it against me, because I might be talking out of my ass. Which should be a disclaimer for this entire site, come to think of it.
Either way, I’m stoked. Also note that two of the names of songs here, “Mountain Tamer” and “High Priestess,” are also West Coast band names. Put all three acts on a bill and it’d be a fucking killer show. From the PR wire:
KADABRA to release new album “Umbra” on Heavy Psych Sounds this fall; preorder and “The Devil” video available!
Spokane, Washington heavy psychedelic rockers KADABRA announce the release of their new album “Umbra” this October 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds, and unleash their badass new video for “The Devil” right now!
KADABRA formed during the dark days of 2020 and were quickly signed by Heavy Psych Sounds, who released Ultra in the fall of 2021 and established the band’s penchant for delivering crushing doom riffs and haunting vocals accentuated by bursts of psychedelic flair and swampy Americana swagger. And while the chemistry of long-time friends Garrett Zanol (guitar/vocals), Ian Nelson (bass) and Chase Howard (drums) was apparent upon listening to their debut, their bond was further strengthened by relentlessly touring the western United States and completing a month-long tour of Europe.
The trio almost immediately began looking forward, road-testing and crystalizing the songs that would comprise their follow-up, which found the band reuniting with “Ultra” producer Dawson Scholz. The result is “Umbra”: a singular statement that is more focused and cohesive than its predecessor while managing to capture the immersive, free-flowing experience of their live show. For fans of Dead Meadow, The Black Angels, All Them Witches.
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 31st, 2023 by JJ Koczan
A note to anyone who’s perhaps gone numb with the glut of tour announcements — not to mention Heavy Psych Sounds news — these last couple weeks as the year has begun to unfurl: This tour is happening sooner than most. A lot of what’s come down the PR wire of late has been stuff for Spring, or at least March. One struggles to keep up. This is for February, and it starts this week because — holy shit — so does February. There are still a couple dates TBA, which, hey, happens, and I’ve no doubt Kadabra and WarLung can happen into a gig somewhere between Germany and France over the course of those three days, but if you’ve got access to a show and can help, of course you’re encouraged to do so.
Kadabra will also play Heavy Psych Sounds Fest in California this March (WarLung played last year), and they head abroad supporting their a-little-under-the-radar-but-so-damn-good 2021 debut album, Ultra (review here), a follow-up to which would likely be impending sooner or later because if the band didn’t have any interest in continuing they probably wouldn’t bother going to Europe in the first place. WarLung in 2022 released Vulture’s Paradise (review here), their fourth album and a marked step forward in their blend of immersive breadth and structured, forward-delivered heavy. The two acts will complement each other well on stage. Safe travels to all.
From the PR wire:
Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking is proud to announce *** KADABRA + WARLUNG European Tour ***
– a massive heavy fuzz experience –
03.02.2023 IT Torino-Blah Blah 04.02.2023 IT Trieste-Kulturni Doom Prosek 05.02.2023 IT Bologna-Freakout 06.02.2023 HR Pula-Monte Paradiso 07.02.2023 TBA 08.02.2023 SL Ilirska Bistrica-MKNŽ 09.02.2023 AT Wien-Arena Beisl 10.02.2023 AT Ebensee-Kino 11.02.2023 DE Jena-KuBa 12.02.2023 TBA 13.02.2023 TBA 14.02.2023 TBA 15.02.2023 FR La Clusaz-Namass Pamouss x Le Lion d’Or 16.02.2023 FR Montpellier-Secret Place 17.02.2023 IT Parma-Splinter Club 18.02.2023 TBA 19.02.2023 IT Pescara-Scumm
KADABRA is Garrett Zanol (Vocals/Guitar) Ian Nelson (Bass) Chase Howard (Drums)
WARLUNG is George Baba: Guitar/Vocals Philip Bennett: Guitar/Vocals Chris Tamez: Bass Ethan Tamez: Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 23rd, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Park myself in Joshua Tree for a weekend just as the winter is turning to spring, catch a ton of awesome bands from and beyond the desert? Yeah, that sounds pretty magical, to be honest. Nothing against San Francisco. I’ve seen videos from outside at Thee Parkside and it looks like an incredible place to see a gig, but if I’m making the trip from the other side of the country — and unless there’s a sudden fiscal windfall in my favor, I’m not, sadly — it’s the desert calling, all the more with All Souls and BigPig and Third Ear Experience on that bill. That’s a memorable weekend in the making.
The 2023 lineups for Heavy Psych Sounds Fest in California are finished, and with the two posters next to each other you can see some of the differences from one to the other, but they’re mostly the same as artists will play in one city one night, the other the other, and as someone who remembers seeing Yawning Man and Fatso Jetson together a decade ago at Desertfest London 2013 (review here), I’d offer up a kidney to do so again if I thought I could be healed in time to actually enjoy the show in March.
Anybody want to buy some… shit I have nothing of value. Alright then.
Here’s the bill:
Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking is proud to announce *** HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST CALIFORNIA 2023 JOSHUA TREE & SAN FRANCISCO ***
full lineup announcement
Heavy Psych Sounds together with Plastic Cactus Productions and Subliminal SF presents the full lineup of the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest California 2023 !!!
HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST ***CALIFORNIA 2023*** MARCH 25 & 26
SAN FRANCISCO @ OPEN AIR AT THEE PARKSIDE
JOSHUA TREE @ HI DESERT CULTURAL CENTER
JOSHUA TREE HI DESERT CULTURAL CENTER MARCH 25th and 26th
WINDHAND WEEDEATER BRANT BJORK NEBULA THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX YAWNING MAN FATSO JETSON DUEL HIPPIE DEATH CULT GEEZER KADABRA WARLUNG LOVE GANG WITCHPIT COSMIC REAPER ALL SOULS BIG PIG THIRD EAR EXPERIENCE DEATHCHANT WHISKEY AND KNIVES HIGH TONE SON OF A BITCH
SAN FRANCISCO OPEN AIR AT THEE PARKSIDE MARCH 25th and 26th
WINDHAND WEEDEATER MONDO GENERATOR NEBULA THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX DUEL HIPPIE DEATH CULT GEEZER KADABRA WARLUNG LOVE GANG COSMIC REAPER WITCHPIT DEATHCHANT HIGH TONE SON OF A BITCH DISASTROID
Posted in Bootleg Theater on November 1st, 2022 by JJ Koczan
These guys were a highlight of my addled Psycho Las Vegas 2022 experience back in August and their new video for “Graveyard” is a further reminder of the wholesome-toned earliest-Mars Red Sky vibes that persist across their 2021 debut album, Ultra (review here). The timing on the new clip is somewhat unexpected, since that record came out last Sept., but there are any number of reasons why Kadabra might put it out now. Maybe it took a year to make. That shit certainly happens with these things. Or maybe they just wanted to give an extra push after a while to move some records, which getting more people to hear this song is bound to do. Or maybe it might be a way to herald something new, either a preface for a tour or a new studio work, album, etc., to be announced in the coming weeks. Or something else entirely. I simply don’t know, and this just kind of showed up in my recommendations and I saw it was listed as new. For all I know the band posted it last year and the label, Heavy Psych Sounds, just put it up under their own account.
In any case, it hasn’t been posted here before, so I’m glad to get it up now, purely because the track is awesome and the record remains killer, whether the Spokane, Washington, three-piece are about to do another one or not. Among the reasons to be excited at the prospect that they are is that it would mean the band thought enough of the response to the first putting to keep the band going as more than a one-off — because I don’t think Kadabra is anyone in Kadabra’s only band — and given the strength of their material on Ultra, they showed some serious potential for growth that it would be cool to see (hear) realized. I didn’t think Ultra got the attention it deserved, but that’s no reason for the band not to make a follow-up if they’re even remotely inclined toward doing so.
We’ll find out, I suppose, and if I see word of their doing something new in 2023, or touring, or whatever, I’ll post when I see it. You know how it goes.
Enjoy the clip:
Kadabra, “Graveyard” official video
GRAVEYARD is KADABRA first single taken from the band’s latest album ULTRA. Out September 2021 via Heavy Psych Sounds.
Written throughout the 2020 global pandemic, Kadabra’s debut album “Ultra” presents an aesthetic that nears that “classic rock” charm and energy. The group has meshed together the droned flow of psychedelic clamor with an abrasive fuzzed riff drive. The sound is a mixture of psychedelic rock and hard rock riffing, vocals are choral and magnetic. In the fall of 2020, KADABRA enter the studio to record “Ultra” with producer Dawson Scholz : 7 brand new tracks for a fresh debut album: ULTRA keep the listener awake until the last minute of the album, with a variety of chill atmospheres. You can listen strong influences of Dead Meadow, Pentagram.
KADABRA is: Garrett Zanol (Vocals/Guitar) Ian Nelson (Bass) Chase Howard (Drums)
I’ve been waiting weeks to say that. It is, however, a place for imposter syndrome, and I’ll admit to having already filled my quota of wondering how the hell I managed to get here. Considering I can barely get up to get myself a cup of water — I brought my pink water-drinking cup from home — let alone ice from somewhere down the hall, it feels pretty odd to not be at home right now. I am lucid, mostly. A little while ago I got back from seeing Kadabra at the Redtail and I guess that was the end of my night. I picked up a hamburger salad on the way back and that was dinner and I keep expecting it to kick in and have a surge of energy, but yeah, probably not.
Never had coffee today. There’s a Starbucks downstairs that I’ll hit in the AM. Desperate times, if I didn’t say that before.
What I learned throughout the course of today is that Resorts World is fucking huge. It’s three or four or seven plus-size hotels all interconnected. I don’t even know where one casino ends and another begins, or what’s where or whose is anything and there are a lot of flashing lights and a kind of mall attached with a big chrome watery-looking ball in it that’s like the mall art you remember but on steroids or maybe given a grim alien reboot. Finding the check-in to get my wristband this morning was a hoot, and from there I had my work even more cut out for me finding the pool. I was back and forth a few times throughout the day — there was one point during Early Moods where, righteous and doomed as they were, I just needed air conditioning. That’s poolside.
No, I didn’t go in. A lot of people did. My bathing suit is in the wash, or at least it was when I left the house yesterday to go to the airport. Clouds rolled in as the afternoon went on and Rifflord begat Early Moods begat Uniform and so forth, but it wouldn’t rain until during Elder’s set, which even though it was dark already still felt something like a godsend. I had been headed inside anyway. I’m getting ahead of myself.
The day was two days, how it worked out. I wound up splitting the schedule into two parts. Taking a break in the middle meant missing Deathchant, about whose set I’ve already heard good things, but made the rest of the day doable. Sometimes in life we have to make sacrifices. I’d rolled up early for Rifflord, got my bag searched for the first of three times today — the second time I was told to throw out my water bottle, which seems a little counterintuitive for an outdoor event in Las Vegas in August; I kind of felt like there should be refilling stations every two meters along the wall — and was asked about the camera gear but I said I was media (hence that whole imposter thing noted above) and they let it go. After I shot Rifflord and the head of Psycho’s team of 10 photographers came up to me and with a very West Coast manner, introduced himself and proceeded to tell me he didn’t know there was any outside media allowed to shoot the festival. The implication, of course, that I shouldn’t be there.
Well, there I was. One band, who rocked by the way, into a four-day festival, 100 degrees minimum with the sun trying to cleave my skull, and Photo Dude coming ’round to put me in my place. Yessir. Well sir, you see. And so on. He said his piece and even knowing I was right — which, yes, I was — it was still a kind of shitty way to start the thing. Fortunately, Rifflord had played “Tumbleweed” so I felt like I could take on anything the planet might put in my way, and it was too hot to be really bummed out. The trick is finding somewhere to be. Staking out a spot and putting yourself in it. I found a little shade toward the back and sat down. I’d been in one of the cabanas, but the people who’d staked it out came back and it was pretty clearly time to move on. I’d watch Early Moods, abscond for a few minutes to cool off by walking around the big, empty, fenced-off dirt lot that I assume is going to be eventually turned into some kind of ‘experience’, and then return for the finish of their set.
Classic heavy rock and doomer vibes. The morose aspects of Early Moods were a good setup for Uniform in that if Early Moods was bumming out about the world, Uniform were judging and finding it wanting. It made sense in a stages-of-grief kind of way. Rifflord and Early Moods were both bands I pointedly wanted to see, and Uniform’s harsher take — some industrial elements, mostly dark, aggro noise — was a shift in atmosphere that was welcome despite the groove the first two acts had established. By the time Uniform were finished, I felt like I was ready to die. I’d been hydrating and saying hello to the people kind enough to say hello to me, and I just plunked myself down at one point and did the math on eating and sleeping and found that their increasing my likelihood to last the full day made it worth a journey back to the room.
I did find my way back, eventually, but I’m still not sure that, say, if I was going to Dawg House to watch Elder at 1AM finish their rained-out set, I’d know how to get there. I’ll be asleep before then anyhow — already writing with one eye closed, which is never a good sign for continued consciousness. I ate a protein bar and then settled myself onto the bed, still not really having decided I was going to sleep. Then I turned off the light and was out in about five seconds. I’d set an alarm to be up in time for me to get back to the pool for Elder with flex enough that I got to see some of Bridge City Sinners’ goth-bluegrass, which was a good time, even if the singer seemed let down by the audience response. It was just starting to ‘cool off,’ so I got where both she and the crowd in front of the stage were coming from. Even having slept, I would hardly call myself up to full speed. And maybe it was a bad time to go off my meds after all. I don’t know.
Elder were next, and I’ll do you the favor of sparing you the music-as-magic-because-they-made-it-rain thing. I mean, yes, obviously that’s what happened, I just feel stupid writing about it. They weren’t through “Compendium” before it started coming down. As noted, they’ll be at the Dawg House — one of the many venue-type places nestled into the mall-ish area; I stumbled on it earlier — but yeah. I was on my way to catch Salem’s Bend who were on before Kadabra at the Redtail. I’d thought about hitting Eyehategod back at the pool and Midnight are Midnight, but there was no way I was going to make it. Death would occur. I got to see two bands I’d never seen before in Salem’s Bend and Kadabra, and that felt like a win, which I also kind of feel obligated to point out because some of the comments I got yesterday or whenever that was were a little off-putting, like I’m not enjoying myself. Well, I was getting on a fucking airplane. What’s enjoyable about that? Even if you’re looking forward to where you’re going, you have to get there first.
Psycho Las Vegas is really, really, really big. Yeah, there’s your pullquote — you’re welcome. I’m media! But even compared to when I was out here in 2018 and it was at the Hard Rock, it’s mammoth. Today there were four stages that had stuff going at various points. Tomorrow is six, and it starts at noon and it ends at 2:45AM and you could never see it all — they rightly call it a ‘choose your adventure’ festival — but it’s fun to try if completely overwhelming. I think that’s the idea. I think maybe it’s supposed to be fun. Sounds weird, I know.
But you have to understand the scale of the thing. This morning, looking at the schedule for the next four days, it was like I was staring down a tidal wave or maybe more appropriately a sandstorm since we’re in the desert, and I hardly feel any different about that now that the day is over. However big you’re thinking it is, it’s bigger. It’s more on the scale of SXSW Music than a regular one- or two-stage fest. More like getting around a city.
I was ready for Kadabra when they went on, following the heavy boogie of Salem’s Bend, whose guitarist had a very proud aunt in the crowd and whose bassist opted to go without pants, presumably being fresh out of the pool. Good fun all around, and Kadabra followed it well, with a more drawn out, fuzzier take that still reminds me of the first Mars Red Sky record. Their Ultra album came out last year on Heavy Psych Sounds and was a gem that I thought didn’t get enough love. Having seen them live, now I know that’s the case. First smiling drummer I saw all day, and maybe a win on tone as well, but it was the melody, depth of tone and the swinging groove that had me locked in. All of that coming together in a languid nodder psychedelia given just enough push to keep rolling downhill? Sign me up forever. Or at least for the next album.
Between the pizza joint, the Mexican place, the vegan place and the breakfast place, the nearest I got to a caesar salad was the hamburger-with-chipotle-dressing thing I ate a bit ago. Not something I’d likely order on a normal day — I have increasing trouble trusting red meat when I don’t know where it comes from — but glorious and quickly consumed for all that. My head has already started thinking about the long day that tomorrow will be, and that’s a good thing, but today was an interesting one. The heat, the sun and fatigue, disorientation, dreadful sobriety, and so on, were a drag at various points, but the music sounds good and it’s… fun. Still feels kind of strange to say that.
Tomorrow is the first day of the festival proper. I’m lonely but holding up. I’ve got Dreadnought, Stinking Lizaveta and Hippie Death Cult as one-two-three first thing in the afternoon, and coffee to find before that. First sleep.
Posted in Whathaveyou on April 14th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
You don’t need much more here than the list of bands, which is its own excuse for being. Italian label Heavy Psych Sounds returns to the States at the end of next month with Heavy Psych Sounds Fests in Los Angeles and San Francisco. With the day-splits announced, you get a little more sense of how the two nights in two cities will function (it’s not an insignificant drive from one to the other, mind you) and share bands, but any way you go, you don’t lose, whether you’re looking at Dead Meadow and Weedeater headlining, the appearances of long-running acts like 16 and Danava and Nebula, or relative newcomers in Kadabra or Mountain Tamer and others from the label’s ever-expanding roster of talent.
It’s a fucking solid two day lineup. Doesn’t look completely overwhelming. Looks like a party, which is exactly what I expect it will be for those fortunate enough to be in attendance. Maybe that’s you. If so, cheers. I hear Bongzilla like it if you bring them weed.
From the PR wire:
HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST CALIFORNIA 2022 – DAY SPLITS LINE UP
– feat. DEAD MEADOW, WEEDEATER, THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX, BONGZILLA, NEBULA, DANAVA and many more –
HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS in cooperation with SUBLIMINAL SF and SOS BOOKING present:
HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST CALIFORNIA 2022
28 & 29 May
(Memorial Day weekend)
LOS ANGELES @ 1720 Club
SATURDAY, MAY 28th
DEAD MEADOW DANAVA NEBULA HIPPIE DEATH CULT 16 KADABRA MOUNTAIN TAMER
SUNDAY, MAY 29th
WEEDEATER BONGZILLA THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX HIGH REEPER WARLUNG THE FREEKS JD PINKUS HIGH TON SON OF A BITCH
SAN FRANCISCO @ Openair at Thee Parkside
SATURDAY, MAY 28th
WEEDEATER BONGZILLA THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX HOT LUNCH HIGH REEPER WARLUNG JD PINKUS HIGH TON SON OF A BITCH
SUNDAY, MAY 29th
DEAD MEADOW DANAVA NEBULA HIPPIE DEATH CULT 16 KADABRA MOUNTAIN TAMER DISASTROID
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 8th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
A two-stage all-dayer with a killer pre-party the night before, Rocky Mountain Riff Fest 2022 looks like a gem. I know nothing about the Flathead Valley in Montana, or historic downtown Kalispell, where the event will take place, but they’ve put together a cool lineup with the likes of Mountain Tamer and Kadabra on board, and while I might not know all that much about Ncroflchr (from parts unknown) or Schticky, homegrown Montana acts like Swamp Ritual, Spliffripper and Wizzerd, along with Witch Bitch, ThroneStower and The Gray Goo, who’ll also play, speak to a burgeoning scene, and with LáGoon coming east from Oregon and Merlock doing the same from Washington, cutting across Idaho while Throne of Iron head north from Indiana, the fest is using its geography smartly to pull from the different regions surrounding. There’s a lot to dig here, and I bet the show(s) will be a good time.
I bet you go to this, you leave with new friends. If you’re traveling for it, I mean. This seems like the kind of thing where there’s going to be a bunch of people who already know each other, but I bet if you were to show up and be like, “Hi, I think your bands are cool,” you’d probably end up feeling like family by the end of the day. Sounds pretty nice, if you ask me. Also heavy. It’s a 37-hour drive for me, so I don’t think I’ll get there, but they make the prospect enticing.
Here’s the lineup, as per social media:
Rocky Mountain Riff Fest 2022
Rocky Mountain Riff Fest Returns!!
Our 2022 lineup! Stoked to have so many friends joining us this year. The party goes down April 22 and 23 – see everybody there!
LINEUP: Main day 4/23: Mountain Tamer (CA) Throne of Iron (IN) LáGoon (OR) Merlock (WA) Wizzerd (MT) Witch Bitch (MT) ThroneStower (MT) The Gray Goo (MT) Schticky (MT) Ncroflchr (???)
Eagles 234 and Old School Records – $20 for all day
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 2nd, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Well this looks pretty great. Heavy Psych Sounds-branded festivals are a regular feature across the regular-featuresphere in Europe, but far rarer in the US. The Rome-based imprint has teamed with SubliminalSF and SOS Booking to put on two nights in two cities presented as Heavy Psych Sounds Fest California 2022, and the names included are serious gosh darn business. Dead Meadow, Weedeater, Bongzilla, Nebula, The Atomic Bitchwax. Fucking a. You got Danava and 16 and heck I hope they play back-to-back just because that would be amazing. Imagine that for a second.
The bill doesn’t stop there with the righteousness, which if you know if you either heard the Kadabra debut album last year or watched Mountain Tamer‘s ‘Live in the Mojave Desert’ stream. Remember that? Yeah you do. Someone needs to tell Ryan Jones it’s time for season two.
This was my entire social media feed the other day, the lineup and poster. The Bitchwax and Weedeater are the new adds to finish out the lineup, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they announced tour dates together out west to get to CA. I don’t know that, mind you, but the two East Coast veteran acts have toured together before and it’s not outside the realm of possibility they’d do so again. Just a thought. Hell, let ’em bring High Reeper too.
Party hearty. Or hardy. Whatever. Just party and keep doing that:
Weedeater, The Atomic Bitchwax, Duel and more join Heavy Psych Sounds Fest California 2022 lineup; tickets on sale now!
Heavy Psych Sounds (in association with SubliminalSF and SOS Booking) announce the final names to join the 2022 edition of HPS Fest California, to take place on May 28-29th in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Grab your ticket now!
Sludge metal legends Weedeater and heavy rock stalwarts The Atomic Bitchwax join the lineup, alongside Heavy Psych Sounds bands Duel, Crypt Trip, Hot Lunch, The Freeks, Kadabra, Disastroid, Mountain Tamer and High Tone Son Of A Bitch.
The festival will take place over the Memorial Day weekend as an indoor event at 1720 Club in Los Angeles, and as an open-air event at Thee Parkside venue in San Francisco.
LOS ANGELES – 1720 club SAN FRANCISCO – Open Air at Thee Parkside
FEATURING: DEAD MEADOW WEEDEATER BONGZILLA NEBULA THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX DANAVA 16 DUEL HIGH REEPER HIPPIE DEATH CULT CRYPT TRIP HOT LUNCH THE FREEKS KADABRA WARLUNG MOUNTAIN TAMER DISASTROID HIGH TONE SON OF A BITCH
